Interview with Justin Prigmore

Cairngorms Biodiversity Officer

Justin Prigmore (52), Biodiversity Officer at the Cairngorm National Park said that he thinks the biggest ecological problems in Scotland today are human pressure and habitat fragmentation. Humankind has had a strong influence on shaping the land in Scotland for hundreds of years. Only one percent of the Caledonian forest still remains in remote glens, islands, steep cliffs or the edges of lochs. Time, the Iron Age, the Highland clearances and the building of empire have taken their toll. This loss of forest dramatically reduces the ability of species and ecological systems to function. For example the Twinflower, which grows in the Caledonian Forest is now endangered because the forest is so fragmented that there is not enough diversity within the gene pool. He also talked about the problem of conflicting land use. Deer and sheep eat any seedlings that grow. On grouse mores the Hen Harrier has been persecuted because it eats the grouse. Prigmore suggested that more cooperation is needed between those working the land and conservation organizations.

Prigmore also spoke about global warming. He thinks that it is important to be prepared for the potential negative consequences. Instead of spending huge sums on disaster relief, we would be better off looking at the risk areas and working to address those with natural, more cost effective systems now. For example, with global warming there is the increased threat of natural disasters such as heavy storms, which can lead to floods. Many of the rivers in Scotland are deforested around their source in the mountains. If we were to plant trees around the rivers, the roots would help to hold the water in the land, so that flooding did not occur downstream. Wetlands and bogs also help to prevent flooding and are under appreciated. Since the land is unusable for grazing and farming, bogs are often drained and destroyed. In reality they serve a valuable purpose and many think of these lush wet places as the kidneys of the Earth. The plants and microorganisms that live in bogs and wetlands clean and supply water to rivers and lochs. Bogs also store carbon in the form of peat. If drained, the carbon, which has been stored for thousands of years, is released into the atmosphere contributing to global warming. The destruction of wetlands and bogs leads to greater pollution, risk or flooding and loss of species.

Other images that Prigmore spoke about are plantation forests both growing and clear cut and new housing developments on Greenfield sites.