The John Muir Trust is a UK organization that aims to protect and enhance wild land areas. It owns 9 key wild land areas and works with communities to manage land. The Trust defines wild land as large, scenic areas with minimal human development that have ecological and spiritual value. Wild land faces threats from infrastructure like power lines and wind farms. The Trust advocates for stronger protections like new designations and expanded national parks. It discusses challenges around different administrations not having joined-up thinking on environment and development policies. The Trust aims to ensure wild places are valued and protected for future generations.

1. Helen McDade
Head of Policy
Protecting Wild Land
in the UK
– Challenges and Solutions

2. John Muir born April 21st 1838 in Dunbar, Scotland

3. El Capitan, President Roosevelt
Yosemite & John Muir

4. John Muir Trust
UK organisation which aims to
• protect and enhance wild land
• ensure that wild places are valued by all
sectors of society
4. By owning and managing wild land
5. By raising awareness of its value
6. Through advocacy for better protection

5. Land ownership
and partnership
• Owns 9 key areas of wild land
• Works with crofting and community
interests
• Works in partnership with communities
in other key areas, where invited
• Welcomes exploration and discovery

6. Sandwood Bay
Sutherland

7. Bla Bheinn, Cuillins, Skye

8. • The battle for conservation will go on
endlessly. It is part of the universal battle
between right and wrong.
• John Muir (1838-1914)
• As inscribed on the Scottish Parliament wall

9. Third strand of Trust work
- is on strategic policy issues
Wild Land campaign running
• For better protection of wild land
(Petitions to Scottish Parliament & UK)
• Better statutory protection
• National energy strategy

10. Definition of wild land?

11. JOHN MUIR TRUST DEFINITION
The Trust regards “large areas of high scenic
and wildlife value with minimal evidence of
modern human development” as core Wild
Land.
It is a holistic concept which embraces both
• ecological quality and diversity
•and the landscape aspects important to
people for its aesthetics and spirituality

12. Where is the wild land?
John Muir Trust map
•Top 10% in UK (blue)
•How well protected
is it?
(Wild Land Research Institute
mapping for Trust)

13. Scottish Natural Heritage
Much more detailed
resolution than the Trust’s
map – using cell size of
around 50metre square.
Mostly similar areas
highlighted –
Main significant
exception is islands.
Where will this leave
Western Isles and
Shetland?

14. Wild land faces major threats
SNH Natural Heritage
Indicator
“Visual influence of built development
and land use change”
•the extent of Scotland unaffected by
any form of visual influence declined
from 41% in 2002 to 28% in 2009”

15. Map gives tool for policy
decisions
E.g. Beauly Denny pylon
route –

16. Transmission impacts -
• Beauly Denny was start of major UK
expansion
• Power needs to get to south England
• Many other lines now on cards – from
Wales; Cumbria; East Anglia
• Has the cost-benefit analysis been done?
• How is natural environment valued?

17. View from Callanish standing stones
to Muaitheabhal, Western Isles

18. Looking towards site of
Muaitheabhal wind development

19. Approved Muaitheabhal development (photomontage)
Public Local Inquiry into previous design, in National
Scenic Area, found landscape and visual impacts
unacceptable
Developer redesigned outside the NSA; no further
public involvement
Is this the right development, in the right place?

20. Shetland
Viking
Development
103 turbines
145metre high

21. Shetland “Viking” proposed development
103*145metre high turbines –
Consented without public inquiry
Developer’s photomontage of a small
part of site

22. How to protect?
John Muir Trust discussion paper -
OPTIONS
2.A new wild land designation (petition in
Scottish Parliament)
3.New, and enlarged National Parks
4.Improved National Scenic Areas (NSAs)
5.A light touch approach through planning
guidance and legislation

23. IUCN – ideal forum?
• Unintended consequences of devolution –
different remits, causing lack of joined-up
thinking and ability to “pass the buck”
• Needs a UK body to take a role in
reviewing the problems of different
administration remits – environment;
planning; economic drivers
• And bring pressure for joined-up policy

24. ‘Do something for wildness
and make the mountains
glad.’
John Muir