Scotland is planting millions of trees to save the river salmon

With temperatures rising north of the barometer worldwide due to global warming, locals in Scotland have aimed to save the River Dee salmons. Salmon is known as cold-water fish, with a recommended spawning temperature range of 4^oC to 10^oC. Let alone hatching, the rising temperature of the water also puts the salmon eggs in danger of not surviving.

A massive native tree planting drive has been initiated in Scotland to shade the shallows and safeguard the cold waters that salmon prefer. According to studies, with 103,000 km of salmon river habitat, planting trees would boost the general richness of insect, bird, and plant life along the river. The Million Trees Campaign was launched in 2020 by the Dee River Trust and the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board to accomplish this goal.

As per reports, last spawning season, the water temperatures in 70% of the spawning grounds were recorded as “too high” for salmon eggs to survive in one day. Freshwater biologists discovered that only 30% of the riverine mileage had adequate tree cover to keep water temperatures cool throughout the day.

Tree nurseries will start with 250,000 saplings and increase to more than a million. They will include varieties like aspen, willow, hawthorn, Scots pine, native rowan, juniper, and birch. The sites will be fenced off to prevent deer from eating the saplings.

The River Dee is one of the “big four” among Scotland’s salmon rivers, and it is well-known for producing hard-fighting Scottish salmon. The river is arguably best known for its big spring salmon runs.

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