Some of Scotland’s best-known landscapes and wildlife species are in poor condition due to a range of threats, according to Scottish Natural Heritage.
The latest official assessments released by the government’s countryside protection agency show that the state of more than 1,400 natural treasures are ranked as “unfavourable”.
They include plants on Ben Lomond, Ben Lawers, Ben Nevis, Glencoe and the Cairngorms, which are being eaten by deer, burned off by landowners to improve grouse habitat and damaged by walkers.
Meanwhile, pollution is affecting fish in the Tweed, great crested newts and beetles in Dumfries and Galloway, and Arctic charr in an Ayrshire loch.
Many bird populations are also in poor condition, including puffins and kittiwakes in the Firth of Forth.
Lloyd Austin, head