Loch Lomond is world famous for its bonnie, bonnie banks, but it is becoming increasingly infamous for the impacts of recreation on the ecology of its protected species and habitats.
We developed a 'protocol' for monitoring these impacts and devised a way of turning anecdote into evidence - there are lots of stories of terrible damage and changes over recent decades, but very little has been systematically recorded in a way that could be used to influence the management of the loch.
We worked closely with the ranger service to develop new monitoring systems and adapt existing recording schemes and have collated all the information relating to ecological status and recreational activities around specific parts of the loch. We hope to have a summary of the outcomes of this research available.
One of the key outcomes is new guidance that has been developed to help people to avoid disturbance to capercaillie - in 2010 the ranger service began a concerted effort to help visitors understand how their behaviour could be affecting this iconic breeding species. 
Client: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
Subcontractors: Paul Johnson, Macaulay Scientific Consulting Ltd
