The Back On Our Map (BOOM) Project, administered by the University of Cumbria, completed a feasibility study in 2022 for a pine marten translocation to south Cumbria. The results indicate suitable habitat, cross sector support and low risk for a founder population.
A Cumbria Pine Marten Working Group is progressing a translocation project under licence from NatureScot. The working group is supported by the Vincent Wildlife Trust and includes representatives from Forestry England, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Natural England, University of Cumbria, Graythwaite Estate and the University of Leeds.
The aim of the group is to use translocation methods to expand the regional meta population and recover pine martens in the North West of England to improve their conservation status, support resilient forest ecosystems and benefit local communities.
The project will be implemented over 3 or 4 years with release and post-release monitoring phases using founder animals from donor sites in Scotland.
Image credit: Mic Mayhew, May 2022. Photograph of pine marten at Shieldaig, Wester Ross, Scotland.
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