edexcel geo, unit 4 case study info- cairngorms

7/21/2019 Edexcel Geo, Unit 4 case study info- Cairngorms

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N A T U R A L H E R I T A G E F U T U R E S


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C o n t e n t s


S U M M A R Y

D E S C R I P T I O N

K E Y I N F L U E N C E S

V I S I O N

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N

aturalHeritage

Futures

C A I R N G O R M S M A S S I F I n t r o du c t i o n

I N T R O D U C T I O N

This is one of a suite of publications which Scottish

Natural Heritage has prepared to guide the future

management of the natural heritage towards 2025,

within the wider context of sustainable development. Our

landscapes and wildlife are highly valued assets which

have often been shaped by human activity. Under

sensitive management, the natural heritage also has the

potential to enhance peoples lives and provide

substantial economic benefits, of particular value to

fragile rural populations. As far as possible, these

documents aim to identify common goals and encourage

an integrated approach in which all sectors work

together to achieve them.

Covering the Cairngorms Massif, this is one of 21 local

documents which, together, cover the whole of Scotland,

each presenting a vision for sustainable use of the local

natural heritage and the action required to achieve it.The 21 areas each have their own identity resulting from

the interaction of geology, landforms, landscapes,

wildlife and land use - and hence are affected by distinct

issues. There are also six documents detailing national

objectives for different settings: Forests and Woodlands,

Hills and Moors, Coasts and Seas, Settlements,

Farmland and Fresh Waters. Data underpinning these

local and national objectives are provided in a series of

National Assessments which are available on CD-ROM.

This suite of publications is intended to assist all

organisations and individuals which have an influence

on the natural heritage. The priorities presented will be

used to inform SNHs input to plans and strategies for

various sectors and geographical areas such as

Development Plans, Community Planning, Indicative

Forestry Strategies, access, tourism and renewable

energy strategies, local and national Biodiversity Action

Plans, integrated catchment management, integrated

coastal zone management and National Park Plans.

Scottish Natural Heritages Natural Heritage

Futures is our contribution to putting sustainable

development into practice. It will ensure that we

take an integrated approach to our work across

our whole remit and, at the same time, provide the

basis for our engagement with other stakeholders.

Caring for the natural heritage is a long-term

business and we have deliberately taken a more

visionary approach in setting goals for the natural

heritage and societys use of it. Also, SNH cannot

do everything itself: it does not have the powers, or

the resources, or the desire to do so. Many other

public, private and voluntary organisations have

an important role to play. It is our hope that,

through engagement on Natural Heritage Futures,

together we shall have a substantial, positive and

long-lasting impact on the management and use of

the natural heritage and the benefits which societyderives from it.

Na t u r a lHe r i t a g e

F u t u r e s

Na t u r a l

He r i t a g eF u t u r e s

a bold and imaginative

way of establishing

some high-level

objectives for the

natural heritage

of Scotland


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The documents take account of the views of a wide

range of partner organisations, which were sought

through consultation carried out during 2001. These

included local authorities, public agencies, and

representatives of private interests, and voluntary bodies

concerned with conservation, rural development,

recreation and land management. There was

considerable agreement with the visions, objectives and

actions, but SNH recognises that there are also some

issues where further discussion is needed: the roles of

different parties in taking action and the ability to agree

a shared vision being examples. We will be working

with partners to achieve agreement and to identify any

actions which are not currently being taken forward.

The vision statements and associated objectives set out

through this programme remain essentially those of

SNH, although shared to a greater or lesser extent by a

wide range of partners. A key function of these

published documents is to stimulate the wider debatenecessary to establish a broader vision for sustainable

development in Scotland, and to translate it into action.

The objectives and actions in these documents will be

refined and translated into detailed targets through the

plans and strategies which will take them forward. Local

biodiversity action plans, for example, will identify

detailed targets for species and habitats. Also the

framework provided through Natural Heritage Futures

can help determine spatial priorities in, e.g. development

plans and community plans. SNH will also review its

own work programmes against the objectives and

actions in these documents, and make the necessary

adjustments.

The objectives for the natural heritage set out in this

document link to a wide range of other plans, strategies

and initiatives, including local development plans,

community planning, access strategies, Indicative

Forestry Strategies, Local Biodiversity Action Plans, and,

particularly, the proposed development of a Cairngorms

National Park. The wider policy context also includes the

Highlands and Islands Objective 1 transitional

programme, Scottish Forestry Strategy, A Forward

Strategy for Scottish Agriculture, Rural Scotland: a New

Approach, the EC Rural Development Regulation, the

Water Framework, Habitats and Birds Directives, land

reform legislation and national Biodiversity Action Plans.

Natural Heritage Futures does not seek to replace

existing administrative boundaries. It does, however,

emphasise the need for flexibility across all systems of

governance in order to work towards sustainable

development, acknowledging that natural systems do not

recognise administrative boundaries and that integratedaction across those boundaries is essential.

The framework of 21 areas is intended to be used to

promote integrated approaches to the natural heritage

at the local scale; it is a means to facilitate discussion on

areas that share essentially similar natural heritage. The

boundaries should be viewed as indicative, with places

lying close to a boundary having transitional character

with adjacent areas.

Natur

alHeritageFutures


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S u m m a r yS u m m a ry


7/365C A I R N G O R M S M A S S I F S um m a ry

The Cairngorms massif is dominated by vast, rolling, boulder-

strewn plateaux, ringed by precipitous cliffs which plunge to

dark, wild corries. The highest plateaux reach over 1,200m in

altitude, supporting immense tracts of alpine heath and blanket

bog which are home to dotterel, ptarmigan and snow bunting.

To the south, the high plateaux of Clova and Caenlochan are

composed of relatively nutrient-rich rocks and support a

contrasting variety of rare and specialised alpine wildlife. The

area contains the largest remaining fragments of ancient

Caledonian pine forest, with characteristic birds such as

capercaillie, Scottish crossbill and crested tit. The nature and

extent of these landscapes and habitats are exceptional within

Scotland.

These wild and often very remote mountain massifs arenationally renowned for outdoor recreation, including

hillwalking, climbing and off-piste skiing. More accessible

areas provide for a wide range of other activities including

walking, cycling, downhill skiing and the quiet enjoyment of

nature and fine scenery. Rivers and lochs are also used, for

sailing, windsurfing and canoeing. In conjunction with other

land uses such as field sports, agriculture and forestry, these

activities provide a high proportion of local employment.

A number of comparatively recent trends have influenced the

natural heritage, including:

Large numbers of red deer, particularly in recent decades,

leading in particular to:

damage and long-term loss of native woodland, and

deterioration of moorland and other upland habitats.

Increased recognition of the value of native woodland,

leading to:

development of a co-ordinated framework to establish

multi-purpose native woodland, supported by targeted

grant aid; and

local expansion of native pinewood, often protected bydeer fences.

Increasing recreational activity in recent decades,

leading to:

downhill ski developments, often with highly visible

infrastructure;

erosion of paths, and associated problems of the impact

on the landscape and damage to vegetation; and

increased public appreciation of the natural heritage.

Built development which is often unsympathetic to the

landscape, resulting in:

loss of the local character of rural settlements; and

intrusive bulldozed tracks, telecommunication masts andother structures in remote areas.

The natural heritage is a considerable asset in its own right and

plays a crucial role in the local economy. Scottish Ministers

have proposed the establishment of a National Park in the

Cairngorms, offering a potential framework to integrate diverse

land uses and benefit both conservation and rural

development. A number of other government-led strategies will

also influence the area in the coming years.

This document sets out a vision for the future which builds on

the economic importance of landscapes, wildlife and

recreation, maintaining the natural heritage as the foundation

for sustainable development. This overall aim is desirable

irrespective of National Park status.

