Ensuring National Parks contribute to delivering Net Zero
The Scottish Government should avoid introducing National Parks in areas that would give rise to conflicts between planning policy and renewable energy developments.
Why the contribution is important
It is essential that the Scottish Government balances its ambitions to increase the number of National Parks in Scotland with the need to deploy more renewable energy to meet our legally binding target of reaching net-zero by 2045 and the binding interim targets for 2030 and 2040. Planning policy dictates that windfarms will not be built in either National Parks or National Scenic Areas. The Scottish Government should therefore avoid introducing National Parks in areas that would give rise to conflicts between planning policy and renewable energy developments.
by SPR on May 27, 2022 at 11:23AM
Posted by NicBullivant May 31, 2022 at 10:46
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by scottishwildlandgroup June 04, 2022 at 14:57
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by glasach June 05, 2022 at 17:23
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by AndrewPym June 05, 2022 at 21:44
But Net Zero involves much more. It is about catching carbon from the atmosphere and preventing the release of existing carbon stocks. Galloway is a good place to illustrate the challenges: (1) a significant area of deep peat soils are in Galloway; they hold a very large reserve of carbon but are in a depleted state, and need to be preserved. (2) many areas of deep peat have been afforested and they need to be returned to managed bog soils when the current forest crops are removed. (3) It is expected that the capacity for Sitka Spruce to grow in Galloway is limited. At a Royal Scottish Forestry Society meeting it was said by several expert foresters that the area maybe able to deliver two more harvests (@38 years for each crop). The land which has been changed and degraded by forestry (for good reasons of economy and security) will need to be approached differently with new woodland management regimes: the best approach to secure and retain carbon is continuous cover forestry.
A National Park Authority team is well placed to co-ordinate such initiatives, considering all elements of biodiversity, landscape and economy in arriving at an appropriate plan. Galloway is in serious need of such an approach in looking forward and all these challenges of the next 80 and more years need to be addressed now.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by camusfearna June 05, 2022 at 22:34
This should be an important criteria when any area is considered for national park designation.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by croftercowrie June 05, 2022 at 23:26
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)