Sustainability and the multifunctional landscape: An assessment of approaches to planning and management in the Cairngorms National Park

Abstract

a b s t r a c tUpland Scotland contains some of Britain's most prized areas of natural heritage value. However, although such areas may appear both 'wild' and 'remote', these are typically working landscapes which symbolise the interdependence of nature and society. The complexity of this relationship means that management responses will need to address a multitude of potentially conflicting priorities whilst at the same time ensuring that sufficient social and institutional capital exists to allow for the promotion of landscape integrity. The introduction of national parks to Scotland in the form of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 allows for a high-level of protection for designated areas in upland Scotland. Yet, whilst the recent Act outlines the statutory purpose and direction national parks should take, it allows a significant degree of flexibility in the way in which the Act may be implemented. This level of discretion allows for significant local distinctiveness within the model but also raises questions about the potential effectiveness of chosen responses. In order to assess the potential implications of a model rooted in self-determination, we provide a case study review of the institutional basis of the Cairngorms National Park along with an assessment of the strategic character of the first National Park Plan. It is argued that whilst the Cairngorms National Park Authority has developed a significant level of stakeholder engagement, the authority may struggle to bridge the policy-implementation gap. Although a number of shortcomings are identified, particular concerns relate to the potential mismatch between strategic ambition and local level capacity.

Evolving national park models: The emergence of an economic imperative and its effect on the contested nature of the ‘national’ park concept in Northern Ireland

“…This resonates with the partnership philosophy of the CNPA (Stockdale and Barker 2009;Dinnie et al 2012). According to a CNPA official, the CNPA has sought to act as an: "enabling body ... [with an] ethos of not doing things but coordinating action through existing people or organisations".…”

“…The second quote acknowledges that the physical geography of a national park has the potential to inhibit involvement (Stockdale and Barker 2009). The reality of geo-political division in the Mournes (discussed below) should also be considered when choosing the location of any participatory events.…”

Conservation designations—Are they fit for purpose in the 21st century?

“…However, it is not clear that the local organisations engaged in these partnerships have the capacity to achieve full implementation of national park goals (Stockdale and Barker, 2009). …”

Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica e as Áreas de Proteção Ambiental

“…Por outro lado, em alguns países como, por exemplo, Canadá, Escócia e África do Sul, a Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica (AAE) é utilizada no contexto das áreas protegidas (LEMOS et al, 2012;NOBLE, 2003;STOCKDALE & BARKER, 2009). No caso do Parque Nacional Cairngorms (PNC), na Escócia, a AAE influenciou na elaboração do plano de manejo e este caso é considerado como um exemplo de boa prática (STOCKDALE & BARKER, 2009).…”

“…No caso do Parque Nacional Cairngorms (PNC), na Escócia, a AAE influenciou na elaboração do plano de manejo e este caso é considerado como um exemplo de boa prática (STOCKDALE & BARKER, 2009). No Canadá, a AAE também é utilizada na elaboração dos planos de manejo das áreas protegidas (PARKS CANADÁ, 2013 Assim, a AAE auxilia na elaboração das ações estratégicas de modo a assegurar a integração efetiva dos aspectos biofísicos, econômicos, sociais e políticos, o mais cedo possível, nos processos públicos de planejamento e tomada de decisão (FISCHER, 1999;THERIVEL, 2004;WOOD & DEJEDDOUR, 1992).…”