Summary


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De s c r i p t i o nDe s c r i p t i o n

A description of the main

features of the natural

heritage and its enjoyment


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The central Cairngorms, the high plateaux of Lochnagar, the

White Mounth and Caenlochan and the rolling hills of

Drumochter include the largest continuous area above 1,000m

in Britain. These vast and expansive mountain massifs are

fringed by rolling heather moorland and ancient native

pinewoods, creating spectacular landscapes which are

outstanding in Scotland. The high mountains, straths and

pinewoods are also a remarkable reservoir of biodiversity, an

important resource for outdoor recreation and, in turn, an

extremely important economic asset. This exceptional natural

heritage has been moulded by interactions between geology,

climate and, in many areas, human activity.

G E O L O G Y A N D L A N D F O R M S

The geology and landforms of the Cairngorms greatly

influence all other aspects of the natural heritage. The central

Cairngorms and neighbouring mountain plateaux are

formed from great masses of granite, forced upwards by

activity deep inside the earth. The mountains to the south and

west including Drumochter and Caenlochan are the last

eroded remnants of an immense mountain chain, 400 million

years old, and are composed of metamorphic rocks which

have been altered by extreme heat and pressure. These hard

and resistant rocks have been selectively eroded by glaciers tocreate the spectacular topography of the present day. The

mountain plateaux are penetrated by deep, narrow glacial

troughs such as the Lairig Ghru and Glen Tilt, and are fringed

by precipitous corries cradling dark lochans.

Many smaller-scale features reflect intense freezing and

thawing as temperatures rose at the end of the last ice age.

Some of these features are no longer active, while others

slowly continue to form. These sensitive landforms include

delicate nets and stripes formed by the movement of fine rock

debris, and terraces formed by soil movement over the frozen

ground below.

This earth heritage is outstanding in variety, extent and

concentration within Scotland and internationally. The

underlying geology and subsequent glaciation have shaped

the present day landscape, and provide the foundation for the

rich wildlife of the hills, rivers and glens. The Cairngorms

graphically illustrate the immense forces which have shaped

Scotland, and are an extremely valuable resource for research

and education.

M O O R L A N D A N D A L P I N E H A B I T A T S

The Cairngorms and surrounding hills contain a wealth of

alpine wildlife habitats, many of which are comparatively little

modified by human activity. The nature and variety of thesehabitats reflect the characteristic climate of the eastern

Highlands, which is cool and humid (or oceanic) in global

terms, but is nonetheless drier than western Scotland. The great

extent of ground at high altitude has resulted in extensive

development of alpine habitats, which often grade into one

another by natural transitions in response to subtle

environmental change.

Description

Winter on the Cairngorm plateau

Solifluction lobes in the Northern Corries

Alpine heath on the high plateau


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Description

C A I R N G O R M S M A S S I F De s c r i p t i o n

The unstable, wind-blasted gravel fields of the central

Cairngorms are carpeted by alpine heaths dominated by the

rare three-leaved rush, forming by far the greatest extent of this

habitat anywhere in Britain. On wind-exposed summits over

more stable terrain, this community is replaced by carpets of

woolly fringe moss, which are particularly extensive over the

Drumochter hills. This community is confined to areas of

relatively oceanic climate and is uncommon in global terms.

The high tops and their associated vegetation and wildlife are

extremely fragile and sensitive to disturbance.

On more sheltered slopes, these heaths are replaced by

vegetation which reflects varying degrees of snow cover. These

snow-bed communities include numerous rare and

specialised mosses and liverworts, and the extent and diversityof such vegetation exceeds that of any other Scottish mountain

area. On more exposed slopes at lower altitude, alpine rush-

and moss-heaths grade into distinctive dwarf shrub heaths in

which contorted, prostrate heather clings to the ground,

sometimes forming waves or stripes in the scouring wind. This

extremely fragile habitat has few parallels outside the UK.

Some high plateaux also carry deep mantles of peat, with

blanket bog habitats of higher altitude than anywhere else in

the UK. This range of plant communities in turn supports a

wealth of rare invertebrates and some of Scotlands most

distinctive and celebrated birds. These include dotterel, snow

bunting and the ptarmigan, whose hoarse croak can be the

only sign of life when the plateaux are blanketed by winter

snows.

Woodland in the Cairngorms massif (Data exclude new planting since 1988 under the Woodland Grants Scheme)

Dotterel



Cliffs and small rock outcrops are inaccessible to sheep or

deer, and often support a number of habitats which cannot

withstand grazing. These include colourful arrays of tall herbs

such as globeflower and water avens and a wide range of

arctic-alpine species, which are particularly characteristic of

the richer schist areas to the south, including Caenlochan

National Nature Reserve (NNR). A few locations harbour

remnants of scrub formed by low-growing alpine willows,

juniper and dwarf birch, which was once more widespread.

The Cairngorms massif contains by far the greatest surviving

area of alpine willow scrub within the UK.

At lower levels, these communities are replaced by moorland

vegetation with heather, blaeberry, cowberry and bearberry.

These highly characteristic plant communities are maintained tovarying degrees by grazing and rotational muirburn, and do

much to define the upland landscape. Moorland habitats also

support many other highly regarded species, including red

grouse and hen harrier.

W O O D L A N D

On the lowest slopes, moorland is accompanied by native

pinewoods which include the largest remnants of the original

Caledonian forest. These ancient woodlands are home to

species including capercaillie, crested tit, Scottish crossbill,

black grouse and red squirrel, and would once have extended

to a natural altitudinal limit in many areas, with dwarfed and

contorted pine trees fading into open moorland. Only a single

fragment of such treeline scrub now survives, at Creag

Fhiaclach above Glen Feshie. The native woodlands of the

Cairngorms also include both birch and riparian woodland,

with alder and willows, adjacent to watercourses.

This natural heritage is of incalculable value in its own right,

and is also a major asset to the local economy. These

resources make a critical contribution to the appeal of the area

for tourism and outdoor recreation. Woodland and moorland

habitats also provide economically important grazing, shelter,

timber and firewood, enhance the quality of freshwater

habitats and support the quarry species on which field sports

depend.

F R E S H W A T E R

The Cairngorms massif includes a number of major water

bodies. Two of Scotlands major rivers, the Dee and Don, also

rise in the area along with tributaries of other major river

systems. The Cairngorms consequently serve as important

headwater catchments, and the integrity of the upland

environment is essential to the quality and quantity of watersupplies in the urban and farmed lowlands further downstream.

Many streams and lochans in the mountainous core are

naturally acidic and nutrient deficient, and support specialised

plant communities which are extremely uncommon within the

UK. Their low buffering capacity means that they are naturally

susceptible to acidification. At lower altitudes, these rivers

support a range of wildlife which exploit diverse habitats

resulting from critical combinations of water flow and physical

or chemical characteristics. Natural patterns of sediment

transport and deposition are highly important for individual

species, maintaining, e.g. fine gravel beds which are essential

to spawning salmon. Natural nutrient and invertebrate inputs

from bank-side woodland and other vegetation also help to

sustain freshwater ecosystems.

These freshwater habitats support a number of highly

characteristic and widely valued species. These include

salmon, sea trout and brown trout, which provide the

foundation of economically important fisheries. A few

freshwater habitats harbour small, isolated and vulnerablepopulations of species which are extremely rare in the UK,

including water vole, freshwater pearl mussel and Arctic charr.

The headwaters are essential in underpinning the high water

quality of the rivers in their lower catchments outwith the

Cairngorms massif, together with their range of conservation,

economic and amenity values.

