Juniper is believed to have declined by up to 60% of its pre-1960 population, although with adult bushes being long-lived, it is possible for moribund populations with no regeneration to affect the true status of the species. The biggest threat to the plant is over-grazing, which prevents the regeneration of young bushes. However, too little grazing also affects the spread of juniper by allowing larger trees to shade out the adult bushes. In the uplands, juniper is also threatened by moorland burning for game shooting, which prevents the plants regenerating or leads to a fragmented cover. However, the threat to the species is greater in England than it is in Scotland.