- Details
- Written by Administrator
- Category: Debates
- Published: 29 November 2023
Dr. Dermot Williamson will explain why the world is warming, and why that is existentially important. He will lead a discussion on what we can do to halt global warming.
The world since the Industrial Revolution has been warming rapidly, ending the climate stability that allowed us to develop agriculture, build societies and create civilisation.
Global warming continues as long as we keep increasing greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere. If it does continue, many parts of the world may become uninhabitable. There would be mass extinctions of animal and plant species. This is an existential threat to many people and to much of nature.
This talk and discussion will show why the United Nations’ climate conference COP28 in Dubai is vitally important. COP28 will be a decision point between tackling the climate crisis, or alternatively locking us into a world deteriorating towards an unliveable future.
- Details
- Written by Gus Jones
- Category: Debates
- Published: 17 March 2020
Situated beside the forest village of Nethy Bridge, School Wood is an outstanding ancient woodland supporting exceptional biodiversity. Following a visit to the wood in 2002 the late Dr Adam Watson, ecologist and authority on the Cairngorms, recognised its high value. He commented in the press, “Nethy Bridge is exceptionally fortunate in having this incredible amenity and educational site beside the village. It would be tragic if this irreplaceable asset were damaged by .. housing development”.
With others, BSCG has been campaigning to save School Wood from development threats since 1993. So far no development has taken place. Appreciation of the value of the site has grown. Reflecting this, in their next Local Development Plan the National Park Authority has removed the area allocated for 15 houses in School Wood “due to significant natural heritage constraints”. BSCG has welcomed this. However the new Plan is not due to be formally adopted until later this year. Unfortunately, the present Plan still includes a housing allocation.
The above letter by Roy Turnbull emphasises that it is now more unacceptable than ever to propose this precious ancient woodland as a building site.
This letter was published in The Scotsman on 13 March 2020.
Adam Watson in School Wood in 2002.
- Details
- Written by Roy Turnbull
- Category: Debates
- Published: 24 December 2017
Dear Sir,
17/04601/FUL - Development of 18 hole golf course, erection of clubhouse etc.
Land 1700M NW of Embo Community Centre School Street, Embo.
I write to add my strong objection to the above proposed development.
I have studied the detailed objections you have already received from numerous informed and knowledgeable sources concerning the damaging impacts this proposed development would have upon the exceptional and valued flora and fauna and landscape of this important designated site. Whilst there is little point in my repeating all this information, which I trust you will study and absorb, I would like to draw your particular attention to just two issues:
1. From the Scottish Wildlife Trust objection, dated 27th October 2017:
“assessing the impact of the development is not simply a case of totalling up the areas of the various habitats which the footprint of the development will cover. The creation of a golf course, and aspects of its management such as drainage, irrigation, seeding, cutting, fertilising, application of pesticides, water abstraction from boreholes and resultant impacts such as changes to grazing, and disturbance, will fundamentally affect the operation of these natural processes which have created the sand dune features which are a notified feature of the Ramsar site.
The development will freeze this dynamism over time and steadily impoverish the biodiversity to make it a very ordinary place, like most of Scotland’s links golf courses (lawns and scrub). Construction and management will fundamentally affect these processes of seasonal and longer term changes”
This, it seems to me, gets to the crux of the matter. It is simply not possible to make large scale alterations to the functioning of a complex, dynamic, living system of sand, water, plants, animals and fungi without fundamentally degrading and unravelling the whole system. A similar warning was sounded during consultations over the Menie golf course development near Aberdeen, and the recent announcement by Scottish Natural Heritage that de-designation of the SSSI there is under consideration because of the damage to its special features following development emphasises the validity of such warnings. I submit that the developers should heed the advice contained in both the SNH and SEPA objections: to consider an alternative site on agricultural land.
2. Please assess this proposal beyond just the confines of local concerns. There is widespread and increasing global concern about the continuing incremental loss of biodiversity and of natural and semi-natural habitats. For example, a very recent global study by the University of Queensland, Australia
[ https://www.uq.edu.au/news/
“Despite their importance, wilderness areas are being destroyed at an alarming rate and need urgent protection with almost 10 per cent being lost since the early 1990s. Their conservation is a global priority.”