Description

Loch an Eilean, Rothiemurchus


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Description

0 C A I R N G O R M S M A S S I F De s c r i p t i o n

L A N D S C A P E

The central Cairngorms, including Ben Macdui, Braeriach

and Beinn aBhuird, present an extremely distinctive landscape

which stamps its character on the entire area. The high level

plateaux are vast and expansive, and are bordered by verticalcliffs which plunge abruptly to deep corries. The highest

summits are littered with great fields of granite boulders, and

Beinn Mheadhoin, Bynack More and Ben Avon are topped by

prominent granite tors which are conspicuous from afar. The

rounded hill slopes are coloured with rich, dark tones by the

abundance of heather, while the lower flanks are scattered

with venerable Caledonian pinewoods which have a timeless

atmosphere. The central mountain sanctuary includes some of

the most remote places in Scotland, and the general absence

of human intervention results in a very strong wild land

character.

The plateaux to the south are slightly less rugged, but are

still of high altitude and have a strong mountain atmosphere.

These uplands share the vastness and rolling contours of the

central Cairngorms, but have comparatively little exposed rock

and more continuous vegetation, with much grassland on the

lower slopes and glens. The high hills are surrounded by great

sweeps of undulating heather moorland which grade to broad

and shallow glens, maintaining the very open, and sometimeswild, character of the landscape. The lower adjoining glens

and straths present a contrasting mosaic of enclosed pasture,

patchworks of woodland and scattered settlement. The

relatively isolated buildings often share a distinctive

architectural style which is strongly characteristic of the area.

The landscapes of the area, including both the more intensively

managed lowland fringes and the wild, mountainous core, are

integral to the identity of local communities, and contribute to

the sense of place experienced by both residents and

visitors. These landscapes, in particular the wild and

mountainous hinterland, are also fundamental to the appeal of

the area for tourism and outdoor recreation, which support a

very high proportion of local income and employment.

Loch Einich and Braeriach

Remoteness of land from public and private roads



R E C R E A T I O N A N D F I E L D S P O R T S

The spectacular, wild and mountain landscapes support a wide

range of recreation, including informal pursuits and more

organised activities such as downhill skiing at Cairngorm,

Glenshee and the Lecht. These popular centres provide a high

proportion of the available downhill skiing in Scotland. Muchof the area, including the extensive moorland in the east, is

used for deer stalking, grouse shooting and fishing, which are

often the primary aims of land management. This range of

activities is enjoyed to varying degrees by both visitors and

local residents.

Hillwalkers from throughout the UK are drawn to the high

mountain areas, including Ben Macdui, Braeriach, Beinn

aBhuird, Lochnagar, Caenlochan, Beinn aGhlo and the

Drumochter hills, which contain some 50 Munros. Corbett

summits such as Meall aBhuachaille, above Glenmore Lodge,

provide a complementary experience away from the popular

tops. This remote area lends itself to multi-day expeditions

based on bothies or wild camping, which

are particularly popular in the central

Cairngorms. The cliffs of Coire an t-

Sneachda, Coire an Lochain, Glen Avon

and the Garbh Choire provide nationally

renowned winter climbing at all levels of

difficulty, and the more accessible of these

crags have been at the cutting edge of

technical developments in Scottish

climbing. Some of these crags also

provide well-known rock climbs such as

the famous Savage Slit in Coire an

Lochain. The vast undulating summits of

the central Cairngorms and the White

Mounth enjoy a national reputation for ski-mountaineering.

Self-sown and planted forests around the fringes of the area

provide complementary recreational opportunities including

horse riding, mountain biking and ski-touring, which are well

suited to forest tracks. Some forests also provide ideal settings

for orienteering events, while community woodlands can offer

convenient recreational opportunities close to settlements. The

more active pursuits are by no means predominant, and many

visitors are drawn to beauty spots such as Loch Morlich and

Glen Muick for short walks, picnics, interpretation centres and

facilities, and other types of quiet recreation. All of these

activities depend, to varying degrees, on the diverse and

spectacular natural heritage of the Cairngorms massif, and

help in turn to sustain the local economy.

Description

Walking in Rothiemurchus

Munro summits and land above 900m

Winter climbing


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Ke y i n f l u e n c e so n t h e N a t u r a l

He r i t a g e

K e y i n f l u e n c e so n t h e N a t u r a l

He r i t a g e

An outline of how the natural

heritage has changed, how it is

changing and the key factors

influencing change. The changes

described are both positive and

negative and together with the

Description, provide the basis

for the Vision.


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The natural heritage of the Cairngorms massif is influenced by

a wide variety of factors, including geology, climate and

human activity. It is essential to understand the most important

past and present trends in order to identify ways in which the

natural heritage can be sustained and used into the future.

C L I M A T E C H A N G E

Current predictions of climate change suggest that the next

few decades will see a shift towards warmer, wetter and

windier conditions. Such changes could lead to various effects

on the natural heritage, with some decline of alpine habitats

and species, perhaps including late snow bed plant

communities and distinctive birds such as dotterel. The

anticipated climate change may encourage the expansion ofother habitats, such as wet heath, and favour natural

regeneration of native woodland above the present treeline as

the growing season becomes longer. Acid and nitrogen

deposition may also affect some upland and freshwater

ecosystems.

The government response to the threat of climate change is

reflected in policies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases

and to encourage more renewable energy initiatives.

Renewable energy generation can thus help to reduce

damage to both the economy and environment, but wind farms

or similar structures could also adversely affect landscapes and

biodiversity, creating a hazard to breeding birds such as

golden eagle. These natural resources are both ecological and

economic assets in their own right.

S P O R T S H O O T I N G A N D A G R I C U L T U RE

Many estates are managed as deer forest, providing

significant local income and employment. Red deer are a

valued part of the natural heritage in their own right, butpopulations have greatly increased in recent decades because

a range of factors, including current methods of estate

valuation, have discouraged rigorous control. High deer

populations prevent native woodland regeneration in many

areas, and restoration of this habitat is usually dependent on

deer fencing, which also has several disadvantages. Deer

fences create intrusive features in landscapes of wild and

unmanaged appearance, obstruct recreational access, and

present a serious hazard to black grouse and capercaillie. The

use of fencing, particularly in conjunction with planting, can

also result in woodland of unnatural distribution, and is ill-

suited to the development of treeline scrub and other natural

transitions to open moorland or alpine habitats.

Elevated deer populations can also affect other upland

habitats. Fragile moss-heaths, lichen-heaths and blanket bogs

are particularly vulnerable to damage by deer or other

grazing animals, which may be irreversible if soil loss ensues.

Grazing by deer is also partially responsible for the

confinement of some sensitive habitats, notably tall-herb

vegetation, to inaccessible sites. Increased hind culls have

taken place on some estates, but recent counts suggest that

deer populations remain high in many areas.

Upland farming also makes an important contribution to the

local economy, particularly over the richer rocks of Clova,

Glenshee and Atholl. High densities of hill sheep have been

maintained in a few areas as a result of EU agricultural

support structures, although numbers may now be decreasing.Carefully targeted grazing by sheep or cattle can help to

maintain biodiversity in some habitats, but high sustained levels

of grazing can be detrimental to woodland, heather moorland,

fresh waters and riparian vegetation.

Key

influenceson

the

NaturalHeritage

Hillside patterned by muirburn


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Key

influenceso

n

theNaturalHe

ritage

4 C A I R N G O R M S M A S S I F Ke y i n f l ue nc e s o n t h e Na t u ra l He r i t a ge

Management for red grouse is of particular economic

importance across much lower-lying moorland, particularly

towards the east of the area. Muirburn is often well-managed,

supporting high levels of moorland biodiversity, and some

areas might indeed benefit from more regular burning.

Elsewhere, however, muirburn can be too frequent, or can

extend onto sensitive habitats such as established and

regenerating woodland or prostrate heather, causing

vegetation damage and soil erosion. Sporting estates

commonly control species that are regarded as vermin,

including foxes and crows. These measures can also result in

the accidental or, in some instances, deliberate killing of

protected species such as pine marten, wildcat and birds ofprey.

