Rainforest Regeneration in Scotland: Communities and Technologies
United Kingdom, 2026 | 11 min 41 sec
Commissioned by the Smart Forests research project at the University of Cambridge, this film explores how digital technologies are supporting the regeneration of Scotland’s temperate rainforests through four community-led projects on the country’s west coast.
Travelling across Argyll, Mull, Loch Arkaig and Appin, the film visits the Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust, Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT), Arkaig Community Forest (ACF), Woodland Trust Scotland (WTS), and Native Woods Co-op. Through the experiences of the people restoring these landscapes, it examines how drones, geospatial technologies and digital mapping are being used alongside local knowledge, long-term stewardship and collaborative partnerships.
The film forms part of the final case study in Smart Forests, a University of Cambridge research project investigating the social and environmental implications of digital technologies in forest landscapes. The wider project includes five case studies across Chile, Indonesia, the Netherlands, India and Scotland.
The Scottish case study found that while digital technologies can strengthen networks and extend capacity, successful rainforest regeneration depends above all on community participation, local knowledge and shared visions for the future of these landscapes.
Produced by MIND THE FILM for the Smart Forests research project, University of Cambridge.