Impacts of different policy-driven land uses for the Scottish hills on retention of farming, the environment and local economy

摘要

Land use in the UK hills is heavily dependent upon policy and financial supportmeasures. Recent CAP reform has enabled changes in farming practices. In some regionsof Scotland sheep numbers have reduced by 30% since 2001. Using the example ofScotland, the recent and future changes in farming are linked to both these policy issuesbut also the poor economic situation of hill sheep systems. The other major productiveland use in the highlands, forestry, currently provides 17.1% land cover but is set tofurther expand through new grant aid. Much of the justification for this support is linkedto climate change. Forestry expansion can only add to pressures that reduce sheepmeatproduction from Scottish hills. Biodiversity and the local economy will be affected bythese changes in land use and intensity of farming use. Whilst more forestry and fewersheep will contribute towards Scotland and UK's climate change commitments, it isquestioned whether policy-makers have adequate information of the impacts at localand global levels.