Bulldozed tracks have been constructed on many estates to

facilitate access, particularly during the last 50 years. Such

tracks sometimes create highly visible man-made features in

open, rolling hill landscapes and erode their wild qualities,

with many formerly remote areas now falling within 5km of the

nearest private access road. All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) can

also greatly assist land management, but indiscriminate use has

created prominent tracks in some areas, and has eroded

fragile peat and alpine soils.

F O R E S T R Y A N D W O O D L A N D

D E V E L O P M E N T

pine and other native woodlands have undergone a long-term

decline, which is variously associated with war-time fellings,

and grazing, browsing and trampling by deer or, more locally,

wintering stock. Many remaining unfenced woodlands

typically contain a high proportion of old trees with little new

regeneration, and their ground vegetation is dwarfed by the

grazing pressure. On some more fertile sites, the natural

ground flora is replaced by closely cropped grass. These

changes result in the gradual loss of resources which are of

long-term value to agricultural and sporting interests, as

potential sources of woodland game, winter shelter, timber,

firewood and other forest products. The loss of riparianwoodland may also jeopardise economically important salmon

and trout stocks.

This trend is now being addressed by co-ordinated native

woodland restoration within the Cairngorms Forest

Framework and other initiatives. Many new native pinewood

schemes have been developed including those for the Deeside

Forest and Forest of Spey. As noted earlier, however, large

deer populations still encourage widespread use of deer

fencing, which can adversely affect landscapes, access and

woodland grouse, and is inconsistent with the establishment of

natural mosaics of woodland and open habitats.

Commercial forestry is largely based on native species,

especially Scots pine, with considerable benefits to woodland

wildlife, although the proportion of broadleaved trees is

sometimes rather limited. Some older commercial plantations,

particularly in more southern areas, are however dominated by

non-native conifers of a single age. These plantations support

relatively little wildlife, both because of their dense, uniform

structure and the intrinsically limited biodiversity associatedwith non-native trees, and some are now being restructured to

address these concerns in accordance with the guidelines in

the UK Forestry Standard. A number of ancient and long-

established native woodlands also contain significant

proportions of non-native conifers, either because of planting

or uncontrolled spread from adjacent plantations. Such trees

can compete vigorously with native species, often reproducing

freely by natural regeneration. There are, however, a number

of programmes in place to remove these trees and to restore

the native structure and character. The Glenmore Forest Park

which is one of a number of Caledonian Reserves managed by

Forest Enterprise, is a good example of this type of work.

Red deer in pinewoods, Glen Feshie

Bulldozed track


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Several key species depend heavily on native pinewoodsincluding the Scottish crossbill and red squirrel, which is a

popular and widely-recognised feature of our woodland

wildlife. Red squirrels have been displaced across much of

Britain by the introduced grey squirrel, and the pinewoods of

the Cairngorms provide one of their most significant remaining

strongholds.

Introduced sika deer are becoming established in the

woodlands to the west of the area, and are very difficult to

monitor and control, not least because they tend to remain

hidden. This species can cause considerable damage to

woodland and hybridises freely with native red deer, with

uncertain long-term consequences.

R E C R E A T I O N , A C C E S S A N D T O U R I S M

Outdoor recreation and tourism in the Cairngorms provide

substantial local income and employment in adjacent

settlements. Most of these recreational activities, which include

walking, mountaineering, climbing, skiing, canoeing, sailing,

windsurfing, horse riding and cycling, depend to varyingdegrees on the natural heritage of the area.

Participation in informal recreation has greatly increased

during the last ten years, allowing many more people to

experience the landscapes and wildlife of the area at first

hand. Increased use has, however, resulted in the development

of footpaths along popular routes, which can affect the wild

qualities which underpin these activities and may also cause

local erosion, scarring of the landscape and vegetation

damage. These effects are now often countered to some

degree by sensitive footpath repair, which is increasingly

accompanied by ongoing maintenance, but concentrated

recreational use of the high tops may erode the sensitive

summit vegetation and is more difficult to address by these

methods. Large numbers of visitors can also result in greater

disturbance of wildlife. Initiatives to co-ordinate provision of

interpretation and visitor information across the area have

started to raise standards but there is considerable scope for

further improvements.

Downhill skiing is a significant source of local income and

employment in winter, and new infrastructure has beenestablished at the main centres in recent decades. These

developments represent a high proportion of total downhill ski

provision in Scotland, but contrast markedly with the otherwise

wild, natural appearance of the uplands. All three centres are

surrounded by, or partly overlap with, sites of European

importance for their nature conservation interests. In some

areas, bulldozed pistes, snow fences and associated paths

have resulted in soil erosion and vegetation loss, although

management seeks to minimise these effects as far as possible.

Further development is occasionally proposed, and the

construction of a funicular railway on Cairngorm has been

highly controversial, in part because of the potential for

increased access which could exceed the summer carrying

Key

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6 C A I R N G O R M S M A S S I F Ke y i n f l ue n c e s o n t he Na t ur al He r i t a ge

capacity of the Cairngorm plateau. Agreements are in place to

reduce the potential for this impact. The long-term demand for

downhill skiing is difficult to predict in view of projected climate

change, which may reduce overall snow cover in the long

term. Local Plan policies and Government guidance

discourage the development of any new centres, but do make

provision for upgrading of facilities within existing ski areas,

provided they are undertaken in a manner that avoids damage

to features of natural heritage importance.

B U I L T D E V E L O P M E N T

The landscapes of the Cairngorms are fundamental to the

character of the area and the sense of place enjoyed by

local residents and tourists. In a few areas, new urbandevelopment has been based on standardised designs and

materials which reduce local individuality. The expansion of

urban development in Strathspey has resulted in proposals to

increase water abstraction from Loch Einich, in order to meet

understandably greater local demand. Such proposals could,

however, erode the natural character and indirect economic

value of the central Cairngorms, and may also affect aquatic

ecosystems, including freshwater fisheries. The expansion of

mobile phone networks is also likely to offer economic benefits,

but associated telecommunication masts now occupy prominent

positions along some road corridors. In some cases the masts

occupy prominent positions and their strong vertical features

can be strongly discordant in the landscape.

F I S H E R I E S

The rivers of the Cairngorms support good populations of

salmon, sea trout and other fish as well as large freshwater

invertebrate populations. There are however concerns over the

numbers of salmon returning to rivers each year, as there has

been a progressive decline of fish needed to sustain the

fisheries. There is a particular concern about the reduction in

salmon that have been at sea for more than one winter, and

for which the Cairngorms fisheries are famous. This is likely to

reflect a complex range of influences, and is likely to be

partially associated with factors operating at sea. Upland

rivers are at particular risk from acid deposition as the

naturally acidic underlying rocks cannot buffer the additional

acid so the rivers receive concentrated pollutant loads fromdeposition across their entire upland catchments. Acidification

can affect the survival of salmon and other fish, while in the

river systems, if it exceeds critical levels. High levels of grazing,

inappropriate muirburn and poorly designed hill tracks or ski

development can all contribute to loss of riverside vegetation

and soil erosion, leading to a decline in food inputs to the

rivers and increased sedimentation. Fishery management

sometimes involves river engineering which can also alter

sediment erosion, deposition and river flow. All of these

processes could affect freshwater ecosystems, including salmon

redds and freshwater pearl mussel populations, but these

changes cannot always be quantified or distinguished from

natural events.

