Case Study: River Dee Trust advances river restoration with NatureMetrics eDNA insights

River Dee Trust maps Atlantic salmon across the catchment with NatureMetrics

The River Dee Trust faced a significant challenge with the declining Atlantic salmon population in the River Dee and Don, driven by climate change, pollution, and habitat loss. Their traditional monitoring methods were insufficient for gathering the large-scale data needed to guide strategic conservation efforts. To address this, the Trust partnered with NatureMetrics to implement an innovative solution using eDNA technology.

NatureMetrics designed an eDNA sampling program that engaged community volunteers to collect water samples across the entire catchment. The analysis provided detailed distribution maps for Atlantic salmon, detected invasive species, and identified biodiversity hotspots and areas of environmental stress using invertebrate bioindicators. By integrating this eDNA data with hydrological models, NatureMetrics delivered powerful ecosystem insights that equipped the Trust to prioritize habitats and inform targeted conservation strategies. The project's data was also contributed to the global GBIF database, significantly expanding its impact for worldwide scientific collaboration.

River Dee Trust