Call to suspend environmental designations 27/9/14
A ten year suspension for new environmental designations in the Western Isles is being called for by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
The council’s Sustainable Development Committee unanimously agreed to call for a ten year moratorium on the introduction of any new environmental designations in the islands.
Committee chair Cllr Alasdair Macleod said: “The Outer Hebrides are affected by several forms of environmental designations: International RAMSAR designations; Special Protection Area; Special Area of Conservation. SSSI's and Wild Land.
“The Outer Hebrides are making a significant contribution towards Scotland's overall commitment to safeguarding the natural environment. We make a greater contribution than any other part of Scotland, with significantly more of our land under designation than any other part of Scotland.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we have the highest level of designation and the lowest level of GDP.”
Cllr Macleod continued: “With the introduction of Marine Protected Areas and the potential for new marine Special Protection Areas we can see the potential for our seas to become overly designated in the same way that our land has.
“For an area dependent on so many forms of marine activity this is a development that we should be incredibly wary of.
“Over the past period the Comhairle has adopted a policy position of only supporting new designations if it could be clearly demonstrated that they had no potential to adversely impact on economic activity and if they were supported by local communities. With the publication of new information in regard to the suite of draft special protection areas, I think the Comhairle’s position should now become stronger.”
The council will formally write to both the Scottish Government and the European Commission outlining its stance.
The moratorium was well received by members as committee Vice Chair Cllr Donald Crichton commented: “I strongly support that statement and I think we should send the strongest message to the government and to Europe that we’ve had enough. We’re up to our eyeballs in designations.”
Cllr Donald Macleod added: “I support this. They’re protecting every species but the humans.”