Members News March 2009

FOR MEMBERS OF THE JOHN MUIR TRUST MEMBERS’ NEWS MARCH 2009 John Muir Trust members invited to NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE IN POST contribute to the ‘View from 2050’ Stuart Brooks has Lifestyles in 2050 will be radically different. before the Kyoto Protocol expires, 2009 been appointed Chief But will our wild landscapes and their is the final opportunity to do so. Our Executive of the biodiversity – and our relationships with government has already set a target of John Muir Trust with them - also be radically different? 2050 an 80% reduction in our greenhouse effect from 1 March might be more than half a lifetime away but gas emissions from their 1990 levels. 2009, following the it is a reference point we’ll be hearing far Achieving this will require radical social retirement of Nigel more of in the next few years. and political decision-making, re-thinking Hawkins. industrial processes, and will impact The ambition of the United Nations Stuart joins us from on all our daily lives. It will involve Climate Change Conference in the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) where unprecedented individual, national and Copenhagen (COP15) in December is for he has been Director of Conservation global action. a binding global climate agreement to since 2002 with responsibility for land include as many countries as possible. If In its role of ‘promoting informed debate management, policy and communications, the world’s nations are to decide upon on public policy issues’, The David Hume as well as being the main account a new agreement to enter into force manager for key grants. He has been → page 2 responsible for overseeing major projects across their reserves, developing their operational plans and the ‘SWT Vision’. NEW TRUstEES soUGHT to FILL SKILLS GAps He has worked for the SWT since 1993, initially on a European lowland peatland Nominations for new Trustees are being sought with a deadline of 9 March 2009. We will project when, gaining experience have five positions to fill on our total board of fifteen. from countries across northern and Some very experienced Trustees will leave the board at the AGM in May and, with the eastern Europe, he co-authored the Bog aim of building as robust a board as possible, the collective experience and skill base of Management Handbook in 1995. He went the remaining Trustees was examined, bearing in mind our main activities. on to develop and manage numerous multi-million pound wildlife reserve and Although this was a fairly subjective review, it became apparent that the main gaps wider countryside projects until taking up were biodiversity; the management of outdoor activities; public relations; marketing; the post of Head of Conservation. He had entrepreneurship; woodland management; farming and managing volunteers. previously worked for the Northumberland The expertise within our staff covers many of these areas well but, in the interest of Wildlife Trust, after graduating from building a complementary board with broad experience, it is useful to highlight these Newcastle University. needs at this time. Stuart has also served on a number Becoming a Trustee is an important step but the three-year term appointment will give of national committees and is the vice unique and valuable experience in taking our organisation forward. Members are urged convener of Scottish Environment LINK to watch out for suitable candidates. biodiversity task force. In 2005 Stuart received the Christopher Cadbury Medal The board meets on a weekday, five times a year, usually in Pitlochry or Edinburgh with for services to Nature Conservation in one weekend in the Highlands close to one of our estates. the British Isles and has recently joined the UK Executive Committee of the IUCN The closing date for applications is 9 March and nomination forms can be obtained from and the Commission for Ecosystem the Pitlochry office by calling 01796 470080 or from the website www.jmt.org Management. John C Hutchison, Chairman-Elect → from page 1 in two contrasting quotes from contributors to the DHI A Trustee’s Institute (DHI) has produced report, looking back from the a report: ‘Reducing Carbon perspective of 2050: perspective from 2050 Emissions – the View from ■ “They [environmentalists] 2050’. It asked a variety realised that climate change We are inviting all members to participate in the exercise of of authors to consider threatened everything – and envisaging the successful attainment of environmental targets themselves as being in 2050, the arguments of some of their in 2050 and describing how that might have been achieved. Will with the government target own, to oppose all wind farms Williams, a John Muir Trust trustee, takes up the challenge. having been met. as ‘blots on the landscape’ for Local communities became ■ How did this come about? example, became untenable.” increasingly engaged in ■ What was the journey? ■ “Positive action came understanding the value of when leading politicians put their