Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr John Holland is an upland ecologist based at the SRUC Hill and Mountain Research Centre at Kirkton and Auchtertyre Farms, near Crianlarich in Perthshire. He has always had an interest in ecology and natural history, particularly in mountain environments. He went to Durham University where he gained a BSc (Honours) degree in Botany and Geography in 1989. He then worked for a number of conservation and environmental organisations including English Nature and ADAS, before joining SAC (the former name of SRUC) in 1994. He studied for his PhD on ‘Plant herbivore interactions within a complex mosaic of grassland, mire and montane communities’ at SAC and Glasgow University.
He is an active bird and plant recorder. He is also a trustee of the Farm Woodland Forum (a charity whose objective is to advance public education in all aspects of the science and practice of farming with trees in the UK and elsewhere).
Research interests
I am an upland ecologist based at the SRUC Hill & Mountain Research Centre. My main research interests are:
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Supervision
PhD student (2013-2017) “Carbon and nitrogen cycling in Scottish upland grassland soils and the influence of excretal returns”. University of Edinburgh and SRUC.
Teaching
Guest lecturer for several undergraduate and postgraduate courses (Countryside Management, Wildlife and Conservation Management, Environmental Management, Ecological Surveying, Environmental Protection and Management, Agriculture) giving lectures at the Riverside and Edinburgh campuses, online and to visiting students to the Hill & Mountain Research Centre.
Previous employer
1992-1994 - Research Officer, ADAS, Resource Planning Team, Leeds
1991-1992 - Scientific Officer (Phase 1 habitat mapping team), English Nature, Preston, Lancashire
1991-1991 - Assistant Scientific Officer, ITE, Biological Records Centre, Monks Wood, Cambridgeshire
1990-1990 - Peatland Vegetation Surveyor, Lincolnshire and South Humberside Trust for Nature Conservation
Projects
Current:
- 2021 - ClimateXChange. The potential for an agroecological approach in Scotland.
- 2017-2021 - BBSRC. Livestock's role in food system resilience in remote, upland regions (ResULTS).
- 2016-2021 - Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme. Research projects within Work Packages 2.3 Agricultural Systems and Land Management (RD 2.3.6; RD 2.3.8; RD 2.3.11) and 1.3 Biodiversity and Ecosystems (RD 1.3.2).
Previous (selected):
- 2020-2021 - ClimateXChange. Evidence Review - Understanding the potential for carbon sequestration in upland habitats.
- 2020 – SEFARI. SEFARI Virtual Farm Tours.
- 2017-2020 - ERA-NET SusAn. Steering animal production systems towards a sustainable future (AnimalFuture).
- 2016 - Scottish Government. Meeting the challenge of wild deer research to support delivery of sustainable deer management in Scotland.
- 2011 - Scottish Natural Heritage. An Analysis of the Impact on the Natural Heritage of the Decline in Hill Farming in Scotland.
- 2010 - Scottish Natural Heritage. Developing guidance for managing extensive upland grazing where habitats have differing requirements.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Plant herbivore interactions within a complex mosaic of grassland, mire and montane communities, University of Glasgow
Award Date: 10 Jul 2001
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Network
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RESAS 22-27: SRUC-c3-2 Modelling The Socio-economic, Greenhouse Gas And Natural Capital Impacts Of Land Use Policy And Opportunities?. *joint With SRUC-d5-3
McVittie, A., Thomson, S., Shrestha, S., Botero Degiovanni, H., MacLeod, M., Hamilton, A., Rees, B., Eory, V., Buckingham, S., Shrestha, S., Topp, K., Thomson, S., Holland, J., McCracken, D., Gibson-Poole, S., Botero Degiovanni, H., McMillan, J., Williams, A., Wall, E., MacLeod, M., Glendinning, J. G., Merrell, I. & Mckay Fletcher, D.
