Warning: By their nature, text files cannot include scanned images and tables. The process of converting documents to text only can cause formatting changes and misinterpretation of the contents can sometimes result. Wherever possible you should refer to the original PDF version of this document. Cairngorms National Park LAND MANAGEMENT FORUM The Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown-on Spey. Wednesday 2nd February 2011 MEETING NOTE Present: Adam Smith Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Alasdair Laing Logie Estate Alexander Bennett National Trust for Scotland Alison McKnight Smiths Gore Alister Laing Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) Allan Bantick Scottish Wildlife Trust Althea Davies Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Andrew Campbell Woodland Trust Andrew Rafferty Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) Board Andrew Thompson Bidwells Catriona Rowan Local Outdoor Access Forum Christine Skene CNPA Clive Meikle Bidwells David Greer Atholl Estates Davie Taylor Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) Drew MacFarlane Slack Scottish Rural Properties and Business Association (SRPBA) (Chairman) Eddie Nicol Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) Eileen Stuart Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Eleanor MacKintosh CNPA Board Gareth Taylor Atholl Estates Hamish Trench CNPA Ian Francis Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Scotland Ishbel Crawford LANTA (Land Based Training) Jamie Farquhar Confederation of Forest Industries ConFor Jeremy Roberts RSPB Justin Irvine Macaualy Land-Use Research Institute (MLURI) Karen Couper CNPA Mark Bilsby Dee District Salmon Fishery Board & River Dee Trust Miff Tuck Allargue Estate Mike Donaghy Mike Donaghy Associates Nic Bullivant Cairngorm Mountain Patrick Thompson Ben Alder Estate Paul Timms SNH Rhoderick Noble CKD Galbraith Richard Cooke Association of Deer Management Groups (ADMG) Richard Gledson Balmoral Estate Roy Dennis Roy Dennis Consultants Scott Newey Macaulay Institute Simon Blackett Invercauld Estate Simon Thorpe The Heather Trust Stefania Pizzirani Forest Research Thomas MacDonell Glenfeshie Estate Vicky Hilton The Crown Estate Will Boyd-Wallis CNPA (Secretary) 1. Welcome Drew McFarlane-Slack welcomed all to the first forum meeting which had been jointly arranged by the Scottish Rural properties and Business Association (SRPBA) and the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA). Apologies were received from: Alastair Campbell, Andrew Hamilton, Angela Douglas, Chris Bremner, David Jardine, Edward Humphrey, Gavin Miles, Hebe Carus, Jayne Glass, Malcolm Wield, Martin price, Paul Corrigan, Rob McMorran, Robert Raynor, Steve Redpath, Jamie Williamson, Pete Holden. 2. Introduction Will Boyd-Wallis reminded the forum of the four aims of the National Park: To conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage To promote sustainable use of the natural resources To promote understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities To promote local sustainable economic and social development The purpose of the Park Authority is to ensure these aims are collectively achieved in a co-ordinated way. If it appears that there is a 'conflict' between the first aim and the other National Park aims, CNPA must give 'greater weight' to the first. Will gave a quick summary of other forums connected to the National Park: Cairngorms Local Outdoor Access Forum, Cairngorms Sustainable Tourism Forum, Cairngorms Farmers' Forum and the Cairngorms Deer Advisory Group. It is important that the Land Management Forum does not duplicate the role of other forums, but there will inevitably be some mutual areas of interest. Will presented a suggested remit for the forum to bring together land managers, policy makers, researchers, etc to: develop new ideas and opportunities to benefit the environment, the economy and local communities and to help enable this by improving viability and profitability of land-based businesses through sharing information, experience and practical advice. 3. Wildlife Estates Scotland David Greer updated the forum on this initiative which aims to improve recognition of best practice wildlife management for shooting and fishing. By setting clear principles and criteria it aims to produce an objective and transparent system for demonstrating the benefits of conscientious land management. The project has been led by SRPBA and SEBG with a steering group that also includes the CNPA, SNH, GWCT and RSPB. 152 estates have signed up showing an interest in the first phase of development. The intention is to launch a pilot in spring in the Cairngorms National Park. There will be a project manager put in place to manage the initiative. Accreditation will be independently audited. It is entirely voluntary and self-funded. Originally set up by the European Landowners Organisation. It is not EU funded. It is not purely for sporting estates – the objective is for highlighting value of land management for biodiversity. The launch in the Cairngorms is the first phase; in time it will cover wider areas of Scotland. Discussion: It is essential, especially in a National Park to have some form of accreditation of land management, and 'wildlife is the key issue'. 