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

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

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?

MANAGEMENTSCHEMES TO

RESOLVEPROBLEMS

EVALUATE HOWSUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENTSCHEMES ARE

RESTRICTIONSON

DEVELOPMENT

SOCIAL ANDECONOMIC

OPPORTUNITIES/LIMITATIONS

PATTERNS OFLAND

OWNERSHIP

EXPLANATIONHOW ARE MAIN

FEATURESFORMED?

LAND USE CONFLICTS

AND PROBLEMS

CASE-STUDIESGLACIATEDLIMESTONECOASTAL

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

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

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

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. Farmers2. Industry3. Government (roads etc)4. House Owners5. Forestry Commission6. National Trust7. Water Board8. Golf Courses

NATIONAL PARKS

LAND OWNERS IN NATIONAL PARKS:

National Parks in Scotland

1. Loch Lomond National Park (2000)2. Cairngorms (2003)

ThinkWhy make these areas National Parks?

NATIONAL PARKS

ARGUMENTS FOR:

1. Need to protect physical environment2. Need to manage different land-users and potential

conflict3. Need to provide access for public enjoyment4. Maintain farmland

NATIONAL PARKS

ARGUMENTS AGAINST:

1. There is an inevitable increase in development (recreation on loch, facilities for visitors)

2. Congestion on narrow country roads3. Conflict between visitors and farmers4. Damage to environment caused by increased visitors5. Risk of damage to natural habitat6. Pollution to loch / water supplies7. Physical erosion as access increases

NATIONAL PARKS

Why do the national parks attract different numbers of visitors?

Be able to explain the huge variations in visitor numbers

ACTIVITYDescribe the visitor numbers – you will usually be given a

reference Map to aid you with this question (clue – roads and major settlements)

Northumberland – 1 million Lake District – 20 millionExmoor – 3 million Yorkshire Dales – 9 millionPeak District – 22 million Snowdonia – 8 million

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

NATIONAL PARKSWhy 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

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

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

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

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 beself-sufficient