Telecommunication masts on the Cairnwell


19/36


20/36

Vi s i o nV i s i o n

The Vision sets out how Cairngorms Massif could look based upon sustainable

use of natural resources. It is an illustration of a possible scenario based on

fulfilling the Objectives and Actions in this document. It is neither a Utopia nor a

blueprint, but the basis for developing a shared vision between all parties with a

responsibility for, or an interest in, the natural heritage of the Cairngorms Massif

and a consensus on the way forward.

I t i s wr i t t en in the p re sent t ense , a s i f in the yea r 2025.No a ssumpt ions a re made r egard ing fu ture Nat iona l

Park s ta tus

- w h a t t h e n a t u r a l

h e r i t a g e c o u l d l o o kl i k e b a s e d o n b e t t e r

s t e w a r d s h i p o f

n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s


21/3619C A I R N G O R M S M A S S I F Vi s i o n

The Cairngorms provide a showcase of sustainable land use in

the Scottish uplands and the close relationship between the

environment, the economy and social wellbeing is widely

understood. Natural heritage objectives are closely integrated

with land management, ensuring the continued value of the

area for a wide range of economic activities, including tourism

and informal recreation.

The remote mountain core is managed by minimum intervention

allowing landscapes and ecosystems to develop according to

natural processes. Management of this area is largely

focused on effective deer control, which maintains populations

within the carrying capacity of the natural heritage, enhancing

the extent and condition of native woodland, scrub and alpine

vegetation, and the wildlife that depends upon them. This

approach is augmented by low key recreation management,

including the long walk-in, which helps to maintain the wild

and remote qualities of the Cairngorms. A large near-natural

area is consequently beginning to develop in the most remote

locations. Such areas are rare in Scotland, and this resource

underpins incomes from tourism and outdoor recreation and

provides a strong and positive image to promote local

produce, goods and services.

More accessible upland areas are managed in a more diverse

manner, with a range of complementary and fully integrated

land uses. These activities accord with the natural productivity

of the land and can be sustained indefinitely if required,

without undermining the resources on which they, or indeed

other economic activities, depend. The area has a pioneering

role in the development of sustainable land use and targeted

financial support maintains a widely shared spirit of innovation.

Experience developed in the area is shared with other parts of

Scotland.

The villages of the associated glens contribute to a sense of

local distinctiveness and continue to provide the focus for much

economic activity, revitalised by a steady flow of new

investment. The land-based activities noted above are

accompanied by other sources of income according to market

circumstances, and the growing reputation of the area attracts

businesses working by e-mail and the Internet. This overall

diversification of land use and business activity helps to

stabilise rural communities, placing local income and

employment on a more secure long-term footing. Local

communities play a strong role in decisions regarding

conservation, land management and development.

C L I M A T E C H A N G E

The effects of climate change on the natural heritage of the

Cairngorms continue to be monitored by long-term studies. A

wide range of local initiatives utilise renewable energy sources,

making a small but significant contribution to wider action

which addresses the underlying causes of climate change.

R E C R E A T I O N , A C C E S S A N D T O U R I S M

The Cairngorms continue to provide a major focus for outdoor

recreation and tourism, deriving growing prestige from the

reputation of the mountain core as an extensive near-natural

area. This reputation reinforces income from, for example,

accommodation, catering, transport, outdoor training and

equipment hire, generating considerable direct and indirect

local employment.

Recreational pressures are managed as necessary using low-

key techniques. Footpath repair operates within a co-ordinated

framework and is in equilibrium with recreational use, with

ongoing maintenance providing local employment. Informal

recreation co-exists with land management in a spirit of mutual

co-operation, based on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and

underpinned by effective communication networks, including

Local Access Fora. The development of appropriate

interpretation facilities is based on well co-ordinated

interpretative planning, undertaken in partnership with local

communities.

Core Path Networks link many of the more popular

recreational venues in the glens and around settlements, with

good levels of provision for people of all abilities. These

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Vision

0 C A I R N G O R M S M A S S I F Vi s i o n

networks are a popular and widely recognised feature of the

area, providing for both local residents and visitors. Forest

tracks with high carrying capacity in more accessible parts of

the Forests of Spey and Dee also contribute to the overall

resource, accommodating cyclists, walkers and other

recreational users.

Downhill skiing continues to contribute to the local economy

as far as possible in the context of climate change. Downhill

skiing is focused on established centres, which use innovative

design and management techniques to minimise both direct

and indirect adverse effects on upland landscapes and

vegetation.

Tourism continues to be based largely on the natural heritage

and benefits from the growing reputation of the area. Visitor

facilities are carefully designed, sensitively located and have

good public transport provision to minimise their effect on the

environment. A range of low-key visitor management

techniques are used to minimise pressure on sensitive habitats

and species. The industry includes a range of innovative green

tourism initiatives based, e.g. on raptors and woodland birds

such as capercaillie and Scottish crossbill. These initiatives help

to ensure the long-term viability of key habitats and species,

and make a significant contribution to the local economy.

F O R E S T R Y A N D W O O D L A N D

Extensive areas of native woodland are developing as a result

of planting and natural regeneration, centred on the Forests of

Spey and Deeside. In more accessible areas, such as those to

the south-east, multi-purpose managed woodlands are

based on native pine and broadleaved trees, integrating

commercial production with landscape, biodiversity and

recreation benefits. Throughout the mountain core, and in many

other areas, woodland development is proceeding by natural

regeneration in the absence of fencing, owing to reduced

impact of deer grazing and browsing. These woodlands are

forming extensive natural transitions to open habitats, which

will eventually include treeline scrub.

This diversity of management maintains varied woodland

structures with trees of a range of ages and diverse ground

vegetation, creating favourable conditions for woodland

wildlife such as capercaillie, and moorland edge species such

as black grouse. These patterns of management are

implemented through a combination of public funding, design

guidance and planning legislation. Old, non-native conifer

plantations have been restructured to meet similar standards of

design, contributing to the wider habitat network. The

expanding and well-designed forest resource underpins

significant local income and employment from timber

production, conservation and recreation, including fisheries

and woodland game, and is of considerable amenity value to

both local residents and visitors.

S P O R T S H O O T I N G A N D E S T A T E

M A N A G E M E N T

Open hill stalking is increasingly supplemented by woodland

stalking and the pursuit of other woodland game, together with

new initiatives such as expedition-style stalking in the wild and

remote mountain core. These activities provide significant

additional income on many estates. Woodland and scrub

regeneration is maintained by appropriate culling of deer,

especially hinds, and by avoiding supplementary feeding in

winter, to keep populations in balance with the habitats on

which they depend. This pattern of management allows

widespread regeneration of native woodland (including

riparian woodland) in the absence of fencing, and the

combination of shelter and improved nutrition results in large,

healthy stags.

Grouse moor management also achieves high standards of

environmental stewardship and continues to maintain highly

valued cultural landscapes. Grouse moors are often managed

for a diversity of wildlife, sometimes in conjunction with

shooting by walking-up, enriching the experience available to

sporting clients. Open grouse moors are, however, closely

integrated with regenerating native woodland and scrub,

which provide more diverse sporting opportunities based on a

range of native species. The biodiversity of moorland habitats

and the balance with woodland are maintained by adherence

to the Muirburn Code, and sensitive management maintains

stable populations of other moorland species such as birds of

prey and black grouse.

All Terrain Vehicles continue to provide a necessary aid to

moorland management, subject to a national Code of Practice

developed in partnership by land managers and agencies. The

Timber from Scots pine forest


23/3621C A I R N G O R M S M A S S I F Vi s i o n

construction of new hill tracks has ceased and the scars left by

many former tracks have been reinstated, including all those

which penetrate the remote mountain core. This strategy helps

to maintain a long walk-in and enhances the remote, wild

qualities of the Cairngorms enjoyed by walkers, stalkers, and

other recreational users. Elsewhere, essential tracks are

sensitively maintained to check erosion damage.