'The scheme must be specific and the judgement criteria rigorous for it to be worthwhile'. 'Those estates doing well must be able to show they are doing well'. The right to responsible access was raised as an issue that affects the conservation of vulnerable protected species. 'This is largely about education and awareness, not simply controlling where people go'. 'Access must be integrated with land management to avoid experiences of Loch Lomond and Trossachs NP'. 'Estates need to demonstrate that biodiversity is taken account of and managed sensitively'. 'The scheme must not be too bureaucratic'. In time the vision should be for peer group pressure to lead to people only willing to hunt on accredited estates. Reintroduction of extinct native species such as the beaver should be considered as a point in the favour of an estate aspiring to be accredited as a 'wildlife estate'. 'Credibility is critical to success'. 4. National Park Plan 2 Hamish Trench outlined plans for drawing up the next National Park Plan for 2012-2017. The process of drawing up the next statutory National Park Plan has started. A public consultation will be conducted during Summer 2011. This plan will focus on achieving clear major outcomes. Hamish asked how best to get the views of land managers. Discussion: Make use of this forum, SRPBA networks, Farmers' forum etc. A call was made for more of a landscape-scale ecosystem approach to land management in which efforts are made to link up important habitats. This was enthusiastically endorsed by some stating the 'need to look across the whole Grampian mountain range'. The discussion diverted from the Park Plan to recent press coverage on deer management and woodland regeneration. CNPA were asked why they do not respond to letters in the press. CNPA offered enthusiastic support for considered articles in the media but not reactive writing of letters to newspaper editors. The reason for this is simply that letters in the press tend to result in tit for tat messages going out in which fact and fiction are interspersed and the reader ends up none the wiser. This led to a comment on successes in deer reductions in recent years and a call to public agencies to 'acknowledge the work of land managers' in achieving this. It was noted that the Deer Framework for the National Park (in press) does make that point. 5. Land managers perspectives on flood risk reduction Mike Donaghy gave two presentations, in the first he presented a highly convincing argument for directing funding for flood management more towards the upper catchments in order to reduce flooding incidents in lower catchments. The Flood Risk Management Act (Scotland) 2009 legislates for a catchment wide approach to tackling flooding and for sustainable land use practices to be taken into account. Hard engineering in the lower catchment is not by any means the only solution. Mike provided a range of examples where 'leaky barriers' have been used to slow down water, including wetland restoration and woodland creation. Reducing river bank erosion using 'willow spiling', riparian woodlands and retaining large woody debris in rivers also reduces problems associated with sedimentation downstream and water quality issues. Mike's second talk reported on the findings of a recent survey of views and experiences of land managers in upper Strathspey regarding land management measures for flood risk reduction and their experience of climate change impacts on their land management practices. Fifteen land managers in upper Strathspey were interviewed in August 2010 to record any experience of changes in climatic conditions, to gather views and to raise awareness about the implementation of sustainable approaches to flood management and to elicit their views as to the suitability of the SRDP as a scheme for providing financial support to provide flood management measures under the Flood Risk Management Act. The sample area ranged from Grantown on Spey upstream to Laggan, including Dulnain Bridge, Nethy Bridge, Rothiemurchus and Glen Feshie. The majority of the land managers described their role as farmers. The remainder described their role as factors, foresters, grouse and deer managers, entrepreneurs and nature reserve managers, or a mixture of these. Each was met individually at their farm or estate, apart from one interview which was carried out by telephone. All of the participants were aware of climate change effects and had experienced them on their land. Consequently, they were actively adapting to the changes and gave several examples of how they were being affected and what they were doing to adjust their practices. The most common response was that they were slowly retreating from their higher ground. In regard to flood legislation and land management measures for flood risk reduction, none was aware that there was new flooding legislation in Scotland. However, after a briefing on the new Act and its requirements, they rapidly grasped their role and understood their potential for contribution. All of the participants were very positive about becoming involved in the taking of measures to reduce flood risk as part of a catchment approach. The majority welcomed an appropriate payment scheme