DOCSLIB.ORG

Mcmorran, Robert

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Mcmorran, Robert UHI Thesis - pdf download summary Constraints and opportunities for integrated multifunctional forest management in the Cairngorms region of Scotland McMorran, Robert DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (AWARDED BY OU/ABERDEEN) Award date: 2008 Awarding institution: The Open University Link URL to thesis in UHI Research Database General rights and useage policy Copyright,IP and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the UHI Research Database are retained by the author, users must recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. This copy has been supplied on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement, or without prior permission from the author. Users may download and print one copy of any thesis from the UHI Research Database for the not-for-profit purpose of private study or research on the condition that: 1) The full text is not changed in any way 2) If citing, a bibliographic link is made to the metadata record on the the UHI Research Database 3) You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain 4) You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the UHI Research Database Take down policy If you believe that any data within this document represents a breach of copyright, confidence or data protection please contact us at [email protected] providing details; we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 26. Sep. 2021 CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTEGRATED MULTIFUNCTIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT IN THE CAIRNGORMS REGION OF SCOTLAND A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Robert Benjamin Francis Mc Morran, BSc, MSc. Centre for Mountain Studies, UHI-Perth-College Date of submission: 11th February 2008 ABSTRACT Scottish forestry policy promotes integrated multifunctional forestry and continued forest expansion, and the private forestry sector is key to achieving these goals. However, a variety of factors can constrain multifunctional forestry, particularly in upland areas. Management objectives for private forests are also not always widely known and the potential impacts of government policy, and particularly conservation designations, on the delivery of multifunctional forestry have not been explored. Furthermore, the effects of landownership on forest management are unclear. The key aim of this research was to evaluate how forests and woodlands in the Cairngorms are being managed, and to determine the main constraints and opportunities to the further application of a multifunctional approach to forest management in the region at various scales. The research incorporated GIS analysis, a postal questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews. A typology was developed which identified three key management themes: sustainable multifunctional management; restricted functionality forestry; and dual function management. Forest owner preferences, economic concerns, government policy and the wider land use context all influence forest management. No consistent relationship was evident between specific types of landownership and forest management functionality. A link was apparent between species and structural diversity and forest multifunctionality. Overall, ‘social’ objectives were relatively weak, particularly for private forests, while ‘environmental’ objectives were consistently strong and ‘productive/economic’ objectives varied in importance. The themes of constraint and opportunity were: spatial fragmentation and integration; forestry markets; bureaucracy and policy integration; public pressure and public support; and unpredictability and forest resource resilience. Many constraints result from temporal, spatial and organizational scale mis-matches between social and natural systems. The matching up of scales at the management, organizational and market levels and the treatment of forests as i complex social-ecological systems is recommended. Further recommendations include: further land management integration; increased policy regionalization; timber market localization; and enhanced long-term planning. ii CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................1 1 INTRODUCTION, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ..................................2 1.1 JUSTIFICATION OF THE CHOICE OF STUDY AREA ..................................................................................3 2 THE RESEARCH CONTEXT: SUSTAINABLE MULTIFUNCTIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT IN THEORY AND IN PRACTICE ............................................................................................6 2.1 THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN MULTIFUNCTIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT ...........................................6 2.1.1 The development of sustained yield forest management.............................................................6 2.1.2 The multiple-use approach.........................................................................................................8 2.1.3 Sustainable forest management (SFM).....................................................................................10 2.1.4 Ecosystem management as a basis for multifunctional SFM ...................................................11 2.1.5 The importance of social values and social-ecological scale match-ups .................................14 2.1.6 The modern concept of sustainable multifunctional forestry defined.......................................18 2.2 KEY MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR MULTIFUNCTIONAL SFM.................................................................20 2.2.1 Ecological silviculture/continuous cover forestry....................................................................20 2.2.2 Forest landscape planning and decision support systems........................................................22 2.2.3 Public participation in forest management and policy development........................................24 2.2.4 Integration of silvicultural, spatial planning and participative approaches to practical multifunctional SFM.................................................................................................................28 2.3 SUMMARY.........................................................................................................................................29 3 THE POLICY AND PLANNING CONTEXT FOR THE FORESTS AND WOODLANDS