This pattern of management maintains mountain and moorland

habitats as far as possible in the context of climate change,

and subject to the expansion of native woodland and scrub. As

a consequence of reduced grazing pressure, alpine heaths

and mires are in excellent condition, supporting their full

associated range of specialised wildlife, including key species

such as ptarmigan, dotterel and snow bunting. Alpine willow

scrub and colourful tall herb and arctic-alpine communities are

expanding to fill a high proportion of suitable ground on

pockets of richer and wetter soils.

This management approach is maintained by an ethic of care,

backed up by planning legislation and, where appropriate,

financial support co-ordinated by public agencies. This

environmental focus maintains a positive public image of

sporting estates and helps to attract paying visitors for a wider

range of activities, including eco-tourism based on red deer,

capercaillie, raptors and other species.

F A R M I N G

Economic support for hill farming strongly emphasises

environmental benefits, encouraging diverse, less intensive

production which is in balance with the natural heritage.

Moorland habitats are maintained in a healthy condition on

unenclosed grazings, including both extensive heather cover

and grassland with rich mixtures of small herbs, which in turn

support diverse populations of moorland birds and insects. The

extent, distribution and frequency of agricultural muirburn

adhere to the agreed Muirburn Code, maintaining high levels

of moorland biodiversity and protecting upland grazings and

watercourses from the effects of soil erosion, both locally and

further downstream. Native woodland is developing on

marginal farmland and is integrated with agricultural

production, providing shelter, amenity, timber and woodland

game.

A strong emphasis is placed on local and niche marketing,

rather than seeking to compete at a disadvantage in

international markets. Farm produce exploits the attractive

brand identity of the area. The emphasis on environmental

stewardship maintains the positive public image of the farming

industry and enhances landscapes, habitats and access

provision, all of which are critical to the rural economy.

B U I L T D E V E L O P M E N T

New development is concentrated in the lower glens in line

with existing settlement patterns. The design, scale and location

of new development are carefully managed to enhance the

character of cultural landscapes and villages, and includes

affordable housing. Road improvements are well designed to

fit into the landscape. These policies help to underpin the

identity of local communities and the appeal of the area for

tourism.

The wild land qualities of the remote mountain core are

maintained by restricting development and by removal or

redesign of inappropriate buildings and structures, where these

are of no historic or cultural value. In the area around the

mountain core telecommunication masts are carefully designed

and located through the strategic planning process to prevent

adverse effects on highly valued landscapes.

F R E S H W A T E R S

The integrity of fresh waters is ensured by co-ordinated

management at a catchment scale, in accordance with the

River Basin Management Plans established under the EC

Water Framework Directive. There is careful control of water

abstraction, discharges, diffuse pollution and river engineering

by the appropriate authorities. The landscapes of glens and

straths, and both woodland and freshwater habitats, are being

enhanced by widespread restoration of riparian woodland.

Sporting fisheries are carefully managed in order to maintain

the populations and genetic integrity of native fish and their

predators and also the overall health of the river. Atmospheric

deposition is continuing to decrease, reducing the acidification

and eutrophication effects on both aquatic and terrestrial

ecosystems. Salmon are abundant on the spring and autumn

runs of the Spey and Dee, ensuring the future of these

economically important fisheries. The freshwater ecosystems of

the Cairngorms are consequently approaching optimal

condition, with high water quality and a wide range of

associated wildlife.

P A R T N E R S H I P S F O R C O N S E R V AT I O N

Local people are actively engaged in initiatives to protect and

enhance their environment, including Local Biodiversity Action

Plans and other partnership projects, many of which have

arisen from the Community Planning process. These initiatives

foster widespread recognition of the intrinsic value of the

natural heritage and its critical role in the local economy.

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O b j e c t i v e sO b j e c t i v e s

These are objectives for the natural heritage and indicate

what needs to be done to ensure that we use the natural

heritage sustainably. The objectives indicate the priorities

relevant to the natural heritage in the light of current

changes. Once agreed, these priorities can inform the

development of relevant action plans with more specific

objectives and resource implications: relevant Actions are

identified under each Objective. Changes to national or

international policies will depend on action at a national level

and these are identified in the relevant National documents.

- p r i o r i t i e s f o r t h e

n a t u r a l h e r i t a g e , a n d a c t i o n r e q u i r e d


25/3623C A I R N G O R M S M A S S I F O bje c t i v e s

O b j e c t i v e 1

To enhance existing upland habitats,

including the diverse and inter-grading

plant communities of the high plateaux,

and expand key habitats such as alpine

tall herbs

Stalking estates could frequently achieve more sustainable

management by increased culling of hinds, resulting in

considerable improvements in stag condition with little overall

change in stag populations. Such changes could therefore be

of direct benefit to stalking interests, and some sporting estates

are already implementing increased culls. Well-controlled

muirburn can also help to maintain diverse moorland

vegetation, and many land managers already adopt the good

practice guidelines embodied in the Muirburn Code. The

undoubted expertise which already exists could be more

widely shared to raise standards and, where appropriate, to

facilitate the extension of burning onto further areas of

moorland. Demonstration schemes and other initiatives to

encourage or support positive management might also be

considered. A more widespread ethos of stewardship could

significantly enhance the public image of sporting estates.

The deterioration of upland habitats does not benefit

agricultural interests in the longer term, undermining important

resources such as heather cover, which can provide valuable

winter grazing. A redirection of agricultural support towards

environmental objectives could also provide more stable long-

term income to hill farmers. This approach could build on

traditional extensive farming practices, and the Rural

Stewardship Scheme and former Cairngorms Straths

Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme represent positive

trends in this direction. A future National Park designation

could also lead to wider participation in agri-environmental

schemes that encourage less intensive production targeted, in

particular, on local or niche markets. The image of a clean,

sustainably managed environment could offer excellent

opportunities to promote local brands, which would also be

enhanced by, but are not dependent on, future National Park

designation. Many of these changes can be initiated at local

level, as indicated in the Scottish Executives Forward Strategy

for Scottish Agriculture, and national and international action

will also be required.

The enhancement of upland habitats can also be achieved by

positive management agreements within Sites of Special

Scientific Interest (SSSI) and European Sites under EC Habitats

and Birds Directives. Across the area as a whole, this objective

will need to achieve an appropriate balance with the

expansion of native woodland (discussed below), and will also

depend on the wider effects of climate change and acid

deposition. The control of greenhouse gases and other

pollutants is being addressed at national and international

levels, but potential may exist for a reduction in local emissions

through, for e.g. greater use of renewable energy.

ACTIONS

Modify deer management in conjunction with estates,

Deer Management Groups and the Deer Commission

for Scotland by developing Deer Management Plans

that identify damage to the natural heritage and

population levels that will achieve habitat restoration.

Ensure that local objectives for agri-environmental

schemes include the enhancement of key habitats,

including tall herb communities, on unenclosed

grazings.

Promote the Muirburn Code and supplementary

guidance, and use incentive schemes to encourage

good muirburn practice.

Develop and promote demonstration schemes and

joint training programmes to share experience in

upland management.

Incorporate policies for conservation and

management of upland habitats in local authority

development plans and any future National Park

Plan, and implement the Cairngorms Local

Biodiversity Action Plan.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased

energy efficiency and use of renewable energy.

Reduce nitrogen deposition through reducing vehicle

emissions and from agricultural sources.

Continue to monitor key montane species to assess

the rate and effects of climate change.

Promote positive management agreements for habitat

enhancement in SSSI and European Sites.

