Paul H. Selman

Conservation, development and land-use planning: Scotland leads the way

ABSTRACT Where conflicts arise between competing rural land uses, these cannot normally be resolved within the planning framework which exists in Britain. However, it may be possible for planning authorities to establish collaborative arrangements between pertinent interests as a basis for agreeing mutually acceptable strategies. Four Scottish case studies which exemplify this approach are discussed. It is concluded that collaboration can achieve limited success, but that more powerful measures are necessary for the resolution of fundamental land-use issues.

Nature conservation and local plans

Abstract It is noted that nature conservation has gained progressively in importance as a planning issue. The paper reports on the role of the Nature Conservancy Council, and in particular their Assistant Regional Officers, in consulting over the production of local plans. Local plan policies may assist valuably in the protection of important sites, although sympathetic planning authorities can also assist nature conservation in a variety of other ways. Sustained and systematic liaison with planning authorities is necessary for nature conservation to become a substantive local plan issue.

Implementation of a National Conservation Strategy: The Case of Australia.

SummaryThe World Conservation Strategy called upon all governments to produce their own “national conservation strategies”. Many countries responded to this, although their degree of determination has varied considerably. One of the most exemplary responses was the National Conservation Strategy for Australia (NCSA). The production and endorsement of the NCSA, and of its subsequent progress, are reviewed. Attention is then turned to the actual and potential roles of Commonwealth Government, State and Territory Governments, and other governmental and non-governmental organisations in implementing the Strategy. It is noted that various bodies have endorsed the NCSA, whilst some state governments and the Australian Forestry Council have produced their own strategies. These responses are considered further, but it is found that they appear only rarely to chart precise courses of action. More typically, they comprise broad statements of intent: if real progress is to be made, more attention must be given to the production of detailed, tactical documents. These must be expressed with sufficient precision to permit effective measurement and monitoring.

Responding to the World Conservation Strategy

SummaryThe nature, achievements and shortcomings of the World Conservation Strategy (WCS) are reviewed. In particular, the National Conservation Strategies (NCS) prepared in response to WCS are discussed, and the differences between developed and less developed countries are noted in this respect. Special attention is paid to the UK follow-up. It is concluded that more emphasis must be placed on popularizing WCS and on acquiring a more balanced appreciation of conservation.

Planning for green cities: some emerging principles

There are a number of reasons why planners should take a more positive approach towards the natural economy of the city, and this paper rehearses the arguments in favour. The author takes the view that much publicly owned land is manicured and excessively stocked with exotic species so that they are relatively poor in wildlife. An alternative to the generally held view that dormant land in urban areas is unsightly and encourages vandalism, is that such sites offer opportunities for visual interest, education and recreation. The paper concludes by outlining a number of courses of action which, it is suggested, may come to dominate environmental planning.