land management standards and their application to ecotourism
TRANSCRIPT
Land management standards and their application to ecotourism
Jayne GlassCentre for Mountain Studies
Perth College UHI
Ecotourism in Scotland: Opportunities, Challenges and EU Standards28 February 2013
Outline
• Who owns and manages Scotland’s land?– Examples of ecotourism activities carried
out by rural estates• Some relevant standards for landowners– ‘Sustainable Estates toolkit’– ‘Wildlife Estates Scotland’– ‘Wild land management standards’
• Points for discussion
Who owns Scotland?
Private ownership
• Dominant form of ownership• Mainly sporting estates (approx. 340 in total)• 17 owners hold 10% of the country• Ownership for leisure/pleasure• Multi-functional land use
Public ownership
• Government-owned land
• 12% of Scotland (930,000 ha)
• Main owners:– Forestry Commission
Scotland– Scottish Natural Heritage– RPID Crofting and
Lowland Estates
Source: Scottish Government 2013
Conservation ownership
• 2% of Scotland• Main landowners of rural estates– John Muir Trust– National Trust for Scotland– RSPB– Scottish Wildlife Trust– Woodland Trust Scotland
• Conservation, interpretation and access objectives
Community-ownedland• Increase since 1990s and
Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003
• Community landowning bodies include:– Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust– Knoydart Foundation– North Harris Trust
• Objectives include local economic development and sustainability Source: SAC 2012
Some examples of landowner-led ecotourism
Eagle watching on North Harris© North Harris Trust
Eagle watching on North Harris
Ranger-led walks on Mar Lodge Estate
Pony trekking on Atholl Estates
© Atholl Estates
© Atholl Estates
Conservation holidays on Dundreggan Estate
Guided wildlife watching and photography on Rothiemurchus Estate
Bird watching facilities on Abernethy Estate
Land management standards
1. Sustainable Estates Toolkit (UHI research project)
2. Wildlife Estates Scotland (Scottish Land and Estates, with partners)
3. Wild land management standards (John Muir Trust)
How is ecotourism integrated within these frameworks?
Sustainable Estates toolkit
• PhD research• Developed with a group of 19 stakeholders
between 2008 and 2010• Flexible tool that allows landowners to assess
their progress against 12 actions
SUSTAINABILITY ACTIONS [12]
More sustainable Less sustainable
!Proactive UnderactiveActive
Ecosystem thinking
Broadening options
Linking into social fabric
Adapting management
Thinking beyond the estate
Sustainable estate principles [5]
SUSTAINABILITY ACTIONS [12]
More sustainable Less sustainable
!
Enabling factors
Constraining factors
Identify and understand
Proactive UnderactiveActive
Broadening options
Linking into social fabric
Adding value to estate business(es), services and experiences ► To ensure that long-term estate management objectives can
be supported financially, reducing pressure on external public/private funding to support estate businesses;
► A focus on ‘users’ (visitors, communities, other user groups) allows the development of USPs (Unique Selling Points), products, services and experiences that can enhance financial stability.• e.g. income from guided walks, tours, wildlife photography
Facilitating employment and people development opportunities ► Estates can facilitate self-sufficient, robust local communities
by supporting local trades, products and suppliers; ► High-quality jobs with long-term, integrated training can
develop the potential for estate staff to act as ‘ambassadors’ for the estate and interact with local communities and visitors. • e.g. interactions with tourists on the land, supporting the
development of new local ecotourism businesses who use the estate’s resource
Ecosystem thinking
Maintaining and conserving the estate’s cultural heritage ► Cultural heritage assets have intrinsic value and need
conserving for current and future generations; ► It is possible to draw financial benefits from cultural heritage
assets (e.g. through the tourism industry). • e.g. festivals, interpretive guides, heritage trails
To what extent does the delivery of these actions require a ranger service?
Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES)
• National version of EU label• Demonstrates “how wildlife management
undertaken by Scottish landowners, in line with the principles of biodiversity conservation, can deliver multiple benefits for society and rural communities”
• Aimed mainly at private landowners
Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES)
• Project advice from:– Scottish Natural Heritage– Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust– RSPB Scotland– Cairngorms National Park Authority
• Currently in development, with a piloting phase and members of Scottish Land and Estates encouraged to sign up to Stage 1 (SLE has 2500 members)
Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES)
• Hunting as ecotourism?• WES aims to create sustainable hunting across
Europe• Estates are assessed on their adherence to: – shooting/angling plans– records of listed species– game species management – cultural heritage assets – several indicators on biodiversity conservation and
sporting issuesAccreditation of the estate
Ten commitments of WES (Level 1)1. Identification of the land owner or nominated representative for the estate
concerned. 2. Undertaking active wildlife management following a long-term integrated
wildlife management plan. 3. Maintaining records and monitoring delivery of the wildlife management plan. 4. Undertaking sustainable shooting, stalking and/or fishing. 5. Managing for a sustainable balance of game, deer and other species and their
shared habitats. 6. Maintaining best practice standards of animal welfare. 7. Compliance with all legal requirements and relevant Scottish codes of practice. 8. Adhering to the requirements of the Agreement between Birdlife International
and FACE on Directive 79/409/EEC, the European Charter on Hunting and Biodiversity and the EU Commission’s Guide on Hunting under the Birds Directive.
9. Maintaining active engagement with local communities and undertaking education/awareness raising activities.
10. To apply for the Level 2 Accreditation process.
Wild land management standards• John Muir Trust initiative• To guide management of their own estates
and potentially others• Owner of nine estates in remote areas
(covering over 25,000ha)
© John Muir Trust
Wild land management standards• 28 management standards organised under:– Management planning– Soil– Carbon and water– Biodiversity and woodlands– Deer and livestock– Facilities and heritage– Communities, visitors and awareness
© John Muir Trust
• Communities, visitors and awareness category– 27. Maximise interpretation
E.g. review and maintain interpretation panels– 28. Maximise education opportunities
E.g. Hold events such as talks, guided walks and open days
Wild land management standards
© John Muir Trust
Points for discussion
• Is ecotourism on estates inherently linked with business development?
• Where income generation is not paramount (on all types of estates), what are the main drivers for ecotourism activities?
• How important are ranger services and facilities?
Links to more information
• Sustainable Estates Toolkit (please email me)• Wildlife Estates Scotland• Wild land management standards
Thank you
Panel discussion• How can researchers and consultants best support ecotourism
and nature tourism providers to develop their businesses?• How can the ecotourism and nature tourism industry best
support researchers and consultants to develop both their capacity and their understanding of this complex industry?
1. Each panel member will have the opportunity to address one or both of those questions - maximum 5 minutes
2. Other seminar participants will then have the chance to comment or respond
3. The discussion will conclude with one or two final key points from each panellist.