Welcome
Simon Pepper Board Member Scottish Natural Heritage
Welcome to this summer issue of The Nature of Scotland. After one of the hardest winters on record, there’s the hope of a glorious summer ahead – enough to gladden the heart of anyone heading for the great outdoors. And what a country we have to attract us outdoors! Few places in Europe can match Scotland for the variety and wild quality of our landscapes – our mountains and coasts, woodlands and forests, islands, lochs and rivers. Scotland’s towns and cities also have plenty of natural areas nearby which are open to the public and where wildlife is abundant. In this issue you’ll find articles celebrating the wonderful opportunities that Scotland offers to get out and enjoy these places. If you’ve ever been inspired by an experience of nature, you won’t be surprised
to read about research that shows these experiences are good for our mental, as well as physical, health and well-being. And it will come as little surprise either to find that exploring our relationship with the Earth – as promoted by the John Muir Trust – is good for our growth as individuals. The natural environment is, of course, the foundation for much of our economy,
especially in rural areas. Providing for visits to the countryside and coast for all kinds of nature-based activities is a valuable part of the rural economy. Those who own the land have an important role here and they’re keen to play their part in raising awareness and understanding among the general public. Climate change is an ever-present issue these days, influencing all kinds of
thinking about the future management of our natural environment. It underlines the importance of the pioneering work to harvest Scotland’s outstanding resources of clean renewable energy at sea.Wave, tide and wind energy could well allow us to replace the climate-damaging combustion of coal, oil and gas, the so-called ‘fossil’ fuels. You can read about the research that’s under way to ensure that we benefit from these new energy resources without harming our marine wildlife. This year SNH takes over responsibility for Scotland’s wild deer. These iconic
animals are a valuable and much-loved part of our natural heritage. However, they can damage crops and wildlife habitats when their numbers get out of hand. Getting the balance right is a matter of careful judgement. You’ll find all of these topics discussed in this issue of The Nature of Scotland.
I hope you enjoy reading the articles and that at least one of them inspires you to get out and enjoy Scotland’s wonderful natural environment.
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