Wild Land News no 67, Autumn 2006

New Era Of Cairngorm Ownership Article

Anne Macintyre

We have been invited to respond to a consultation document to seek and confirm views on the proposed transfer of Cairngorm Estate from the regional development agency, Highland and Islands Enterprise, to Forestry Commission Scotland, and on the proposed future structures for management.

Cairngorm Estate lies within both Cairngorm National Park and a National Scenic Area and covers 1418 hectares of moorland and mountain including Cairngorm summit and the ski area. Nearly half of the estate lies within Natura 2000 sites and the western half of the estate lies within the Northern Corries SSSI which starts off on the lower slopes in Glenmore Forest and rises to the summit of Cairn Lochan.

The Estate was purchased by the Forestry Commission in 1923 as part of Glenmore Estate but when skiing facilities and the access road were developed in the 1960's the area was then transferred to HIE's predecessor, Highlands and Islands Development Board in 1971.

SWLG has over many years and through numerous consultations and publications expressed our concerns for the future of Cairngorm. It is here, more than any other area of Scotland, that the powerful commercial interests, driven by HIE, have been in conflict with our duty to protect such a magnificent but fragile environment.

In our own publication 'Cairngorms at the Crossroads' in 1987 we called for wiser management of this special area and articulated the need to cherish and value wild landscape for its own sake in the face of a formidable assembly of threats. During the era of HIE's ownership the area was constantly under threat from Lurcher's Gully through to the long running battle over the funicular railway which SWLG constantly opposed.

HIE's ownership of this area was wholly inappropriate so we fully support transfer to another agency that will take a more balanced approach to management of the area. A number of agencies have been considered in the options appraisal including SNH, Cairngorm National Park, Cairngorm Mountain Trust and Cairngorm Mountain Ltd which manages the ski area.

However the preferred option is clearly to return this area to Forestry Commission Scotland offering a more holistic management of the area from Glenmore up to the higher slopes. Forestry Commission Scotland is already involved in land management within Cairngorm National Park, is the largest manager of recreational land in Scotland and already manages areas of sensitive mountain environment including close working with the ski area at Aonach Mor.

SWLG therefore supports this proposal and the proposed management structures including an Advisory Forum involving the legitimate interests of the local community, other public bodies and recreation and conservation representatives.

We are also please to see that HIE will retain financial responsibility for the removal of the funicular railway and any repayment of ERDF funding in the event of these obligations being triggered.

For further information about this consultation and for details on how to respond (deadline is 15 November) go to the Forestry commission website http://www.forestry.gov.uk/consultations or send for a Response Form to Cairngorm Consultation, Forestry Commission Scotland, Inverness District Office, Tower Road, Smithton, Inverness IV12 7NL