Pine marten

The elusive European pine marten (Martes martes) was once a common species in woodlands across Britain. Over the last few centuries, however, hunting, persecution and habitat loss have resulted in dramatic declines, driving this species to the brink of extinction. Conservation efforts (importantly, increased legal protection and tree planting) have supported recent recovery of Scottish populations, however, pine martens remain critically endangered in England and Wales, where only a few, small, populations remain.

There have been multiple attempts to restore pine martens to areas where they have been lost. RZSS WildGenes is working to support pine marten recovery by developing genomic resources for evaluation of pine marten genetics across Britain. A better understanding of genetic diversity and population structure will help us monitor the growing populations in Scotland, inform further reintroductions in England and Wales, and support recovery of this species across the UK. We are partnering with Natural England, Wildwood Trust and Kent Wildlife Trust to do this crucial work, and are part of the UK Pine Marten Recovery Group to share knowledge between UK initiatives.