Objectives

S H O R T T E R M ( 0 - 5 Y E A R S )O N G O I N G M E D I U M T E R M ( 5 - 1 5 Y E A R S ) L O N G T E R M ( 1 5 - 2 5 Y E A R S )


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Obje

ctives

4 C A I R N G O R M S M A S S I F O bje c t i v e s

O b j e c t i v e 2

To secure widespread recovery of

native woodland by natural

regeneration, including treeline, alpine

willow and juniper scrub, in balance

with open moorland and grassland

The restoration of native woodland has been encouraged by

Forestry Commission Challenge Funds and other grant aid,

which now operate within the Cairngorms Forest Framework.

This framework incorporates the forest habitat network

principle, based on patches of woodland which lie close

enough together to allow many woodland species to migrate

between them. Large Core Forest Areas on Deeside and

Speyside would accommodate both commercial production

and non-intervention areas to provide reservoirs of woodland

biodiversity. The Framework should be incorporated into

revised Indicative Forestry Strategies covering the area which

also promote an appropriate balance of land uses.

These initiatives should greatly expand and enhance the native

pinewoods and restore extensive riparian woodland, benefiting

freshwater ecosystems and fisheries. There is also great

potential to restore juniper and alpine willow scrub, and

treeline scrub with Scots pine, in turn promoting the wider

recovery of species which thrive on the moorland-woodland

boundary. Widespread increases in native woodland should

also enrich and diversify the upland landscape, improve

opportunities for tourism and informal recreation, and provide

shelter, woodland game, hard and softwood timber and other

woodland products. The restoration of natural patchworks of

woodland and scrub could particularly enhance the wild

qualities of the mountain core, making a disproportionate

contribution to the quality of outdoor recreational experiences

and strongly reinforcing the unique character of the area. A

number of Community Woodland Schemes closely link

woodland restoration with local amenity benefits, and there is

potential for many more initiatives of this type.

These potential benefits will require a significant reduction in

deer populations across much of the Cairngorms to initiate

more widespread regeneration of woodland and scrub. As

noted earlier, such action could result in various benefits to

stalking interests, including enhanced size and condition of

stags. The difficulty of maintaining deer populations in an

increasingly wooded environment should not be

underestimated, and would ensure continuing demand for

stalking expertise. A co-ordinated and unified approach is

required, including a range of bodies, notably the DeerManagement Groups and Deer Commission. Concerted action

to reduce deer numbers should also be accompanied by a

strong presumption against the use of deer fencing, particularly

within the wild and remote mountain core and in key areas for

capercaillie and black grouse. The positive management of

grazing stock could also contribute to woodland regeneration

in some parts of the area.

Muirburn is often well-controlled but can also, in some areas,

result in inappropriate suppression of native woodland

regeneration and damage to riparian woodland and juniper

scrub. The establishment of positive management agreements

could make a substantial contribution to the expansion of these

habitats on designated sites.

ACTIONS

Implement the Cairngorms Forest Framework as part

of an Indicative Forestry Strategy for the area which:

incorporates a forest habitat network of linked

core forest areas including the expansion of native

woodland;

promotes an appropriate mix of benefits from

forests and woodlands;

can be linked to targeted incentive schemes;

accommodates open ground habitats and species,

(e.g. moorland);

reflects landscape character based on Landscape

Character Assessments (LCA); and

integrates forestry with other land uses.


Treeline scrub at Creag Fhiaclach



Modify deer management in conjunction with estates,

Deer Management Groups and the Deer Commission

for Scotland by developing Deer Management Plans

that identify damage to the natural heritage and

population levels that will achieve habitat restoration.

Reduce substantially the use of fencing for Woodland

Grant Scheme (WGS) native woodland schemes and

remove deer fences where woodland is now well

established.

Develop and promote demonstration schemes (e.g. at

Mar Lodge, Abernethy, Inshriach and Invereshie) to

encourage appropriate native woodland restoration.

Develop a more appropriate capital valuation of

estates that is based on a wide range of natural

heritage attributes (environmental capital) rather

than focusing on stag numbers.

Ensure that local priorities for agri-environmental

support include native woodland and scrub

restoration.

Promote the updated Muirburn Code and

supplementary guidance, and use incentive schemes

to encourage good muirburn practice.

Establish positive management agreements on nativewoodland SSSI and European Sites.

Incorporate policies for the safeguard and

management of native woodland in any future

National Park Plan, and in development plans, and

implement the Cairngorms LBAP for woodland

habitats.

O b j e c t i v e 3

To maximise the ecological, landscape

and economic value of existing native

pine, birch and riparian woodland, and

commercial forests, with a continuing

emphasis on native species and natural

regeneration

Improved management of existing native woodlands would

increase their long-term ecological value as part of a Forest

Habitat Network. Such woodlands could also provide

significant economic assets to sporting estates and help to

establish a more diverse agricultural economy. The realisation

of this objective is clearly linked to wider action involving the

management of deer and domestic stock, as noted above.

Multi-purpose management is integral to the proposed

Forest Habitat Network, which will incorporate areas with a

strong emphasis on commercial production based on native

Scots pine. Older plantations dominated by non-native conifers

could, however, be restructured to include more native trees

and form natural transitions to integral and adjacent areas of

open ground. Such changes would offer considerable benefits

with regard to landscapes, wildlife and recreation, achieving

wider economic benefits in addition to their direct commercial

value. The removal of non-native species from ancient or long-

established native woodland is well advanced in some areas,

including Glenmore Forest Park and Mar Lodge estate, and the

wider application of such policies would also safeguard

woodland biodiversity in the longer term.

ACTIONS

Promote greater diversity in multi-benefit forests to

enhance their ecological value through incentives for

private forests and Forest Design Plans, including:

integration of native woodland and open space

within plantations;

management of native trees for biodiversity,

landscape and timber quality;

incorporation and management of open ground;

diversification of age structure;

use of alternatives to clear felling e.g. continuous

cover techniques; and

retention of deadwood.

Remove underplanted and regenerating non-native

conifers from ancient and long-established native

woodlands, using incentives such as grants.

Follow up native woodland restoration programmes

with removal of non-native regeneration.

Encourage means of achieving good design and

integration of forest and woodland with the

surrounding landscape.

Ensure that local priorities for agricultural support

include the positive management for natural heritage

of woodland.

Objectives



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Obje

ctives


O b j e c t i v e 4

To maintain the full potential range of

characteristic alpine and pinewood

birds, mammals and invertebrates

The positive management of moorland and woodland, as

proposed above, will be essential in order to maintain a full

range of wildlife, subject to the effects of climate change.

More targeted action is necessary, however, to ensure the

future of key species that are subject to specific pressures.

Local Biodiversity Action Plans can help to address many of

these issues and will be implemented by a partnership

approach. These include action to protect and enhance the

pinewood habitats which favour red squirrels, which isconsistent with the native woodland objectives noted above.

The illegal persecution of raptors and other protected species

must also be addressed using various approaches including

research and education, in collaboration with police Wildlife

Liaison Officers.

These species are often highly valued in their own right, and

form important and integral parts of the ecosystems of the area.

The protection of these and other flagship species could also

offer significant potential for new eco-tourism initiatives,

achieving sustainable economic benefits and further

underpinning the long-term future of the species concerned.

Some initiatives of this type, based on osprey and capercaillie,

are already under way in the area.

In some instances the protection of overall biodiversity requires

the control of invasive species, which are not usually native to

the UK. The control of American mink is highly desirable and

should be undertaken by live capture, in order to protect non-

target mustelids and other predators. The spread of sika deer,

however, presents a more serious challenge for both monitoringand culling. The broad physical similarity between red deer

and red-sika hybrids suggests that the spread of this species

may already be very difficult to address, and continued

attempts at control should be complemented by research at

national level to assess the consequences of hybridisation.

There is a need to increase awareness of the threats to our

biodiversity in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats from

invasive and non-native species.

