International Geographical Congress visits Park

A group of distinguished geographers from across the world have been hearing all about Scotland’s newest National Park on a visit to Glenlivet.

A trip to the Cairngorms National park was part of an excursion linked to a conference on Land Use and Rural Sustainability, hosted by Aberdeen University and linked to the International Geographical Congress (IGC), which takes place every four years and this year was based in Glasgow.

Addressing delegates, Andrew Thin, Convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) Board said: “The presence of such a distinguished group of geographers in the Cairngorms National Park demonstrates the international importance of the area.

Despite being a new organisation, we can demonstrate the range of things we are doing as a Park Authority to develop and encourage economic development in rural areas that compliments the management of the land and our environment.

We hope that our new ideas and approaches will be significant on a national and international level and that other countries or areas with similar challenges can follow our lead.”

Professor Alexander Mather from Aberdeen University, who has helped to organise this year’s IGC, said: “There is much here that is of international interest from the point of view of rural development and it is gratifying that individuals from around the world have been attracted to it to see what is going on.”