Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2022-27 - Other - Page 103
Image of twinflower by Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION
to trialling this approach as a route to achieving
also draw up specific terms of reference for CUAG
land use change that contributes to Scotland and
involvement in the RLUP pilot to avoid any potential
the UK’s climate change targets. The proposal for
conflicts of interest.
RLUPs was first set out in Scotland’s Land Use
Strategy in 2016, and the Climate Change Act in
This National Park Partnership Plan provides the
2019 brought renewed ambition to the proposal.
strategic context for the development of a pilot
RLUF for the National Park using a natural capital
It is still uncertain what, if any, powers RLUPs
approach. The Park Authority will combine – and
will have in future to direct public funding and
represent spatially – the aims and objectives
this is pivotal in terms of how this approach will
contained within the National Park Partnership Plan
function. Within the Cairngorms National Park, the
and other relevant, pre-existing strategies, such as
Park Authority has been tasked with creating the
the Cairngorms National Park Forest Strategy and
structures necessary to operate RLUP/Fs and to trial
the Cairngorms Nature Action Plan. We will also
how they might work in practice. However, during
utilise other existing data, mapping and expertise
this pilot, the RLUP/Fs will not have powers to
within the Park Authority and amongst our
direct public funding.
stakeholders, to highlight the quality and quantity
of natural capital resources present across the
The strategic approach to the RLUP/F pilot as
relevant to this National Park Partnership Plan
period is set out below. The Park Authority will take
Cairngorms National Park area.
Research
further direction from Scottish Government on how
RLUP/Fs should operate and, as such, the approach
The work across the National Park needs to be
to RLUP/Fs may change in the future.
underpinned by high-quality research that is
specific to the management needs of the National
Our approach to our pilot RLUP – as a
Park. The Park Authority will look to produce a
decision-making partnership for governance – is
high-level research plan for the National Park,
to utilise the existing Cairngorms National Park
setting out the key needs within six months
Authority board, with technical assistance from
of the adoption of the Partnership Plan. This
the Cairngorms Upland Advisory Group (CUAG)
will also be underpinned by the knowledge
and other Cairngorms forums as required. The
exchange and research project that is part
Park Authority board gives a level of democratic
of the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030
and community-led focus to governance, whilst
programme (see page 12).
CUAG adds further technical and professional
expertise in land management matters. We will
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