How long can anachronistic & damaging land uses prevail?
- Details
- Written by Roy Turnbull
- Category: Debates
- Published: 13 April 2016
Dear Sir,
On Monday, April 4, The Scotsman published an article giving the sporting estates' defence of muirburn - the burning of heather during grouse moor management.
On Friday, you published the results of research from Edinburgh and Aberdeen Universities, indicating that adopting the latest "sustainable land use practices" would allow the locking away, or sequestration, of huge quantities of greenhouse gases in "farmland and natural wild spaces".
Thus we witness a nineteenth century indulgence confronted by twenty first century reality.
Recent muirburn next to woodland in the Cairngorms National Park, Spring 2016.
Grouse moors and deer stalking estates have this in common: they both minimise carbon sequestration.
Burning of grouse moors and over-grazing of stalking estates prevents woodland regeneration and devastates ground vegetation, whilst compacting soils and reducing their carbon retention capacities. These systems are the very opposite of "sustainable land use practices" if that sustainability has any reference to the aspirations of the recent Paris summit on climate change, to which our governments are committed.
The questions arise: How long, in a world divesting its money from fossil fuels and increasingly desperate about global warming, can these anachronistic and damaging land-uses prevail? When will the monetary value of sporting estates begin to plummet? How long will it take before the Scottish Government faces up to this reality and provides scientifically appropriate legislation to govern the demise and transition of Scotland's sporting estates?
Yours sincerely,
Roy Turnbull
Nethy Bridge, Inverness-shire
References:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/gamekeepers-campaign-to-explain-why-heather-is-set-on-fire-1-4089784
Environmental Hustings Thur 21 April in Aviemore
- Details
- Written by Tessa Jones
- Category: Meetings
- Published: 31 March 2016
Photos from 2016 hustings.
7pm - 9pm on Thursday 21 April.
Covering the two constituencies of: Inverness and Nairn; and Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
Free, all welcome.
Location: Aviemore Community Centre, Muirton, Aviemore, PH22 1SF.
The candidates who attended the hustings:
Conservative - Edward Mountain, Strathspey
Green - Isla O'Reilly, H&I list
Labour - David Stewart, Strathspey
LibDem - Carolyn Caddick - Strathspey
RISE - Jean Urquhart, H&I list
SNP - Maree Todd, H&I list
Solidarity - Liz Walker, H&I list
UKIP - Philip Anderson, H&I list
Talk: Improved Planning in the Spotlight
- Details
- Written by Gus Jones
- Category: Meetings
- Published: 24 March 2016
We are delighted that Clare Symonds will be giving BSCG a talk about improving planning in Scotland on Wednesday 30 March in Carrbridge village Hall at 7.30pm. Clare is the founder and chair of Planning Democracy and has been recognised in the Scottish Sustainable Development Forum’s Green List for her work to improve community engagement in Scottish planning. Clare has worked on community empowerment issues in both local government and the voluntary sector strengthening her belief that a robust, democratic planning system is crucial for shaping fairer and more sustainable places.
Planning Democracy is a national charity established in 2009 with the aim of strengthening democracy by promoting a stronger public voice in the Scottish land-use planning system. Planning Democracy was established in response to growing concerns from individuals and groups who found that Scotland's planning reforms, implemented in 2009, had made little difference to their ability to understand and influence the planning process. There is a perceived failure of democratic planning which has resulted in many people feeling dis-empowered, and unable to influence what happens in their own areas. The concern it holds is that this situation leads to development being strongly dictated by market forces and has huge implications for social and environmental injustices. Planning Democracy wants to ensure the public is fairly and equitably involved in the planning process believing this will lead to more locally accountable, robust planning decisions, driven by need rather than profit.
Planning Democracy is a campaigning and influencing charity. It is the only organisation in Scotland representing the community perspective and promoting cultural and structural changes to facilitate greater public participation in Scotland's planning system.
With growing calls for a fairer and more balanced planning system and with an election for the Scottish Parliament approaching, Clare’s talk that will encompass some of the range of the work of Planning Democracy promises to be particularly timely.
BSCG Steps in to Help Wintergreens
- Details
- Written by Gus Jones
- Category: Plants
- Published: 24 March 2016
Teamwork on the outskirts of the ‘Forest Village’ of Nethybridge has delivered a successful conservation outcome for attractive pinewood plants. Recognizing that two kinds of wintergreen were at risk along a verge earmarked for the laying of a broadband cable, BSCG volunteers marked the plants with high visibility tape enabling contractors A. Willox & Sons to take the cable along a route that skirted the wintergreens.
Complimenting the teamwork with A Willox & Son, Dr Deborah Long, Head of Plantlife Scotland said, ‘This is a really good example of all the benefits that can be achieved when local conservation groups work with contractors. The wintergreens are a group of beautiful flowers that are highly characteristic of our native pinewoods. It is heartening to see their conservation as a key part of road verge management, which is sensitive enough to avoid harm to these plants, securing a stronger future for them in the National Park.’
The team at the roadside.
The temporary marker tape in position.
Wintergreen flowers.
Talk: 'Cairngorms Nature - Current Challenges' by Andy Ford
- Details
- Written by Gus Jones
- Category: Meetings
- Published: 11 November 2015
Illustrated talk by Andy Ford who works for the Cairngorms National Park Authority as their Cairngorms Nature Manager.
Andy Ford’s illustrated talk will highlight some of the key species in need of conservation action in the Cairngorms, and review the progress that has been made with the Cairngorms Nature Action Plan as well as look at a range of future challenges and opportunities.
8.00pm Wednesday 25 November
Carrbridge Village Hall.