Formal Board Paper 1 Annex 1.5 - Natural heritage

This document contains important evidence for the Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan, focusing on our natural heritage. It outlines how the Park Authority plans to protect and enhance the natural environment, ensuring these elements are central to all planning decisions. We're guided by national and international goals, like Scotland's plan to tackle the climate emergency (meaning big problems caused by a changing climate) and nature crisis by 2045, and the global biodiversity framework. Our strategies include expanding native woodlands, restoring peatlands, managing moorlands, and improving our rivers and wetlands to create stronger nature networks. We're also working hard to help key species like the Scottish wildcat, beaver, capercaillie, and curlew recover. The National Park is home to many special protected areas and species, which are currently facing challenges from issues like a changing climate and habitat loss. We use an approach that prioritises avoiding and reducing harm to nature, then restoring it, and we work closely with communities and landowners to achieve these vital goals.