rural land resources – introduction this is the paper ii question we will be covering remember you...
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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