SNH Wild Land map – click to enlarge
The John Muir Trust has welcomed the resounding two to one support for wild land protection expressed in responses to the Scottish Government’s planning consultation exercise launched in May.
Of over 150 submissions to the Scottish Planning Policy consultation document expressing an opinion on wild land, well over 100 back the Scottish Government’s proposal to strengthen protection for 43 core areas of wild land as mapped by Scottish Natural Heritage. Those supporting wild land protection include individuals, environmental and other charities, outdoors organisations, businesses (which included Walkhighlands, some landowners, property agents, and the Federation of Small Businesses), local authorities, community councils, landowners and professional bodies.
Fewer than 50 responses oppose the proposal, almost all from energy corporations, property developers and landowners with a financial interest in making profit from wild land.
More than two thirds of hostile responses were submitted by companies based outside Scotland, with more than one third from overseas multinationals based in the USA and Europe. In contrast, a resounding majority of those supporting wild land protection were from Scotland.
Significantly, no environmental organisation opposed the proposal for stronger protection of wild land.
Many submissions call on the Scottish Government to go further by declaring an outright ban on large scale wind farm development on wild land, in line with its policy proposal for National Scenic Areas and National Parks.
Responding to the submissions, John Hutchison, chair of the John Muir Trust said “Wild land is a precious, finite resource and it’s heartening that so many different people and groups have shown that they care about protecting it.
“The negative responses from energy corporations and property developers confirm that industrialisation of our wild land is driven,not by concern over climate change, but by profit. Global corporations see Scotland’s natural heritage as a resource to be plundered, while ordinary people, communities and environmentalists see it as a precious asset to be protected, nourished and restored.”
John Muir Trust chief executive Stuart Brooks added: “We urgently need effective action to combat climate change but converting large swathes of wild land to industrial development is not the answer.
“Protecting our natural capital and investing in peatland and woodland conservation, recreation and tourism will deliver a far higher and more sustainable return on investment for the benefit of local communities, the nation and the health of the planet.”