OF THE CAIRNGORMS REGION ....................30 3.1 THE INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN POLICY CONTEXT ..................................................................30 3.1.1 The international policy context...............................................................................................30 3.1.2 The European Policy context....................................................................................................32 3.2 THE NATIONAL POLICY CONTEXT ......................................................................................................34 3.2.1 A century of policy manoeuvres in the British forestry sector 1885-1985................................35 3.2.2 Sustainability in British forest policy .......................................................................................42 3.2.3 Devolution and policy nationalisation .....................................................................................45 3.2.4 Relevant British and Scottish Environmental Policy................................................................50 3.2.5 Other relevant national policy..................................................................................................54 3.3 FOREST POLICY IMPLEMENTATION: REGULATION, PLANNING AND SUPPORT IN SCOTTISH FORESTRY61 3.3.1 Regulatory instruments in Scottish forestry..............................................................................62 3.3.2 Fiscal incentives and forestry development in Scotland...........................................................64 3.3.3 Consultation processes and spatial planning in Scottish forestry............................................71 3.4 SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION..............................................................................................................76 4 THE STUDY SITE: THE FORESTS AND WOODLANDS OF THE CAIRNGORMS AND THE REGIONAL POLICY CONTEXT ............78 4.1 STUDY AREA – THE CAIRNGORMS REGION........................................................................................78 4.1.1 Area description .......................................................................................................................78 4.1.2 Physical geography ..................................................................................................................80 4.1.3 Ecology.....................................................................................................................................84 4.1.4 Social Geography.....................................................................................................................85 4.2 CAIRNGORMS FORESTS AND WOODLANDS - HISTORY AND LAND-USE CONTEXT ..............................86 4.2.1 Early forest and woodland history ...........................................................................................86 4.2.2 Ownership change and exploitation.........................................................................................88 4.2.3 Wartime clearances, policy impacts and land-use trade offs ...................................................89 4.2.4
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Policy Briefing
    Policy Briefing Forestry policy and carbon sequestration in Scotland Synopsis LINK believes that carbon sequestration should not be a primary driver of forestry policy, management of the National Forest Estate, and grant spend in Scotland. Whilst we accept that trees do sequester carbon, and through this process can make a small contribution to combating climate change, primary focus should continue to be on ensuring delivery of multiple public benefits such as enhanced biodiversity, improved access and health opportunities, landscape and historical environment enhancement and rural economic development. LINK does not therefore support any shift in resources away from existing policy priorities towards support for ‘sequestration forestry’ per se. LINK calls for a substantial increase in Government spending on ‘climate change adaptation forestry’ as an urgent response to the threat climate change poses to Scotland’s landscapes and biodiversity. ‘Adaptation forestry’ may include initiatives such as the restoration and expansion of native and mixed woodland planting, forest habitat network development and facilitating a move towards low impact silvicultural systems. These objectives are consistent with the current Scottish Forestry Strategy and will also have important secondary carbon sequestration benefits. The limitations of carbon as a driver for forestry policy The science behind carbon sequestration is still developing but evidence to date suggests that even if amount of new planting in Scotland each year was doubled or quadrupled, the contribution of new woodlands to offsetting an estimated 20Mt of carbon emitted each year in Scotland will only ever be minimal1. This is a key reason why sequestration should not be a primary driver of forestry policy.
    [Show full text]
  • Victoria & Albert's Highland Fling
    PROGRAMME 2 VICTORIA & ALBERT’S HIGHLAND FLING Introduction The Highlands are renowned throughout the world as a symbol of Scottish identity and we’re about to find out why. In this four-day walk we’re starting out at Pitlochry – gateway to the Cairngorms National Park – on a mountainous hike to the Queen’s residence at Balmoral. Until the 19th century, this area was seen by many as a mysterious and dangerous land. Populated by kilt-wearing barbarians, it was to be avoided by outsiders. We’re going to discover how all that changed, thanks in large part to an unpopular German prince and his besotted queen. .Walking Through History Day 1. Day 1 takes us through the Killiecrankie Pass, a battlefield of rebellious pre-Victorian Scotland. Then it’s on to an unprecedented royal visit at Blair Castle. Pitlochry to Blair Atholl, via the Killiecrankie Pass and Blair Castle. Distance: 12 miles Day 2. Things get a little more rugged with an epic hike through Glen Tilt and up Carn a’Chlamain. Then it’s on to Mar Lodge estate where we’ll discover how the Clearances made this one of the emptiest landscapes in Europe, and a playground for the rich. Blair Atholl to Mar Lodge, via Glen Tilt and Carn a’Chlamain. Distance: 23 miles Day 3. Into Royal Deeside, we get a taste of the Highland Games at Braemar, before reaching the tartan palace Albert built for his queen at Balmoral. Mar Lodge to Crathie, via Braemar and Balmoral Castle Distance: 20 miles Day 4. On our final day we explore the Balmoral estate.