ACTIONS

Monitor peripheral forests and woodlands for

invasion by grey squirrel and, where necessary,

establish contingency plans for control and/or

eradication.

Control American mink where necessary, by live

trapping along watercourses.

Prevent further incursion of sika deer in line with the

joint control policy agreed between agencies.

Increase awareness of threats to our biodiversity from

invasive and non-native species.

Combat illegal persecution of raptors.

Develop and implement Local Biodiversity Action Plans

for key species.

Develop new eco-tourism initiatives.


Ptarmigan



O b j e c t i v e 5

To maintain natural landform processes

along watercourses and improve the

status of freshwater habitats and

species, including Atlantic salmon

The wide range of human influences which might affect

freshwater habitats cannot always be easily distinguished from

each other, or from natural processes. These influences should

therefore be addressed on a precautionary basis, and

management initiatives have already been introduced by some

District Fishery Boards. An Integrated Catchment

Management approach to encompass the full range of land

uses which affect each river system, will be promoted by theRiver Basin Management Plans to be established under the EC

Water Framework Directive. Many of these activities, including

river engineering, might be approached by Codes of Practice

developed in partnership with land or water managers, which

will often be required at national level. Demonstration schemes

might also make a valuable contribution, and will often be

more relevant to local circumstances if based within this area.

The restoration of riparian woodland should be addressed

through actions noted earlier in relation to woodland

management.

Scientific debate continues over the significance of predation

by sawbill ducks and cormorants in determining the

populations of fish species. Further research is necessary. The

introduction of fish or eggs should be generally

discouraged, with the exception of measures to restore

endangered populations within their natural range. Where

such action is justified, it should always be with appropriate

genetic stock. These issues could also be addressed through

both national and local initiatives as suggested above. Acid

deposition, by contrast, will require wider action at national

and international levels.

ACTIONS

Develop integrated catchment management or river

basin approaches in partnership with other agencies

and land use interests, to address:

land management including agriculture and

forestry;

riparian habitat management and restoration;

fisheries management;

water abstraction; and

other activities damaging to the natural heritage.

Restore riparian woodland and other bankside

vegetation through deer control and forestry or agri-

environmental schemes as appropriate.

Contribute to research into the interactions betweensawbill ducks, cormorants and fish populations, and

use the findings to inform management practice.

Develop and promote local demonstration schemes to

promote good fishery management which maximises

the benefits to the natural heritage.

O b j e c t i v e 6

To maintain the wild, open landscapes

of the montane zone and remote glens,and their contribution to local identity,

tourism and informal recreation

The wild, open landscapes of the Cairngorms are both a

defining feature of the area and a major economic asset, and

this is particularly true of the high plateaux and the relatively

remote mountain core. Substantial local income and

employment are currently realised through tourism and

recreation, and there is also considerable potential to harness

the strong identity of the Cairngorms to promote local goods

and services, and to attract investment.

Developments such as bulldozed tracks may require action at

national level through changes to planning legislation and

guidance, supported by implementation through local planning

authorities. The use of ATV could perhaps be better addressed

through the development of a code of practice in conjunction

with land managers, to encourage the more widespread

development of an ethic of care, and this may need to be

approached on a national basis. Existing intrusive tracks and

ATV scars should also be restored, and valuable local

examples of restoration, such as of the high level track on

Beinn aBhuird by the National Trust for Scotland, could be

developed as demonstration schemes.

Downhill ski centres are popular and well-established

recreational attractions, which provide substantial local income

and employment on a seasonal basis. Planning guidance now

presumes against the establishment of new ski centres, but the

visual prominence of existing developments in the upland

landscape nonetheless attracts controversy. Every opportunity

should be sought to reduce these effects through e.g.

technological developments, new design initiatives and theplanning system.

Objectives



30/36

Obje

ctives


A comprehensive mobile phone network is likely to be of

economic benefit and could be maintained, in greater

sympathy with the environment, by careful management

through the planning system and better use of existing

telecommunication masts, in liaison with the industry itself.

Recently, new mast proposals have been brought under

planning control, and guidance exists to promote mast-sharing

and decommissioning of redundant or poorly-sited masts. The

development of renewable energy supplies should comply with

existing legislation, including strategic environmental

assessment as part of a national strategy to balance local and

national needs. The altitude, remoteness and wild character of

the Cairngorms is likely to preclude windfarm development, but

the construction of smaller schemes, perhaps on a domestic

scale, may merit further consideration.

ACTIONS

Promote a Code of Practice for the use of ATVs,

developed in partnership at national level.

Ensure landscape issues are fully taken into account,

making use of landscape character assessment, as

part of development plans and thematic strategies for:

road and track developments;

ski facilities;

telecommunication masts, including mast sharing;

and

wind turbines.

Undertake remedial work to restore hill tracks and

ATV scars, and develop local demonstration schemes

and press for changes to national legislation and

guidance.

Ensure that future ski development complies with

National Planning Policy Guidance on downhill skiing.

Ensure that wind-turbine developments and

telecommunication masts are progressed in the

context of national strategic approaches that balance

national needs with local natural heritage priorities.

Investigate the potential for domestic renewable

energy schemes within the area.

O b j e c t i v e 7

To maintain the characteristic

landscapes of lower ground and the

local character of towns and villages,

and their contribution to local identity

and tourism

Some of the most highly valued landscapes in the lower glens

result from long-standing extensive agriculture, and the

Cairngorms Straths Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme

helped to maintain these qualities. Agri-environmental

schemes could be used more widely to encourage patterns of

management that build on the best elements of traditional

practice to sustain these landscapes and their wildlife,

including colourful hay meadows and patchworks of native

woodland. This approach could help to provide a more secure

long-term income for hill farmers and would also maintain

resources that are of particular value to the wider economy,

reinforcing the distinctive character of the area.

Less utilitarian building designs could be developed to

complement traditional vernacular styles, but would require

careful attention to cost if such designs are to become widely

available, particularly for individual householders. Tourism also

drives much development in this area, and has sometimes

resulted in intrusive facilities which sit poorly with the

surrounding landscape. Tourism remains the most important

single source of income in the area and the long-term future of

the industry requires careful protection of the landscapes on

which it largely depends. Improvements in the quality of built

development can also make a small but significant contributionto the quality of life of local residents.


Downhill skiing



ACTIONS

Ensure that local priorities for agricultural support

include the positive management of native woodland

and the creation and maintenance of diverse habitatsthat depend on extensive management.

Initiate design projects to develop low-cost buildings

that are locally distinctive and appropriate.

Develop a management strategy to ensure

sustainable use of the natural heritage by the tourist

industry.

Achieve high standards of new development,

including road improvement schemes, with regard to

both location and design through development control

and other initiatives.

O b j e c t i v e 8

To encourage responsible access to the

uplands and forests of the area while

safeguarding sensitive aspects of the

natural heritage

Outdoor recreation enhances the quality of life of local

residents and visitors, increases awareness of the natural

heritage and makes a large contribution to the service sector

of the local economy. These benefits should be safeguarded by

supporting and, where appropriate, promoting such pursuits.

Action will however be required to address the adverse effects

of recreational activity, and the agreement controlling access

to the Cairngorm plateau from ski uplift facilities will be of

particular importance in view of the exceptional sensitivity of

vegetation and soils in this area. The sensitive repair of

upland footpaths is now being addressed by the Cairngorms

Paths Task Force and being progressed by a number of local

partnership initiatives, and similar action should be extended to

all areas where there is a clear need. The balance of this work

will shift from repair to ongoing maintenance in the longer

term.

A number of perceived conflicts have also arisen between

certain recreational activities including hillwalking, mountain

biking and commercial stalking. These issues will hopefully be

addressed by the Scottish Outdoor Access

edexcel geo, unit 4 case study info- cairngorms

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