Landscape‐scale native woodland habitat restoration using natural tree regeneration provides a biodiversity boost for moths in the uplands

Abstract Afforestation of native woodland is a globally important political target with potential to meet biodiversity and climate change targets. Heavily deforested landscapes such as parts of the Scottish Highlands provide an opportunity to expand remaining native woodland fragments. Landscape‐scale upland woodland expansion is underway through reducing deer numbers to allow natural tree regeneration, but studies on the biodiversity responses to such projects remain scarce. In this study we investigate how moths respond to a landscape‐scale woodland expansion project at Mar Lodge Estate in the Scottish Highlands. We study three habitat types along a successional gradient from open treeless moorland to early successional woodland and mature Caledonian pinewood remnants. Specifically, we (1) document differences in moth species richness, abundance, diversity and community composition amongst the three habitat types and (2) identify important plant species and habitat structures for moths. Moth species richness and abundance was highest in mature pinewood and alpha diversity equal highest between mature pinewood and early successional woodland, especially in plots where broadleaved trees were present. Abundance and diversity of moths also increased in the early successional woodland compared to the open moorland. Community composition differed amongst the three habitat types suggesting a complex, dynamic mosaic of mature woodland, early successional woodland and open moorland is required to support the greatest diversity of moth communities at the landscape scale. Practical implication. We show that protection and expansion of mature pinewoods is important for moths and that landscape‐scale habitat restoration using natural tree regeneration is a powerful tool to diversify and increase the abundance of moth communities in the uplands.