    [Show full text]
  • Place-Names of the Cairngorms National Park
    Place-Names of the Cairngorms National Park Place-Names in the Cairngorms This leaflet provides an introduction to the background, meanings and pronunciation of a selection of the place-names in the Cairngorms National Park including some of the settlements, hills, woodlands, rivers and lochs in the Angus Glens, Strathdon, Deeside, Glen Avon, Glen Livet, Badenoch and Strathspey. Place-names give us some insight into the culture, history, environment and wildlife of the Park. They were used to help identify natural and built landscape features and also to commemorate events and people. The names on today’s maps, as well as describing landscape features, remind us of some of the associated local folklore. For example, according to local tradition, the River Avon (Aan): Uisge Athfhinn – Water of the Very Bright One – is said to be named after Athfhinn, the wife of Fionn (the legendary Celtic warrior) who supposedly drowned while trying to cross this river. The name ‘Cairngorms’ was first coined by non-Gaelic speaking visitors around 200 years ago to refer collectively to the range of mountains that lie between Strathspey and Deeside. Some local people still call these mountains by their original Gaelic name – Am Monadh Ruadh or ‘The Russet- coloured Mountain Range’.These mountains form the heart of the Cairngorms National Park – Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh. Invercauld Bridge over the River Dee Linguistic Heritage Some of the earliest place-names derive from the languages spoken by the Picts, who ruled large areas of Scotland north of the Forth at one time. The principal language spoken amongst the Picts seems to have been a ‘P-Celtic’ one (related to Welsh, Cornish, Breton and Gaulish).
    [Show full text]
  • Inverness, Ross & Skye
    Strategic Plan Inverness, Ross & Skye Forest District Strategic Plan 2009-2013 Click here to begin Strategic plan 2009-2013 Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 3 About Inverness, Ross & Skye Forest District ........................................................................................6 Section one: strategic context .....................................................................................................13 Context ............................................................................................................................................................14 Strategic priorities for Inverness, Ross & Skye Forest District .......................................................16 Forest policy context...................................................................................................................................18 Section two: how Inverness, Ross & Skye Forest District contributes to the delivery of the scottish forestry strategy ....................................................................................19 Key theme one: climate change ..............................................................................................................21 Key theme two: timber ..............................................................................................................................25 Key theme three: business development .............................................................................................30
    [Show full text]
  • A Panoramic View of the Park Understanding of the Park’S Lay-Out and Panoramic View of the Park from the East © CNPA Geography As Well As Its Communities
    Residents in A school Hundreds of three communities playground has people have signed are being asked been transformed up for two new how their villages into a wildlife training schemes could build on their wonderland thanks launched by the past successes. to a CNPA grant. Park Authority. PAGE 3 PAGE 5 PAGE 7 Issue ten • Winter • 2007/08 A panoramic view of the Park understanding of the Park’s lay-out and Panoramic view of the Park from the east © CNPA geography as well as its communities. Once completed, they will be placed at various entry points around the Park, highlighting to visitors how vast and varied the area is. The panoramas will also be used as promotional material in a variety of ways and formats. For example, at tourist information centres, visitor attractions and by community groups. The first panorama, from the east, has already been produced and will be erected at Dinnet. Mr Vielkind is considered to be at the forefront of his field and is celebrated around the world due to the quality of his work. It will take him around two months to complete each image as he does them by hand. PEOPLE entering the panoramic artist, to produce five The paintings form part of the Entry Cairngorms National Park will be panoramic views of the Park. It will be Point project, which has seen granite markers, featuring the National Park greeted with an interesting sight the first British national park to have such images. brand already placed at entry points – a panoramic view of the Park.