local landscapes. Models ■ What were the forward a compelling message of good practice emerged, consequences? that economic prosperity despite initial tensions as The DHI report benefits depended on environmental cultural perspectives and from a broad canvas of stewardship.” established practices took contributions from business time to coalesce and focus The relevance of organisations people, politicians, academics, on common goals. The like the John Muir Trust – energy companies, youth, community energy initiative on and the extent to which our environmental specialists, Skye and the joint working with biodiversity and landscapes consumers and economists. the North Harris communities are valued - will depend on The full report can be seen via on small scale renewable meaningful engagement the ‘View from 2050’ link on energy schemes pointed with this debate. That is why, www.jmt.org “My term as a Trustee ended the way towards low carbon starting with this edition of in 2009, just as the debate lifestyles more in tune with Everyone is being invited to Members’ News, all Trust was hotting up, and one of my local environments. join this discussion. Professor members are being invited to final contributions was to urge The work of the John Muir Anne Glover, Chief Scientific engage in an informal dialogue the John Muir Trust to think Award across the whole Adviser for Scotland, says: about the role of our small more about its position in the spectrum of society (as well “This major David Hume environmental organisation in context of inevitable climate as schools-based schemes: Institute report is exciting, the journey towards 2050. change. In establishing itself timely and captures some of Eco-Schools, Forest Schools The Trust can benefit in 1983, the John Muir Trust our best thinking from the wise and Grounds for Learning) greatly from a broad-based was unique in promoting a to the provocative. It is the had increasing currency. consideration of its relevance holistic approach to protecting catalyst for debate and that is Politicians recognised the need to this topic, potentially wild land. But the political and what all good thinking thrives for nature in daily lives and increasing its social and public concern 25 years on had upon. I hope as many people political influence. It’s an moved on to include the need as possible are stimulated by opportunity to take stock of for clean air and water, healthy the essays and use the ideas what we’re already doing and soils and vibrant biodiversity HoW CAN YOU GET to create their own imaginative consider the potential of our for natural systems as InvoLVED IN THE pathways to 2050.” Jeremy current activities to contribute being critical for sustainable ‘VIEW FRom 2050’? Peat, DHI Director, says: “Your positively to the discussion, development. Once the dust views would be welcome. This ■ Visit www.jmt.org and and to attaining specific had settled on the ‘credit topic will remain with us for a contribute to an online targets. crunch’, we found ourselves while!” immersed in the ‘eco-crunch’ discussion group Everyone has a part to play What role will our natural (or ‘ nature-crunch’?). Climate ■ Write in to the John Muir in this. Elsewhere on this landscapes - and, by change adaptation, carbon Trust with perspectives, page, Will Williams, one of implication, the John Muir sequestration, biodiversity comments, questions our Trustees, presents his Trust - play in this scenario? restoration, sustainable energy reflections from 2050 and we ■ Contribute to Local Group Will it be as a mitigator or sources, and putting a value on suggest a number of ways in discussions accelerator, for utilisation natural capital were some of which you could join in the as a resource with which to the big issues of 2010-2020. ■ Look out for screenings of debate. tackle climate change, as the Although small scale, the climate change filmAge of backdrop for man-made low In November 2009 the John John Muir Trust’s positive Stupid – see www.ageofstupid. carbon energy production, Muir Trust will: contribution to these issues net as a natural indicator of ■ produce a document that as they became increasingly ■ Attend the AGM and transformations as they occur, captures the essence of mainstream was a stepping- Members’ Gathering or as a symbol of our individual contributions stone to greater appreciation stances on climate change of the role of landscape and ■ Look out for updates in the issues? ■ create a simple summary its biodiversity. Working Journal/Members’ News/e- of ‘The view from 2050 – a bulletins Whatever our personal views, collaboratively, a raft of John Muir Trust members’ environmental NGOs forged a major political response ■ Help to manage and promote perspective’ a wider role, beyond one that to the perceived scale of the this discussion and take it was sometimes perceived climate change issue is on its ■ hold a networking event to forward in your own groups, very narrowly in terms of the way.

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