It lies within the Cairngorms National Park, close to the villages of Nethy Bridge, Boat of Garten, and Aviemore.

[7] The Abernethy NNR is classified as a Category II protected area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

[citation needed] They are also working to improve bog, moorland, scrub, rivers and mountain habitats, both within the area of the reserve and in partnership with neighbouring estates.

[4] To this end, on 19 October 2006, the RSPB began using explosives to blast off the crowns of nine Caledonian pine trees, between 100 and 200 years old.

[8] Referring to this use of explosives, Desmond Dugan, RSPB Site Manager at the Forest Lodge, said:[9] "Explosives may seem extreme but the effect will be no less catastrophic than a wind snapped, lightning struck or avalanched tree" James Reynolds, RSPB Head of Media and Communications, said:[10] "We've been simply felling trees and trying to create dead wood habitats in that way before, but we don't think it allowed the process to get going quickly enough" The Abernethy National Nature Reserve overlaps with several other designated areas, including:[11] The reserve also borders two other national nature reserves, Mar Lodge Estate and Glenmore Forest.