    [Show full text]
  • Protected Landscapes: the United Kingdom Experience
    .,•* \?/>i The United Kingdom Expenence Department of the COUNTRYSIDE COMMISSION COMMISSION ENVIRONMENT FOR SCOTLAND NofChern ireianc •'; <- *. '•ri U M.r. , '^M :a'- ;i^'vV r*^- ^=^l\i \6-^S PROTECTED LANDSCAPES The United Kingdom Experience Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from UNEP-WCIVIC, Cambridge http://www.archive.org/details/protectedlandsca87poor PROTECTED LANDSCAPES The United Kingdom Experience Prepared by Duncan and Judy Poore for the Countryside Commission Countryside Commission for Scotland Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Published for the International Symposium on Protected Landscapes Lake District, United Kingdom 5-10 October 1987 * Published in 1987 as a contribution to ^^ \ the European Year of the Environment * W^O * and the Council of Europe's Campaign for the Countryside by Countryside Commission, Countryside Commission for Scotland, Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources © 1987 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Avenue du Mont-Blanc, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland Additional copies available from: Countryside Commission Publications Despatch Department 19/23 Albert Road Manchester M19 2EQ, UK Price: £6.50 This publication is a companion volume to Protected Landscapes: Experience around the World to be published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources,
    [Show full text]
  • CNPA.Paper.763.Compl
    Sharing the stories of the Cairngorms National Park A guide to interpreting the area’s distinct character and coherent identity …a fresh and original approach… Foreword – by Sam Ham Establishment of National Parks throughout the world has mainly involved drawing lines around pristine lands and setting them ‘aside,’ to be forever protected in their natural state, spared both from cultivation and the influences of urbanisation. This has been comparatively easy in countries such as the USA which entered the National Parks business early in its history, when it had the luxury of massive tracts of relatively unmodified land along with enormous agricultural regions to grow its food and take care of the everyday economic needs of people. Such has also been the experience of other developed countries such as Canada, New Zealand, and Australia where the benefits of nature conservation were easier to balance against the economic opportunities ‘lost’ to protection, and sometimes the displacement of indigenous populations. But the experience of these countries is not the norm in places where human resource exploitation has been ongoing for many centuries and where drawing lines around ‘undeveloped’ lands of any significant size is virtually impossible. Indeed, if National Parks are to be established in most of today’s world, they cannot be set aside; rather they must be set within the human-modified landscape. Scots, arguably more so than any other people, have seized upon this idea and have led the rest of the world into a new and enlightened way of understanding the role of National Parks in contemporary society.
    [Show full text]
  • Forest Enterprise Scotland Management Board
    Forest Enterprise Scotland Management Board Forest Enterprise Scotland (FES) Management Board Meeting 26 January 2017 Attendees: Simon Hodge, Chief Executive Trefor Owen, Head of Land Management Michael Hymers, Head of Corporate Support Michael Ansell, Head of Estates Development Donna Mortimer, Head of Finance and Procurement Rosetta Forbes, Head of HR Scotland Alan Stevenson, Head of Community and Visitor Services Rhondda Salmond, Secretariat Apologies: Brent Meakin, Head of Business Services Others: Liz Walker (Items 6, 7 & 8) Alison Grant (Item 8) Jo Ellis (Item 8) 1. Minutes of last Meeting 20 Dec 2016 The Board agreed that the record of 20 Dec 2016 was held to be a true and fair record of the meeting. 2. Action Points and Matters Arising Ref: Action Who Target Date 11/02 Provide an update on investigations in to the BM & DM 17 March Depreciation Review. 2017 12/04 Bring a further developed Built Asset Management BM 17 March Strategy to FESMB in the new year. 2017 12/05 Consider how rationalisation income can best be used BM 17 March towards buildings or fleet, and present proposals to 2017 the FESMB 01/01 Nicol Sinclair to contact Business Services leads in NS 3 Feb 2017 covering for Brent’s period of absence. 02/01 Map dependencies between programmes with links to LW 17 march Corporate Development Programme 2017 03/01 Liaise with guest speakers regarding final MH 27 Jan arrangements for Team Leaders Meeting 2017 Action Points: 10/07, 11/03, 11/09, 11/10, 11/11, 12/01, 12/02, 12/03, 12/06 and 12/07 are discharged.
    [Show full text]
  • What Alternative Tree Species Can We Grow in Western Britain? 85 Years of Evidence from the Kilmun Forest Garden
    Research By W.L. Mason, F. MacDonald, M. Parratt and J.P. McLean What alternative tree species can we grow in western Britain? 85 years of evidence from the Kilmun Forest Garden Summary use in diversifying spruce dominated Nearly 300 tree species have been planted forests in western Britain. planted at Kilmun Forest Garden in Argyll since 1930, mostly in small plots Introduction allowing the collective performance of Recent years have seen increasing an individual species to be evaluated. awareness of the potential impacts of Results from the mid-1990s showed that both projected climate change and a about 60 species had formed productive range of pests and diseases upon the closed canopy stands, with a number of long-term sustainability of British forests conifers all showing health and potential (Read et al, 2009). One concern is the productivity equivalent to that of Sitka low numbers of species in our forests, spruce, the major species grown in the for example in 2005 around 55% of UK forests of western Britain. Since 2000, forests were single species stands (Forest there has been increased interest in the Europe, 2011). In addition, the British collection at Kilmun, partly because timber industry is dependent on very few it allows the comparison of long-term species with Sitka and Norway spruce growth of a wide range of species at accounting for over 55% of softwood a time when species diversification is timber production in 2012, a figure being encouraged as a means of adapting projected to increase to nearly 70% forests to climate change. Accordingly, by 2030 (Forestry Commission, 2014).
