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Reports & Research Articles
Annual reports for the Natural Capital Laboratory
All annual reports are available here
Multi-tool monitoring: Integrating non-invasive methods to assess vertebrate richness, functional diversity and trophic complexity
By Clare Cowgill, James D. J. Gilbert, Ian Convery, Volker Deecke, Graham Sellers, Lori Lawson Handley
Abstract
- Effective biodiversity monitoring is essential for understanding taxonomic, functional and trophic dynamics in changing ecosystems. Non-invasive tools such as environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) and camera trapping offer complementary strengths, yet their relative effectiveness for assessing biodiversity, in particular functional diversity and trophic structure, remains underexplored. These approaches are particularly valuable in rewilding landscapes, where restoration actions create heterogeneous, rapidly changing habitats that require scalable monitoring solutions.
- We applied an integrated monitoring approach at a rewilding site in Scotland, comparing vertebrate diversity detected by metabarcoding four eDNA sample types (water, soil, tree rolling and scat) with PAM and camera traps. Each method was evaluated for taxonomic richness, community composition, functional diversity via trait-based analyses and trophic complexity through co-occurrence networks, metrics rarely assessed together across methods.
- In total, 79 vertebrate taxa were detected: PAM captured 52 taxa, eDNA 44 and camera traps 12. Of the eDNA substrates, water and tree-rolling samples had the highest richness. Each method detected unique species, with birds and bats best covered by PAM, and small mammals by eDNA. Community composition varied between methods, with eDNA substrates capturing broader communities. PAM revealed the strongest community differences between wooded and open habitats.
- Tree rolling and water eDNA captured the greatest functional diversity, while PAM showed higher redundancy. No single method captured all functional traits. Integrating eDNA methods with PAM produced the most complete trophic network. PAM provided the most complete network but missed key terrestrial interactions that were filled by eDNA.
- Practical implication. Rewilding and restoration programmes require an integrated multi-method ‘toolkit’ to comprehensively capture vertebrate richness, functional diversity and trophic complexity. We recommend combining PAM with either tree rolling or water eDNA sampling as an optimal monitoring strategy, balancing their complementary strengths in taxonomic and functional coverage.
Corporate roles in preventing species extinction: Integrating rewilding through the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures in Sustainable Environment
By Helen Kopnina, Ruopiao Zhang, Sally Hawkins, Ian Convery & Charlotte Hopkins
Abstract
This study examines how the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) can support corporate engagement with biodiversity through rewilding. Although the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework calls on businesses to disclose nature impacts, biodiversity remains weakly represented in ESG metrics and corporate strategy. We conduct qualitative document analysis of TNFD publications, together with policy and academic literature on biodiversity accounting and rewilding. We also compare four illustrative cases (Tompkins Conservation; Yellowstone to Yukon; the Natural Capital Laboratory; and the Dornoch Environmental Enhancement Project) to assess governance, financing, and partnership models. The analysis shows that disclosure can remain decoupled from restoration unless firms report indicators that capture extinction risk and ecological outcomes. Extinction-accounting approaches, used alongside TNFD’s disclosure pillars, help connect reporting to place-based rewilding actions when participatory governance safeguards Indigenous rights and standardized metrics constrain greenwashing. This framing requires moving beyond utilitarian risk management towards ethical commitments to biodiversity recovery. The paper maps rewilding activities to TNFD-aligned governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics/targets disclosures, offering practical entry points for firms, investors, and regulators seeking nature-positive outcomes.
Rewilding case study: Monitoring natural capital and rewilding at the Natural Capital Laboratory, Birchfield, Loch Ness
Book Routledge Handbook of Rewilding
By Chris White, Emilia Leese, Ian Convery, Philip Rooney
Digital Natural Capital Account
AECOM’s Digital Natural Capital Account is live. Explore it for the full spectrum of what’s happening on site and the annual reports. You’ll find videos, maps, drones, artificial intelligence, satellite data, thermal imaging, 3D visualisations, virtual reality and more!
