Scotland’s Wild Landscapes Conference
13-14 May 2010
Venue: SNH Battleby Centre, near Perth
To register and find out more about the event, visit the dedicated conference website here.
On 13-14th May 2010, the UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC) Scotland Committee and the Centre for Mountain Studies (UHI), in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, the John Muir Trust and the Cairngorms National Park Authority, will hold a two-day event on wild landscapes and re-wilding in Scotland.
Participants will come from diverse sectors, including those in:
- biodiversity and the environment
- tourism and recreation
- renewable energy
- research
- local and land management interests
- the general public
Scotland is renowned for its landscapes of wild character, with outstanding scenery, important wildlife, and opportunities for outdoor recreation. However, these landscapes are subject to change, and their use and management is a topic of considerable debate. Areas of Scotland that are particularly remote and rugged, with little evidence of human influence, are widely referred to as wild land, while others exhibit some ‘wild’ characteristics. Despite efforts to conserve and manage such landscapes, there is limited empirical information concerning their social, environmental, and economic benefits and opportunities.
The event aims to identify key synergies across different policy agendas which relate to wild land conservation and restoration and identify associated future opportunities for wild landscapes. It will also provide a discussion forum around which future partnerships and collaborations for wild landscapes can be fostered and allow for the development of a set of recommendations for the conservation and enhancement of Scotland’s wild landscapes.
Programme
Please note that this is a preliminary conference programme. Speakers and presentation titles are subject to change based on the availability of speakers and the final decisions of speakers and the conference steering team.
Day 1 – Scene setting, re-wilding and climate change
9.30-10.00 - Coffee and registration
10.00 - Welcome – opening message
A vision for wild land – Stuart Brooks [Chief Executive John Muir Trust]
Scotland’s wild landscapes –Setting the Scene -Steve Carver [Director, Wildland Research Institute, Leeds University]
Theme 1: Wild landscapes, re-wilding and biodiversity
Biodiversity: an essential component or incidental benefit of wild land? - Jonathan Hughes [Director of Conservation, Scottish Wildlife Trust]
Species restorationand re-wilding in Scotland – David Hetherington
Forest management and re-wilding – John Risby [Forestry Commission Scotland, Highlands and Islands Conservancy]
Discussion and questions with panel of all Morning speakers
12.40-1.40 - Lunch
Theme 2: Wild landscapes, Climate Changeand Renewable Energy
The carbon storage/climate change mitigation potential of Scotland’s wild landscapes/large semi-natural habitat areas(Graham Russell Edinburgh University)
Renewable energy and Scotland’s Wild landscapes – Conflict, compromise or compatibility? (Speaker from community perspective)
The potential impacts of climate change on Scotland’s wild landscapes/large semi-natural habitat areas – SNH Speaker
Discussion and questions with speaker panel
3.10-3.40 – Coffee
3.40-4.10 – Participatory mapping Session (Steve Carver)
4.10-5.30 - Break out discussion groups for participatory wildness mapping session
5.30 - Close of Day/Poster session
8pm - Conference Dinner Ramada Jarvis
Day 2: Recent developments and wider perspectives
9.30 - Welcome
9.30-10.30: Theme 3: Recent research, policyand managementinnovation for wild landscapes
Initial findings of the 2009 Scottish Government review on the status and conservation of wild land in Europe–Mark Fisher [Wildland Research Institute]
Innovative policy for wildness and wild land –a Scottish National Park Perspective -Matthew Hawkins [Landscape Advisor, Cairngorms National Park Authority]
Delivering sustainable wild land management –Wild Land Management Standards-Mike Daniels [Chief Scientific Officer, John Muir Trust]
Discussion and questions with speaker panel on theme 3 presentations
11.00-11.30 - Coffee and poster session
11.30-12.30: Theme 4: Wild Landscapes:recreational, cultural and sporting perspectives
The cultural dimensions of Scotland’s wild landscapes –Robin Turner [Head of Archaeology, National Trust for Scotland]
Experiencing wild landscapes –recreational, spiritual and tourism values of wild landscapes- Peter Varley [Lecturer, Lochaber College-UHI]
Sporting land uses and wild land – Conflicting or complementary values? Adam Smith [Scottish Policy Officer, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust]
Discussion and questions with speaker panel
1.00-2.00 - Lunch
2.00-2.15 - Feedback from participatory mapping session (from Day 1) (Steve Carver)
2.15-3.15 - Break out discussion groups
3.15-3.40 - Coffee
3.40-4.00 - Feedback on discussion groups in main roomand final discussion
4.00-4.30 - Summing up: Implications for policy and action:2010 and beyond-John Thompson [Director of Strategy and Communications, Scottish Natural Heritage]