    [Show full text]
  • NA-ABS-049: Report to Scottish Ministers
    Planning and Environmental Appeals Division Report to the Scottish Ministers TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1997 Report by Amanda Chisholm, a reporter appointed by the Scottish Ministers Case reference: NA-ABS-049 Site Address: Site at Prony Steading, Glengairn, Ballater, Aberdeenshire Application for planning permission reference APP/2019/2108 dated 6 September 2019, called-in by notice dated 17 April 2020 The development proposed: conversion of part of steading to form dwelling house Date of unaccompanied site visit: 21 July 2020 Date of this report and recommendation: 20 October 2020 Planning and Environmental Appeals Division 4 The Courtyard, Callendar Business Park, Falkirk, FK1 1XR www.gov.scot/policies/planning-environmental-appeals CONTENTS Page Summary Report 2 Preamble 6 Chapters 1. Background 7 2. Planning policy and guidance 9 3. The cases for the parties 13 4. Conclusions and recommendations 24 Appendices Appendix 1: List of documents 34 Appendix 2: Suggested planning conditions and informatives 36 Abbreviations AOD Above Ordnance Datum m3/sec cubic metres per second SAC Special Area of Conservation SEPA Scottish Environment Protection Agency SuDS Sustainable Drainage System NA-ABS-049 Report 1 Planning and Environmental Appeals Division Summary of Report into Called-In Planning Application The conversion of part of an agricultural steading to form a dwelling house at Prony Steading, Glengairn, Ballater, Aberdeenshire Case reference NA-ABS-049 Case type Called-in application for planning permission Reporter
    [Show full text]
  • Argyll and Bute Woodland and Forestry Strategy
    Argyll and Bute Woodland and Forestry Strategy Technical Report by Land Use Consultants Bidwells Small Town and Rural Development Group May 2009 Argyll and Bute Woodland and Forestry Strategy Issues Analysis Technical Report Prepared for Argyll and Bute Council by Land Use Consultants, Bidwells And The Small Town and Rural Development Group 37 Otago Street Glasgow G12 8JJ Tel: 0141 334 9595 Fax: 0141 334 7789 [email protected] CONTENTS 1.1H Introduction ......................................................................................... 19H 2.2H Climate change .................................................................................... 210H 3.3H Timber ................................................................................................ 151H 4.4H Business Development ...................................................................... 3812H 5.5H Community Development ................................................................ 5013H 6.6H Access and Health ............................................................................. 6414H 7.7H Environmental Quality ...................................................................... 7915H 8.8H Biodiversity......................................................................................... 9916H i ii 1. INTRODUCTION0B 1.1. This Issues Paper is the first key step in the development of an Indicative Forestry Strategy for Argyll and Bute. The objective is to respond to the six principal themes defined firstly at the national levels
    [Show full text]
  • Scotland's Forestry Strategy 2019–2029
    Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019–2029 A Consultation Draft September 2018 Ministerial foreword to consultation The management of forests, woodlands and trees in Scotland over the last one hundred years is a significant success story. But it is a success that too few people have recognised. As Cabinet Secretary responsible for forestry, I have great optimism and ambition for this economically and environmentally crucial land-use. I am particularly pleased that within a year of taking office, the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018 was passed – the first forestry Act passed by the Scottish Parliament. The Act sets the framework for completing the devolution of forestry to Scotland. This Forestry Strategy is an essential element in supporting delivery of that framework and is a clear commitment in this year’s Programme for Government. It will set out our forestry ambitions and our long-term strategic approach to modern, productive, sustainable forestry. Forestry today is much changed. The practices of 50 years ago have been replaced by the internationally recognised principles of sustainable forest management. These principles, which underpin every aspect of forestry in Scotland, are also challenging the dated concept of ‘competing’ land interests and are helping to build a culture of complementary land management to get the best from our land. This is very much at the heart of our long-term vision for forestry. It is a vision that aims to inspire and stimulate action in a shared national endeavour, to sustainably grow and manage this valuable resource - to make the most of it, to protect it and to enhance it such that it meets our needs and the needs of the Scottish people in future.
    [Show full text]