Conflicts of Interest in Named Upland Areas

Example1 Cairngorms (glaciated upland)

See:- http://helios.bto.ed.ac.uk/resman/nrm/cairngorms.htm

1. Describe the landscape’s opportunities

1.      some of the remotest and wildest mountain tops and arctic high plateaux, offering vast and spacious views.

2.      comprising the largest mass of high and wild land in the United Kingdom and including five summits above 4000 feet.

3.      The rolling granite plateaux are broken by deep glaciated glens and impressive corries which shelter high lochans.

4.      the biggest granite cliffs anywhere in the British Isles, offering a vast array of climbs at all grades in both summer and winter.

5.      The area also offers some superlative ski mountaineering beyond the crowds on Cairn Gorm itself.

6.      The diversity is one of the main appeals of the area: the hill walker may be a knowledgeable botanist, and the rock climber a keen downhill skier, but most recognise the fundamental spiritual value of the superb landscape in which they take their recreation.

7.      The Cairngorms has vast tracts of heather MOORLAND and some of the most extensive remnants of old Caledonian pine woods, together with Birch woodland, marshes, meandering rivers, and remote glens which all add to the diversity of scenery and wild land experience a range of historical and archaeological remains.

LAND OWNERSHIP

Most of Cairngorms is in PRIVATE ESTATES-it is NOT PUBLIC LAND!!

Land owners alone are diverse and numerous all with their own objectives and agendas, perhaps presenting the fundamental threat to this ecostystem. Obviously these stakeholders do not have equal power and influence when it comes to management decisions within the Cairngorms.

Referrring to named examples, describe the conflicts of interest between different users in the Cairngorms

1. SKI-ING

Background- The Cairngorms have 3 out of the 5 skiing resorts in Scotland (Cairn Gorm, the Lecht and Glenshee) covering a total area of 1850 hectares On a good season, £12 million can be spent in the area, with 1/3 of that being on-slope expenditure and 2/3 being off-slope expenditure on accommodation, meals, clothing, etc.

VISUAL CONFLICT

·        Chairlifts and associated buildings are unsightly and obscure some of the area’s natural beauty.

·        Snow fences produce unnatural snow-line with subsequent changes to the flora, and are a barrier to hillwalkers. Restaurants and accommodation built in the 1960s are deteriorating, causing more visual intrusions

·        Funicular railway particularly intrusive and out of place-visitor centre at summit is not appropriate

·        Car parks and busy traffic, esp at weekends

·        ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICT

·        Conservationists worry about the threat to RARE MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE (eg EAGLE, ARCTIC HARE, CAPERCAILLIE)

·        Crows and gulls are SCAVENGERS that thrive on LITTER- have been found to prey on the eggs of ptarmigan and dotterel and known to reduce reproduction

·        Reseeding of the damaged areas leads to changes in the vegetation structure which in turn leads to changes in the bird life. This is important as the Cairn Gorm Ski Area lies in the largest privately owned bird reserve in Europe

·        Soil erosion due to vegetation damage and compaction by skiing can lead to flooding lower down the hillside

·        Pollution through added exhaust fumes

·        Conservation groups opposed the Funicular as it would bring more people to the ecologically fragile SUMMIT. They doubt that so many jobs are really dependent on the funicular, and argue that it’s a huge waste of public money. They say that providing ease of public access to highly sensitive mountain surfaces leads to marked degradation of plants and wildlife.

BUT………..The Funicular rail Company argues that 2000 jobs will be secured/guaranteed; that the rail is much less OBTRUSIVE than the old chairlift, and that visitors will have RESTRICTED ACCESS at the summit. They went to great lengths to landscape and restore the hillside after construction. Disabled and young visitors will have much easier access.

2.      AFFORESTATION

VISUAL CONFLICT

·        Conifer plantations are rigid, straight edged; look out of place

·        CLEARFELLING creates unsightly hillsides, scarred by tracks and tree stumps, dead wood

·        Reduced views for walkers

ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICT

·        Deforestation of native woodland for plantations destroys habitat

·        Conifers cause reduction in local species-little/no undergrowth, except at edges/breaks

·        Slopes that have been cleared of forest have severe soil erosion; rapid runoff

·        Further conflicts are the development of forest roads and fences, which not only detract from the wilderness quality but, present a hazard for wildlife.

