Environmental Conservation at Ben Lawers
Reaching nearly 3,984ft (1,219m) into the sky, Ben Lawers is one of Scotland’s highest Munros. It holds the most important range of rare arctic alpine plants in the UK, is rich in archaeological remains, and teems with wildlife— red deer, ptarmigan, skylarks, and black grouse. Through the generosity of the Jeniam Foundation, NTSUSA granted funding to install a weather station bout 2,000ft (600m) above sea level. The equipment would allow the Trust, in collaboration with a senior lecturer from the University of Dundee, to record and measure wind speed and direction, air temperature and relative humidity, soil moisture content and temperature, solar radiation, and precipitation. The data will be used to evaluate the effects of climate change on the ecosystem at Ben Lawers. Further support from the Jeniam Foundation will continue to fund a three-year program of vital habitat restoration to ensure the long-term maintenance of Ben Lawers.