and understood the commitments required. Some cautions were raised in regard to the fairness to tenant farmers of a payment scheme and in tying the payments to the land rather than the landowner. Fourteen of the fifteen participants were adamant that, and gave reasons as to why, the SRDP was not the correct vehicle for achieving the desired outcome. Some workable examples of schemes were suggested that avoided the problems linked to present or recent schemes. Many of the participants intimated that they were willing to help develop these schemes in partnership with the authorities on their ground. They also gave the view that a trusted, independent person or organisation was seen as essential for acting as a conduit between the land managers and the authorities or flood advisory groups. For simplicity and effectiveness, they desired a clear leadership role from a single authority in the whole flood risk management process. 6. Hare Today, Gone tomorrow? Adam Smith gave a presentation on current distribution and status of mountain hares in Scotland. Mountain hares are an Annex 5 protected species (alongside e.g. salmon); this means that certain methods of capture are prohibited, but it is legal to hunt mountain hares. They are notoriously difficult to census, partly because their numbers fluctuate greatly from year to year, but it is thought that there are between 200,000 and 500,000 in the UK, more than 90% of which are in Scotland. 80% of mountain hares live on grouse moors. There is reportedly 'no evidence' of range loss despite increased harvest (very variable, but around 10% of the population each year). The reasons for culls have changed, in recent years there has been a much greater emphasis on tick control: a 2007 survey indicated reasons as being 41% Sport, 9% crop protection and 50% tick control. Adam summarised by asking the question, 'What is their conservation status?' Nationally it is good, but locally in some places it is not good. Their range is stable, but could potentially be increased as there is plenty of habitat available. 7. Mountain Hares, Red Grouse and Louping ill Virus Scott Newey gave a presentation highlighting various areas of relevant research on mountain hares.A study by Laurensen et al. (2003) indicated that reducing mountain hares on a Morayshire estate between 1993 and 2001 resulted in increased grouse numbers. This led to a number of estates following suit. However Scott indicated that culling wildlife hosts almost invariably produces unexpected results; a recent review by Harrison et al (2010) highlights that where there are other tick hosts present in reasonable numbers, the effects of mountain hare reductions on grouse survival will not be so marked. E.g. a deer population density of greater than 1 per square kilometre is enough to maintain Louping Ill Virus (LIV) on a grouse moor. In response to a question on whether the 3 reasons for killing hares used in the questionnaire were exclusive or not, it was noted that sporting estates tend not to be simply focused on one reason for culling hares, but often their motivations will consist of all three noted above. Some alarm was expressed at the deer density (1/km2) was capable of sustaining LIV. However it was noted that in mainland Europe, in particular Scandinavia, deer density is often expressed in numbers per 100km2. The 'scourge' of LIV was further emphasised and CNPA's recognition of the value of grouse moor management alongside forestry and farming in the National Park was welcomed. It was acknowledged that grouse moors encourage both high numbers of grouse and high numbers of mountain hares and that in many locations they readily co-exist. 8. Other updates and forthcoming events 1st March 2011 - Muirburning workshop event taking place on Candacraig Estate - run by the Heather Trust. 28th-31st March 2011 - Deer Stalking Certificate course at Blair Atholl - run by BDS and 50% subsidised by CNPA for National Park residents. 9. Ideas for future Forum meetings An array of suggestions for topics for future poured forth: Standardised, user friendly format for producing muirburn plans Renewables and planning & development control. Funding for the provision of wider public benefits derived from land management Media attention on deer culls for woodland regeneration but not for tick control on grouse moors; hypocrisy? Rights of responsible public access and statutory responsibility to protect endangered wildlife Review of training needs for land management sector Forest expansion - how, where, and when? Strategy to promote public awareness and understanding of land management Beaver reintroduction Natura sites and issues relating to one protected site expanding into another Land use strategy Conservation and enhancement of soils Optimising under-managed woodlands Significance of climate change to e.g. farming practice, woodland expansion Funding and economics - without money nothing gets done The meeting concluded with the agreement that the forum should meet twice a year. The agenda for this meeting had been quite full and time tight; it was agreed that future meetings would allow for more time for discussion. Drew thanked all for coming and stated that Rhoderick Noble had kindly agreed to chair the next meeting.