1. RURAL LAND RESOURCES – INTRODUCTION This is the Paper II question we will be covering Remember you will study two interactions questions You must answer these two questions only! DO NOT TRY AND ANSWER ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS Rural Land Resources links closely to the lithosphere unit PAPER II IS WORTH 50% OF YOUR FINAL GRADE

2. RURAL LAND RESOURCES – INTRODUCTION QUESTION PATTERN Characteristics and formation of landscapes –This question has been in every exam since 1973 –Will be on one of the landscapes (coastal, limestone or glaciated) Economic and Social Opportunities created by the landscape –80 % of papers – i.e. 4 in every 5 years Environmental Problems / Conflicts in these areas –90 % of papers Less common are questions on the distribution of National Parks; Or the effect of EU and UK policies on rural land use

3. RURAL LAND RESOURCES – INTRODUCTION Questions can be on: –GLACIATED AREAS –COASTAL AREAS –LIMESTONE AREAS –A mix The most important thing in paper II is you must include detailed case-study information in your answers What is covered?

4. CASE- STUDIES GLACIATED LIMESTONE COASTAL LAND USE CONFLICTS AND PROBLEMS EXPLANATION HOW ARE MAIN FEATURES FORMED? PATTERNS OF LAND OWNERSHIP SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES/ LIMITATIONS RESTRICTIONS ON DEVELOPMENT EVALUATE HOW SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT SCHEMES ARE MANAGEMENT SCHEMES TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS

5. NATIONAL PARKS Questions come up on a regular basis about National Parks: –Aims of National Parks –Explain why land ownership patterns can make the management of National Parks difficult and argue the case for and against national parks in Scotland –Why do the national parks attract widely different numbers of visitors? –Describe problems in a National Park you have studied, solutions and their effectiveness (Cairngorms) –Explain ways in which the protection of national park status might help resolve environmental conflicts

6. NATIONAL PARKS Aims of National Parks Conserve beautiful and interesting landscapes Protect wild animals, birds and plants Promote public enjoyment of the landscape Enable existing farming and other land-uses

7. NATIONAL PARKS Other Types of Protected Area in the UK Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) Nature Reserves National Trust Areas

8. NATIONAL PARKS Explain why land ownership patterns can make the management of National Parks difficult and argue the case for and against national parks in Scotland. LAND OWNERS IN NATIONAL PARKS: Many including: 1.Farmers 2.Industry 3.Government (roads etc) 4.House Owners 5.Forestry Commission 6.National Trust 7.Water Board 8.Golf Courses

9. NATIONAL PARKS LAND OWNERS IN NATIONAL PARKS: National Parks in Scotland 1.Loch Lomond National Park (2000) 2.Cairngorms (2003) Think Why make these areas National Parks?

10. NATIONAL PARKS ARGUMENTS FOR: 1.Need to protect physical environment 2.Need to manage different land-users and potential conflict 3.Need to provide access for public enjoyment 4.Maintain farmland

11. NATIONAL PARKS ARGUMENTS AGAINST: 1.There is an inevitable increase in development (recreation on loch, facilities for visitors) 2.Congestion on narrow country roads 3.Conflict between visitors and farmers 4.Damage to environment caused by increased visitors 5.Risk of damage to natural habitat 6.Pollution to loch / water supplies 7.Physical erosion as access increases

12. NATIONAL PARKS Why do the national parks attract different numbers of visitors? Be able to explain the huge variations in visitor numbers ACTIVITY Describe the visitor numbers – you will usually be given a reference Map to aid you with this question (clue – roads and major settlements) Northumberland – 1 millionLake District – 20 million Exmoor – 3 millionYorkshire Dales – 9 million Peak District – 22 millionSnowdonia – 8 million

13. Explain why the number of visitors to National Parks can vary so greatly. (10 marks) 1.Which are most popular? 2.Date of establishment? 3.Size of park / number of attractions? 4.Proximity to conurbations? 5.Proximity to capital? 6.Distance to travel / potential for day visits? 7.Range of activities? 8.Type of scenery? 9.Accessibility? LOTS OF THE ANSWER CAN BE DERIVED FROM THE REFERENCE MAP / TABLE

14. NATIONAL PARKS Why do the national parks attract different numbers of visitors? –Be able to explain the huge variations in visitor numbers ACTIVITY Explain reasons for these differences: Proximity to large urban settlements is important – catchment area Accessibility (90% of NP visitors travel by car) Development of motorways has increased day visits / short breaks of easily reached NPs (Yorkshire Dales – Manchester and Yorkshire, closest park to London – 200km away) Range and quality of attractions on offer: E.g. more spectacular scenery on offer more to do in Yorkshire Dales (e.g. Malham) than Norfolk Broads Name features people might be coming to see – 1 mark Most visited parks more established – greater facilities. Been around for longer

15. EU/UK RURAL LAND USE POLICIES The last time this was asked was in 2000 – maybe this year! It is likely to be worth around 12 marks What do you need to know? –Schemes which affect rural land users (primarily farmers) –Why they have been set up? –What they offer farmers? –Advantages and disadvantages of these schemes Most common schemes you should be aware of: –Common Agricultural Policy –Set Aside Land –Quotas on production of certain crops / dairy produce –Farm Diversification Grant –Environmentally Sensitive Areas –Less Favoured Areas

16. THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY (CAP) –Funds are provided through the European Union –Money goes to farmers for a number of things –Started off £ was given for setting aside land –Aim – to reduce over-production within Europe –More recently money has been given to farmers to pursue non-farm related sources of income –Camp-sites, recreational activities etc. are example of farm diversification –Why is it better to give money for this type of activity? –Hope is that diversification will protect a larger share of the farmer’s income so they will be less reliant on subsidies in the future +Farmers get money to leave their land fallow -May be restricted on what crops they can grow (might lower profit) -Public/Media view the policy in a negative light, money for nothing

17. FARM DIVERSIFICATION SCHEME / SET ASIDE LAND –Similar aims as above, but £ comes from the UK Government –Money has been used to convert barns into B&Bs thus ensuring a year round, steady income for farmers QUOTAS –Limit to the volume of a product farmers can produce –This has happened with milk in the UK –Can help reduce waste (butter mountains, wine lakes etc) –Maintains a higher price as supply is more closely matched to demand –Can reduce the income a farmer is able to make ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS –In areas with specific status concerning the natural environment money has been made available –This allows farmers to continue with traditional farming methods so they don’t harm the environment –This costs the farmer more money but the subsidy ensures they don’t lose out

18. GENERAL THOUGHTS ON AGRICULTURAL SCHEMES –We live in a liberal economy (open market) –Supply and demand should determine prices –Subsidies artificially fix prices –Of all the money given to the EU the biggest share is spent on the Common Agricultural Policy –Many countries are unhappy with the scheme and want it scrapped –France is opposing change as rural unrest would be bad for the politicians –Artificial price fixing affects farmers in ELDCs, they cannot complete with subsidised agriculture in the EU countries You will need to refer to the impact of policies on the countryside in the UK only but this provides you with some context. This is a highly contentious political issue. The UK Government would like to see subsidies move from set-aside type support to schemes which encourage diversification. In the long run farmers will then be self-sufficient