15th October 2015
Scottish Land & Estates and GWCT have welcomed a new report by Scottish Natural Heritage that reviews sustainable moorland management.
The report, which has received input from a wide range of industry stakeholders, provides an authoritative examination of four key issues:
- the development of a shared vision for Scotland’s moorland
- efforts to avoid moorland deterioration
- the need to plug evidence gaps through the development of a moorland habitat map
- developing management and stewardship systems across all areas of moorland management
Tim Baynes, Director of the Scottish Moorland Group, which is part of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “This report adds to the growing body of analysis that highlights the importance of moorland management.
“The report recognises the outstanding work of land managers and gamekeepers, and the defining role of management in shaping the exceptional environmental importance of these moorland areas.
“Ten recommendations are provided within the review and we will work with Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Government and other stakeholders to deliver consensus on these issues.
“It is clear that Scottish Natural Heritage are determined to keep striving for best practice and through the Wildlife Estates Scotland scheme – which is recognised in the report – it is clear that much can be achieved by estates working towards accreditation.”
Amanda Anderson, Director of the Moorland Association said: “Defining ‘sustainability’ is one of the hardest jobs we face in the conservation world. While we strive to deliver the ‘best’ environment we can for the benefit of all through for example clean water, recreation and rich biodiversity, there are inevitably trade-offs with the equally important socio-economics of land use. We live on a tiny and crowded island where every square inch is under conflicting pressure. The trick is to find that middle ground of what ‘good’ looks like and deliver the best we can for everything. Clearly, that will sometimes involve reaching a compromise.”