3. AGRICULTURE and GAME

Background_ . Agriculture is highly economically significant as it counts for 8 % of the areas direct employment and 74% of the land. It also has environmental significance as any changes to the land and its management affect natural habitats and landscapes. The Cairngorms area is a less favoured area (LFA) because of the short growing season and harsh, lengthy winters.. The climatic, relief and soil limit farming to mainly rough grazing. Remoteness to markets also is a disadvantage. It is  very dependent on European and UK subsidies deer stalking and shooting have been seen to be an important element of the Cairngorms culture, which provide significant revenue to Estates. There are over 40000 Red deer in the Cairngorms area. This accounts for one fifth of the Deer population in Scotland.

VISUAL CONFLICT

·        bulldozing through the high plateau to create access for ATV’s for deer stalking activities. This has occurred on the Glen Feshie estate, damaging the vegetation, creating a scar on the landscape and reducing the roadless area.

·        Woodland Grant schemes encourage farmers to develop plantations rather than conserve traditional Scots Pine.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICT

·        Farm intensification posses a threat to moorland and wetland-drainage, fertiliser, fences

·        overgrazing leads to domination of heather moorland by a few species

·        Birds collide into deer fences

·        Overgrazing by Red deer and sheep has lead to the almost complete elimination of the natural upper tree line.

HILLWALKING

Main problem here is the mix of visual and environmental problems caused by footpath erosion, but also conflicts over right to roam

·        Pressure on footpaths causes erosion, leading to secondary tracks

·        Eroding paths are difficult to walk along so visitors detour round them, creating new paths alongside-lead to GULLY formation, increased RUNOFF (eg LOCHNAGAR area) 

·        damage was most severe at easily accessible paths which were reached by chairlifts..

·        visitors affect the ground directly by trampling on vegetation.

·        Walkers with uncontrolled dogs can disturb wildlife, particularly during the breeding season, when ground ground-nesting birds may desert their nests making eggs and young more susceptible to predation.

·        one uncontrolled dog is likely to cause as much damage as many humans.

·        Litter-see above

·        Forest/Deer Fences and snow walls impede walkers

8.      2.2 A second conflict is between ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT and CONSERVATION. For example there is a current argument between directors of the proposed new developments in Aviemore, eg to build new hotels, etc and the national park authority over planning permission. They believe that Economic development is vital to Speyside to stem OUTMIGRATION, and to DIVERSIFY the economy, esp if WINTER TOURISM continues to fall (LESS SNOW!!).

Problem	Solution	Comment on effectiveness
Skiing in Cairngorms-unsightly ski-tows, damage to underlying vegetation                   Footpath erosion, eg Malham Cove (Limestone); Ben Nevis(glaciated upland)-constant visitor pressure deepens and widens tracks, turning into gulleys that scar the hillside, channeling rainwater     Unsightly forest plantations in glaciated upland areas, eg Lake District, Cairngorms	Funicular railway built 2001                       Volunteers restore footpaths for NT and national parks Bark/chippings/ duckboards Signage Ziz-zag paths rather than straight up hill reduce impact of gulley formation     Sympathetic forestry-trees planted in harmony with local environment-mixed species, curved boundaries; avoid planting on summits; using natural gaps, eg rivers Encourage visitors-nature trails, information centers (eg Landmark)	Fewer people walking up hill-less trampling Helicopters flew in parts to minimize churning up of ground Good for disabled access to Scottish scenery Seeding of plants; landscaping Visitor centre at summit-more education Only serious climbers have access to the summit May attract more visitors-car parking increases Funicular expensive; may break down, operates at loss; Not appropriate for a wilderness area   Expensive to restore Materials, eg bark costly Scale of task!! Mountain bikers may prefer off track anyway People take short cuts between paths Where set up, they do reduce erosion, but regular maintenance needed   Many forests very well laid out-increasing attempts at sustainable timber-regular replanting Forest parks try to manage needs of visitors and timber-log cabin info centers explain significance of timber industry and also explain local wildlife Many bird groups, eg RSPB skeptical-claim that plantations reduce biodiversity- traditional species dying out Forests is essentially destructive-clear felling is nosey; trees cut down create area of wasteland which takes years to regrow; tracks for machinery unsightly, causes gulleying