Do you think these are the right principles for capital investment in the National Park and what key infrastructure projects should the National Park focus on over the next five years?

We agree that these are the right principles for capital investment in the National Park. For the Park to transition to net zero it’s important that its capital investment reflects this objective whilst still supporting a thriving economy and access for all to the Park. We do believe the guiding principle will help achieve this if they encompass multi-functional green infrastructure that can deliver environmental benefits to communities, green transport links and green jobs for that support local communities. As such we believe that these principles should remain as they are and look forward to seeing the more in-depth capital investment plan next year.

Do you have any other comments?

The lost montane woodland looks to be absent from these maps.

What are the key issues that you want the Regional Land Use Framework to focus on in the Cairngorms National Park?

To plan strategic woodland expansion and restoration for a variety of benefits and uses that will also create connectivity across the park and support biodiversity using the principles of the right tree in the right place, helping to address both the climate and nature crisis. To bring together stakeholders to facilitate sometimes difficult discussion such as those surrounding deer management and continue work that is already underway to strategically address deer control across the Cairngorms National Park. To address catchment scale issues such as Invasive Non-Native Species. As a forum for stakeholder engagement to take account of communities wants and desires for the places they live. To have young people on the Regional Land Use Partnership, developing skills and knowledge as well as contributing the future voice to the conversation.

Do you think these are the right principles for capital investment in the National Park and what key infrastructure projects should the National Park focus on over the next five years?

Farming, carbon capture, cultural heritage-sport, music, dance, archaeology, traditional buildings, transport.

In the context of the National Park Partnership Plan and as the Regional Spatial Strategy, are there other strategic developments that you consider should be identified?

Aviemore and Cairngorm Priority Area; a series of housing crises have resulted in the place it is. To solve, it needs a bold coordinated approach to enabling young people to return home with confidence to make a living in a sustainable community with diversified employment and a future.

What are the key issues that you want the Regional Land Use Framework to focus on in the Cairngorms National Park?

Aviemore and Cairngorm Solution for young people returning home who want to make a living in a sustainable community.

What level of detail is needed for a Regional Land Use Framework to be of use to funders, communities and to land managers?

Environmental assessment and access to how others think and feel about the subject.

Do you think these are the right principles for capital investment in the National Park and what key infrastructure projects should the National Park focus on over the next five years?

The ‘Green’ principle proposes that capital investment “will contribute to delivering net zero and strengthening the natural….capital of the National Park” – this implies capital investment will be carbon negative and that it will per se improve the natural capital of the Park – this sets far too high a threshold that most capital investment in practice will not be able to attain.

In the context of the National Park Partnership Plan and as the Regional Spatial Strategy, are there other strategic developments that you consider should be identified?

The draft Regional Spatial Strategy diagram incorporates only extremely small areas as priority areas for agriculture- this should be far more extensive to enable ‘eat local’ initiatives as food miles are reduced. Also the peatland priority areas on the diagram include vast areas of dry heath where there is no, or next to no, peat- this could creates an incorrect perception of the potential for peatland restoration. It also suggests that the priority for the vast area of the Park indicated should be peatland restoration when management of other biodiversity and employment should also be priorities in these areas- in practice the same areas of land is frequently prioritised for more than one land use and the National Park Plan should reflect this. The Glenshee Ski Centre should be identified as a strategic development location for more than just skiing to ensure it is supported to develop activities outwith snowsports as it strives to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

What are the key issues that you want the Regional Land Use Framework to focus on in the Cairngorms National Park?

We do not believe the National Park Plan should be the high level Regional Land Use Framework for the National Park as proposed- the former is the CNPA’s Plan whereas the intention of the Regional Land Use Frameworks is that they are a bottom-up framework for land use decision making. The Regional Land Use Framework within the Park should focus on establishing experts who are actively involved in practical land use and management and understand the consequences of land use and land use change to the environment, economy, communities and culture. The Framework should also focus on flexibility, given the wide range of land types and uses within the Park. The Framework should also focus on best practice in land use and mitigating the potential harm of one land use on others.

What level of detail is needed for a Regional Land Use Framework to be of use to funders, communities and to land managers?

The more detailed a Regional Land Use Framework is the more restrictive it will be, potentially thereby hampering communities and land managers. The Park is a hugely diverse nature of land uses from rivers and arable farming to some of the highest, most inhospitable, montane habitats within the UK- to seek a framework that covers all of these to any level of detail is impossible.