This Digital Natural Capital Accounting tool is the first of its kind, and has been developed to provide an engaging way of communicating and monitoring the habitats, species, ecosystem services and environmental and social values associated with the NCL within a spatial context
For the best experience, view on a larger screen
Missing Species & Fungal Diversity Reports
Alan Watson Featherstone and David Satori over the last few months. Alan & David will be providing two crucial studies: missing species and fungal diversity
Alan Watson Featherstone, founder of rewilding charity Trees For Life, has undertaken a review of the species missing from the site and the potential to restore these species through the rewilding process. Working with Alan is particularly special on a personal level because his long-term commitment to regenerating the Caledonian Forest was an initial inspiration for Emi & Roger
David Satori has provided a baseline fungal diversity survey to help build critical knowledge of the distribution, abundance, and seasonality of fungi, especially those of conservation concern. David is the co-founder of Rhizocore Technologies, producing locally-adapted mycorrhizal fungi to aid reforestation efforts. He’s also the founder of Rewilding Mycology, a conservation advocacy organisation aiming to reverse the ongoing decline of fungi
Alan and David’s studies will help inform future decisions about rewilding the site and The Lifescape Project’s Lead Ecologist, Deborah Brady, have coordinated and contributed to the studies
Full reports available on request
News
The BBC’s Countryfile features Birchfield
The popular Countryfile program on BBC One featured Birchfield and our partners. Watch it again on BBC iPlayer. We were thrilled to be featured so prominently and take part in the filming
Minister Kerry McCarthy visits Birchfield
Minister for Climate Kerry McCarthy included a visit to Birchfield during her visit to the Highlands in 2024
Forest Interpretation Hut
The forest interpretation hut designed and built by Northwoods Design
A short British horror film
Birchfield was the set for The Lies of our Confines, a British horror short film written and by director Leon Oldstrong. We jumped out of our seats… that’s all we’ll say
And here’s the “making of” documentary, which we urge you to watch
Talks, Interviews & Documentaries
The Biodiversity Puzzle: Rewilding the Caledonian Forest
Dawn McCall’s year 3 film project for University of Cumbria Wildlife Media Programme
Arihanta Institute – Letting Nature Lead: Lessons for our ecosystems and our lives
V-COP20: VEGAN Convergence of the Peoples #20
Universitè de Fribourg, Switzerland
The Université de Fribourg – Universität Freiburg, Environmental Sciences & Humanities, UniFR_ESH Institute, invited me to participate in a workshop on Animals, Compassion and Conservation. I talked about non-lethal deer management in a rewilding context at Birchfield Highlands Forest Rewilding .
And if you’re interested in the topic, see the full list of guests who were absolutely fascinating
Brave New Girl podcast
In conversation with the remarkable Lou Hamilton. We talk about rewilding, being vegan, inspiration, courage and more.
Lifescape Webinar
Rewilding the World: Natural Capital Laboratory at Birchfield: a webinar giving you an overview of all the work happening on site. There were loads of really interesting people doing some fascinating work in ecology and conservation, including: Erin Gianferrara on what is natural capital; Peter Cowley and Benjamin Barca on aquatic ecology and eDNA; Max Heaver debunking myths about rewilding; Ash Welch on using virtual reality in ecology; Roland Arnison on his rewilding film work, including on the drone-assisted deer drive at Birchfield; and Louise Smith of the musical group EVER.
Interview with Creating a Vegan World
Emilia Leese speaks with Andrew Alexander of Creating a Vegan World
Press
Lessons from the Natural Capital Laboratory on connecting nature and business
Birchfield Virtual Reality
View the extraordinary virtual reality pavilion built by the UK Green Building Council for COP26. Explore this VR experience for free and online, anywhere in the world. The NCL at Birchfield is number 2.
The VR pavilion highlights some of the world’s leading examples of how to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.
BBC
The BBC article The great experiment to put a price on nature leads with Birchfield and has some fantastic quotes by Adam Eagle, CEO of the Lifescape Project, one of our partners
In the Stratherrick & Foyers Newsletter
Our community introduction in the Stratherrick & Foyers Newsletter
Featured on RE:TV
Rewilding the Highlands, on RE:TV, a showcase for inspiring innovations and ideas that point the way towards a sustainable future, curated by editor-in-chief, His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales.