Scottish Government: Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services
1/04/22 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
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RESAS 22-27: SRUC-c2-1 Agriculture Climate And Carbon
Rees, B., Roehe, R., Duthie, C., Jones, S., Eory, V., Buckingham, S., March, M., Hargreaves, P., Topp, K., Holland, J., Miller, G., Houdijk, J., Newbold, J., MacLeod, M. & Bell, J.
Scottish Government: Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services
1/04/22 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
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RESAS 22-27: SRUC-d4-1 Seeking Multiple Benefits From Natural Carbon Stores In The Uplands
McCracken, D., Robertson, D., Harrison, B., Holland, J., Burns, N., Cole, L., Rudman, H., Fuentes-Montemayor, E., Littlewood, N., Rudman, H. & Wade, M.
Scottish Government: Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services
1/04/22 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
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RESAS 22-27: SRUC-b2-2 Breeding And Management Strategies For Sheep In The Scottish Hills And Uplands, To Meet Future Economic, Environmental And Climatic Challenges
Lambe, N., McCracken, D., Holland, J., Holland, J., McCracken, D., Livingstone, F. & McLaren, A.
Scottish Government: Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services
1/04/22 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
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Anthelmintics and the Environment – opening a whole can of worms?
Skuce, P. J., Bartley, D. J., Holland, JP., Kenyon, F., McCracken, DI., Neilson, R. & Wells, B., 29 Mar 2022, (First published) SEFARI.Research output: Other contribution
Open Access -
A review of agroforestry, precision agriculture, and precision livestock farming—The case for a data-driven agroforestry strategy
Ramil Brick, E. S., Holland, J., Anagnostou, D. E., Brown, K. & Desmulliez, M. P. Y., 23 Sept 2022, (First published) In: Frontiers in Sensors. 3, 998928.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile86 Downloads (Pure) -
Overcoming deer management challenges
Pollock, ML., Holland, JP. & McCracken, DI., 28 Mar 2022, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC). 12 p.Research output: Book/Report/Policy Brief/Technical Brief › Research brief
Open AccessFile76 Downloads (Pure) -
Reviewing, assessing and critiquing the evidence base on the impacts of muirburn on wildfire prevention, carbon storage and biodiversity
Holland, JP., Pollock, ML., Buckingham, S., Glendinning, JPG. & McCracken, DI., 19 Oct 2022, NatureScot. (Research Report; no. 1302)Research output: Book/Report/Policy Brief/Technical Brief › Commissioned report › peer-review
Open AccessFile185 Downloads (Pure) -
The potential for an agroecological approach in Scotland: policy brief
Cole, LJ., Holland, JP., Eory, V., Karley, A., Hawes, C., Walker, RL. & Watson, CA., Oct 2021, Scotland’s Rural College 2022 on behalf of ClimateXChange.Research output: Book/Report/Policy Brief/Technical Brief › Commissioned report
Open Access
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Digital technology and agriculture
Davy McCracken (Invited speaker), Claire Morgan-Davies (Speaker) & John Holland (Speaker)
8 Mar 2022Activity: Talk, evidence or presentation types › Invited talk
File -
Farm Woodland Forum (External organisation)
John Holland (Treasurer)
20 Jun 2022 → 20 Jun 2023Activity: Membership types › Membership of committee
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Seeking multiple benefits from natural carbon stores in the uplands
John Holland (Speaker)
19 Oct 2022Activity: Talk, evidence or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Farming in the uplands: opportunities for carbon and farming
Neil Carter (Organiser), Davy McCracken (Invited speaker) & John Holland (Invited speaker)
29 Nov 2021Activity: Talk, evidence or presentation types › Invited talk
File -
NSA Breakfast Club - Is shabby the new chic? An exploration of nature recovery on sheep farms
Davy McCracken (Invited speaker) & John Holland (Speaker)
1 Sept 2021Activity: Talk, evidence or presentation types › Invited talk
File
Press/Media
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Episode 8: Electronic ID, feed efficiency and biodiversity
Davy McCracken, Claire Morgan-Davies, Nicola Lambe & John Holland
14/05/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media