Dragonflies – including threatened and endangered species – are set to benefit from a new partnership between the British Dragonfly Society (BDS) and Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS).

The five-year agreement will see the two organisations build on a previously successful collaboration which delivered habitat creation, enhancement and monitoring.

Aligned with the aims of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Delivery Plan to 2030, the agreement will see the BDS and FLS work to support ecosystem restoration and regeneration on FLS managed land to aid in the recovery of dragonflies.

Jen Davidson, Scotland Conservation Officer of the British Dragonfly Society said:

"FLS manage large areas of forest and land that do and can further provide ideal habitat for dragonflies.

"Joint working over the next five-year period aims to restore and create new ponds to increase the breeding population of dragonflies. The commitment of continuing to work together aims to raise awareness, share good practice, and identify opportunities for dragonfly habitat management whilst carrying out the business of forestry operations on the ground with a positive biodiversity twist."

"A key focus will be on increasing the breeding population of the Northern Damselfly which is also suffering habitat loss. This small but striking species is listed as Endangered on the UK Red List and has a recorded population restricted to the north-east Highlands."

Since 2022 under the previous agreement a new interpretation board was installed at Devilla Forest in Fife, an official hotspot for dragonfly spotting. Several new ponds were created in Mabie Forest in Dumfries and Galloway and the south west area, proving to be of particular benefit for the Common Hawker now classed as Endangered on the European Red List.

Also recorded were Emperor and Broad-bodied Chaser, both species beginning to move north from the border with England. Surveys for Variable Damselfly and Hairy Dragonfly were carried out, with both present in southern Scotland.

FLS Environment Manager Colin Edwards said:

"This is an exciting partnership with BDS that will ensure that we make full use of the specialist advice available so that Scotland's national forests and land are looked after, and that their biodiversity is protected and enhanced.

"It will assist our environment staff with access to specialist training on dragonfly identification and habitat creation and maintenance, especially where it can help protect priority and scarce species such as the Northern Damselfly and White-faced Darter.

"It will help FLS to include dragonfly conservation in management plans and consequently carry out practical management."

BDS' Dragonflies on the Bog project - funded by Naturescot's Nature Restoration Fund – is improving breeding habitats for rare peatland dragonflies including the Azure Hawker, Northern Emerald and White-faced Darter in north-west Scotland. The organisation is working with landowners to retain and expand breeding pools which are drying out.

FLS have areas with records for these rare species neighbouring some project sites, such as Glen Affric where intervention and management to prevent habitat loss would have a beneficial impact on a landscape scale and complement the work already underway.