Baxter Cooper 1934-2017 An Appreciation
This appreciation of Baxter Cooper has been collated by Tom McLellan, forester from Taynuilt, Argyll, with input provided by John Gallacher, retired Tilhill ecologist and great friend of Baxter.
Baxter Cooper was at the forefront of forest ecology in Scotland, particularly within the world of commercial forestry.
Joining the Economic Forestry Group (EFG) in 1988, Baxter was soon encouraging foresters to “never mind the timber, feel the moss” and with such enlightenment, foresters were beginning to realise that forests and woods grow more than trees. These were radical thoughts at the time and, as Baxter said “we must embrace the fact that forestry is multi-purpose, and be as conscious of its production of wildlife as of timber. Our understanding of wildlife processes in the forests we manage will do much to improve communication and avoid conflict with conservationists”.
Before joining EFG, Baxter worked at Edinburgh University as a post-graduate researcher specialising in Red Deer ecology. As a result of this, he was appointed an Honorary Fellow of Edinburgh University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering on recognition of his work at the Institute of Ecology and Resource Management’s Division of Biological Sciences.
There is no doubt that Baxter brought a sense of gravitas to the role of Forest Ecologist with EFG and then Tilhill when both companies merged in 1991. He was respected both within the wider forest industry and within the growing nature conservation sector who were increasingly taking a view on woodland creation schemes and the need for Environmental Impact Assessments for which Baxter excelled.
Please see the PDF link below to read the detailed appreciation.
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Groups: Animal, Insect, Plant and Fungal species in forestry