Gordon McConachie Land Management Support Officer

1. Gordon McConachie Land Management Support Officer Cairngorms National Park Authority 05th May 2010

2. Established 2003 – extending in 2010 • One of only 2 National Parks in Scotland • A Special Place

4. Covers 3800sq km - 5% of Scotland • Around 16,000 residents • Around 400 registered agricultural holdings • 1.4 million visitors each year • Home to 25% of the UK’s rare and threatened species

5. Conserving & Enhancing Biodiversity & Landscapes • Integrated Public Support for Land Managers • Supporting Sustainable Deer Management • Providing High Quality Opportunities for Outdoor Access

6. CNP Board 20 members currently – subject to Review Directly appointed from SG Nominated from Councils Elected by Public Vote

7. Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) • Based in Grantown and Ballater • Around 65 staff • Experts on Access, Tourism, Biodiversity, Planning issues

8. Contrary to public belief • Authority doesn’t have huge budget but, • Can access funds elsewhere • Can provide coordinating role

9. £1.6bn programme of public funding for Rural Development 2007 to 2013 • Buying benefits for the people of Scotland • Key outcomes; • Business Viability and Competitiveness • Environmental improvements; • Water • Climate change • Landscape and Biodiversity • Thriving Rural Communities

10. Amalgamates and replaces most of the other schemes for agri-environment, forestry and capital grants. • SRDP includes; • LFASS - £427m • Leader - c£80m • Rural Development Contracts – LMOs – c£90m • Rural Development Contracts– Rural Priorities – c£500m • Processing & Marketing - £70m • Crofting Counties Scheme – £35m • Forestry Challenge Fund (WIAT & Woods for People) - £14m • Training Scheme – £12m • Legacy scheme payments (RSS, CPS, SFGS etc.)- £330m • Doesn’t include; • Single Farm Payment – Pillar 1

11. 11 regions • Each region has a Regional Proposal Assessment Committee (rPAC) • (Meeting as we speak) • Budget not Regionalised

12. 1 Statement of Intent (SOI) (Now Optional) • 2000 character summary of Proposal • The 5 W’s • 2 Outcome Plan • Expands on SOI Need BRN, RP online passwords and plenty time and patience

13. 2008-2009 • To April 2010: • £ 250m – (Half the budget gone !) • 3600 projects approved across Scotland • £ 69k average

14. Agri Environment Schemes • Forestry • Business Development • Rural Businesses • Communities

15. 98 Successful applications • 12 rejected • £ 10.2m in total funding

17. Agri-environment – Axis 2 • Organic conversion • Open grazed grassland • Management of Wetland • Moorland grazings • Hedgerows • Woodland creation and management

18. Business Development – Axis 1 • Restructuring Agri businesses • Manure/slurry storage • Renewable Energy • Skills Development

19. Rural Communities – Axis 3 • Area access Management • Community Services • Rural Landscapes

20. Essential to help them improve their businesses • Retain young people in Rural areas • New and innovative projects • Sustainability

21. Land Managers, Agents, SG, CNPA • Targeted action • Value for money

22. Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) • Land Managers Options (LMO) • Crofting Grants • Food Processing & Marketing • LEADER

24. Launched in August 2009 • Sharing experiences • Site visits, exchange visits • Working together to improve the industry.

25. 2 Meetings to date • Animal Health • Brian Pack Report • Need to get farmers etc involved. • Training and guidance

26. Dee , South Esk & Spey Catchment Plans • Wood fuel events • Landscape Scale Projects • Biodiversity • Access issues • Group/community projects • Forest Habitat Network project

27. Guidance is available on-line - SRDP website www.scotland.gov.uk/srdp • Programme of support in Cairngorms National Park • Senior Land Manager – Fiona Chalmers • Experts on Access, Tourism, Biodiversity, Planning issues • Land Management Support Officers • Gordon McConachie • Zoë Taylor

28. Questions ?