The management of glacial landscapes - OCRConflicts of land use - Scotland

Conflicts may arise in landscapes created by glaciers regarding the use of the land. For example, it can be difficult to balance using a particular environment for tourism, with ensuring that the environment and social features of the area are conserved for future generations.

Water management

Flooding mountain valleys to create dams results in a loss of land and habitats. However, using falling water to generate electricity through hydroelectric power is very sustainable as it is a renewable energy source that does not produce greenhouse gases. Conflict can be created as some people believe that the natural environment should be preserved, not used for generating electricity.

Forestry

This provides much needed employment in rural areas and boosts the local economy. However, some people, such as environmentalists, feel that logging destroys habitats and reduces biodiversity. This can cause conflict between different groups of people.

Quarrying

Quarrying for rocks like sandstone, granite and slate creates lots of jobs, which is good for the local economy. However, it can also bring noise, heavy traffic and dust. Quarrying can also be an eyesore so tourist sites may be badly affected.

Tourism

Tourism is a major source of employment and income in rural mountainous areas. For example, Cairngorm Mountain in the Cairngorm National Park in Scotland creates many jobs through activities such as skiing and snowboarding in winter, and hiking and mountaineering in the summer. These activities create conflict with those people who believe that the mountain should be conserved for wildlife.