Approving this application would damage Scotland's reputation for looking after its own natural and semi-natural areas, and weaken its voice on the global stage at a time when stopping the loss of such areas is an urgent necessity. As one of the wealthier and better educated countries on Earth, Scotland should be leading by example.
- 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
- Details
- Written by Gus Jones
- Category: Debates
- Published: 20 April 2015
Dick Balharry who attended the very first meeting of BSCG in 1975 deserves warm congratulations for the award of the prestigious Patrick Geddes medal for his outstanding contribution to conservation.
Presenting the award at a ceremony at Glen Feshie the Chief Executive of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society described Dick as “a relentless and passionate advocate for improving and protecting Scotland's natural landscapes" who "has influenced, advised, inspired and encouraged so many people and organisations".
The Sunday Herald (19 April 2015) reports on the award and mentions that Dr Adam Watson who spoke at BSCG’s inaugural meeting recalled vital work in Wester Ross undertaken by Dick on the poisoning of golden eagles that contributed to the banning of some persistent organochlorines pesticides in the 1970’s and 1980’s. BSCG members will also recall Dick’s important contribution to the establishment of Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve.
Referring to his speech the paper reports that Dick Balharry criticised landowners for erecting fences to protect native woodlands from marauding deer and commented this damaged the landscape, inhibited public access and deprived deer of shelter. The report is followed by an editorial headed 'Cairngorms talk highlights need for land reform'. This echos Dick’s views and comments "What's now crucial is that ministers introduce measures that oblige landowners to manage their estates for the public, good, rather than private gain."
See the article here: http://www.robedwards.com/2015/04/landowners-under-fire-for-selfish-greed-from-leading-conservationist.html
- Details
- Written by Gus Jones
- Category: Debates
- Published: 03 April 2015
I first came to the Highlands as an 8 year-old boy on holiday and even then I knew that this was where I wanted to live. My wife Jackie and I moved with our kids to the Highlands many years ago. We uprooted our business and moved that here as well. This region is one of the most beautiful places in the world and we love living here.
It’s pleasing to say that I fulfilled that boyhood ambition when I moved here many years ago with my wife Jackie and our kids, uprooting our business and replanting it here, in the Highlands.
Serving my ward, Aird and Loch Ness, which is in this constituency, along with my work on the Cairngorms National Park Authority, has ensured I am constantly reminded of what is exceptional about where we work and live.
Most days I get to walk to work as the Leader of the Highland Council, crossing the bridge over the lovely River Ness on the way. My kids can walk to school, even when it’s raining. My ward of Aird and Loch Ness, which is the equivalent size of Luxembourg, has many wonderful sights to see as I crisscross it, visiting constituents and communities.
The reason I’m telling you all of this because the environment is very important to me. I think it is to everyone living in the Highlands. In my experience, most of us feel lucky to be living here. So the local environment and our wider responsibilities for the planet must be seen as a priority for us all.
I am grateful to be invited to the hustings organised by the Badenoch & Strathspey Conservation Group and thank them for this opportunity to focus on the environment. I like the view that we have two ears and one mouth, and we should use them in the same proportion. So I will be pleased to talk about my campaign policies, the Scottish Government’s progress on the environment, and my own initiatives, but I will be listening at the hustings and hoping to hear from the people how we can do more at all levels of government.
Of course, I will also be keen to discuss the Scottish Environment LINK’s Manifesto for the Westminster General Election.
It is important to say though, that I certainly believe politicians can and must do more on the environment. My Carbon Clever programme for example, which I initiated at Highland Council, focuses on the economy, energy, land use and resources, transport and engagement strategy. It is a growing success and proof that even in these tough times of austerity progressive policies can be delivered.
Follow @Carbon_CLEVER on Twitter for more information. In the meantime I look forward to meeting with all those who will be at the hustings and discussing such a vital campaign issue.
Drew Hendry
SNP
@drewhendrySNP
www.facebook.com/DrewHendrySNP2015
That’s why I initiated Carbon Clever