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7/21/2019 Edexcel Geo, Unit 4 case study info- Cairngorms
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CairngormsMassif
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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Cairngorms Massif
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CairngormsMassif
N A T U R A L H E R I T A G E F U T U R E S
C o n t e n t s
N A T U R A L H E R I T A G E F U T U R E 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
O B J E C T I V E S
S T A K E H O L D E R S
2
4
6
1 2
1 8
2 2
3 2
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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
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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
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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
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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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Red squirrel
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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
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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
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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
Vis
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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
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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
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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
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Obje
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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.
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 )
Treeline scrub at Creag Fhiaclach
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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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ctives
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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.
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Ptarmigan
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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
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Obje
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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.
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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