Park Talk: Talking Climate Emergency
Park Talk: Talking Climate Emergency
By CEO Convener, Xander McDade
Happy New Year! Here at the Cairngorms National Park Authority our resolution is to do all we can to tackle the climate emergency. From our corporate responsibilities to ensuing there is a plethora of nature based solutions built into the next Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan – 2020 truly marks a step change for us all as we help to contribute to the Scottish Government’s 2045 net zero greenhouse gas emissions target.
In a place so rich in resources as the Cairngorms National Park, nature based solutions are going to be central to how we contribute to tackling the climate emergency. We are ideally placed here to capitalise on the country’s requirement for those natural remedies such as peatland restoration and woodland creation working on a landscape scale.
There is already a huge amount of excellent conservation work taking place right across the Park by lots of different landowners and managers, communities and organisations. We want this to continue and to expand and the next Cairngorms Nature Action Plan will be a key document to guide this work.
Alongside this we need to ensure that our communities in the Park are sustainable for the future. We have more than 18,000 residents and almost 2 million visitors (and rising). Those numbers could have a big impact on our environment if we are not well prepared and we must all play our part, for example, from making sensible travel choices to buying local where possible.
The CNPA has invested heavily in developing Active Travel solutions to support walking and cycling within and between communities encouraging residents and visitors to ditch the car now and again. My own personal green resolution is to use public transport more. Encouraging people to use green modes of transport like cycling, will reduce CO2 emissions – and the bonus – it is also helping to improve our own health and wellbeing!
We practice what we preach at the CNPA with board and staff making green commitments such as ‘only buying second hand clothes for a year’, ‘using the car less’, ‘recycling more’, and so on.
The Park Authority as an organisation has been monitoring its carbon footprint since 2007/08 and in a decade it has managed to reduce it from 150 tCO2e to 90 tCO2e in 2017/18. Measures include a reduction in vehicle use and switching to more environmentally friendly pool cars, a reduction in electricity usage, cutting down on paper use, the installation of a biomass boiler, buying only eco-friendly cleaning products and making recycling easier around the office.
The climate emergency is something that cannot be ignored and we will continue to look at ways in which we can work together with other organisations, businesses and communities in the National Park to reduce our impact and ensure that we leave a healthy and enriched environment for future generations.
Alert
Latest from the National Park
Ongoing wildfire near Ryvoan Bothy
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and partners are currently in attendance at a large fire south of Aviemore.
Historic bridge in Nethy replaced after years of community effort
New bridge over Allt Mòr Burn officially opens
Endangered ant queen found in Royal Deeside
An exciting discovery in Royal Deeside is being hailed as a milestone in the recovery of a critically endangered species.
Relevant alerts
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Update - 21:55
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have shared that emergency services continue to tackle a large-scale wildfire covering more than two kilometres in width near to Glenmore.
A number of homes and businesses, including campsites and ski resorts within the Glenmore Forest Park area, have been closed and evacuated as a safety precaution due to the close proximity to the incident.
As of 9pm on Wednesday night (15 July), Scottish Fire and Rescue Service currently has six fire appliances, a wildfire unit, specialist resources and tactical commanders mobilised to the scene after the alarm was raised just before 12 noon earlier today.
Firefighters are working with landowners to contain the incident and create fire breaks, with high winds causing the fire to spread across areas of trees and woodland. There are no reported casualties.
Road closures continue to be in place to support the emergency response, and people are asked to avoid the area within Glenmore Forest Park and Loch Morlich on Thursday, 16 July as this incident continues.
We will share updates as the situation develops. In the meantime, our thanks go out to the emergency services, gamekeepers, NGO and estate staff and many others from across the community who are working non-stop to get these fires under control, and providing support to those affected.
Update - 20:06
Emergency services and partners are continuing to respond to this wildfire. A number of properties and premises in the area have been evacuated as a precaution. The Ski Road is currently closed. Anyone walking in the Cairngorms should avoid the area and let family or friends know when they have returned.
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The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and partners are currently in attendance at a large fire in the open near to Ryvoan Bothy within the Cairngorms National Park.
Due to large volumes of smoke travelling towards populated areas nearby, residents in Aviemore, Glenmore and the surrounding communities should keep their windows and doors closed. If you are within this area and can see or smell smoke, please follow the same advice. If you are aware of someone hiking in the area, please ask them to get themselves safely off the hill as soon as possible.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has asked that people avoid the Glenmore and Aviemore area, and remain vigilant. Our thanks go to all those engaged in active firefighting - we will post further updates when we have them.
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Very high fire risk - 15 to 20 July
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued a very high wildfire warning impacting areas of the National Park on Wednesday 15 until Monday 20 July. If you are out and about in the Cairngorms National Park please observe the following guidance:
- Do not light any fire or barbecue, in line with the new fire byelaw
- Always ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished and take your litter (including glass) away with you
- Enjoy the outdoors responsibly - most wildfires are caused by human activity
- Stay alert - with dry vegetation and warm weather, fires can start easily, spread rapidly, and burn intensely
- If you see a wildfire, dial 999
For further updates on wildfire risk across Scotland, visit the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website. To find out more about the fire byelaw, and to see your questions answered, visit our fire byelaw page here.