A new report commissioned jointly by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, the Cairngorms National Park and Scottish Natural Heritage reveals widespread public appreciation of wild land in Scotland, and deep concern that it may be under threat.
The report, Public Perception Survey of Wildness in Scotland, measures how much people: Use the outdoors, perceive the idea of wildness, and value wild areas.
The results show that:
81 per cent visit the outdoors at least every few months
72 per cent consider it ‘very important’ that Scotland has wild areas
60 per cent feel that wild areas in Scotland are under threat
77 per cent believe it is ‘very important’ to protect wild areas
86 per cent believe further action is needed to preserve wild land in Scotland.
The John Muir Trust (JMT) says the survey, “shows people value wild land for its wildlife, its connection with Scottish culture and heritage, its natural beauty, its contribution to the diversity of our landscape, its recreational use and its international renown.”
Of those who believe that further action is needed to protect Scotland’s wild land, the most widely supported measures are, in descending order of popularity:
Specific ‘wild land’ designation.
Effective planning control for wind turbines
Effective planning control for buildings;
Effective planning control for telephone masts and pylons; and
Reintroductions of species.
Stuart Brooks, the Chief Executive of the JMT said: “This survey confirms that the vast majority of us believe that protecting wildness is essential. Scotland has some of the most magnificent wild land in Europe, which attracts visitors from across the globe and people are worried it is being industrialised and lost.
“These figures should provide politicians from all political parties with the confidence to take immediate action and put protection measures in place. It shows that the John Muir Trust and other conservation charities are in tune with public opinion when we say that our wild land is more than just a resource to be exploited for commercial gain, but a precious, priceless asset that needs to be protected for future generations not yet born.”
Helen McDade, Head of Policy for the John Muir Trust said: “The proportion of wild land left in Scotland is shrinking at an alarming rate. In 2002, 41 per of Scotland’s landmass was free of any visual impact from man-made structures; by the end of 2009, that proportion had shrunk to just 28 per cent. In the past three years, if anything the destruction of our wild land has accelerated as industrial-scale wind farms spread across some of our most scenic and ecologically sensitive landscapes.
“The John Muir Trust has already lodged a petition to the Scottish Parliament seeking a new wild land designation, as the most robust means of ensuring the protection of our finest wild land. It is heartening to see that there is widespread public support for this action”.