Sporting estates urged to protect the Highlands

areas, according to the prominent environmentalist Sir John Lister-Kaye.

He also believes the estates should receive no public money until they

change their thinking.

Yesterday Barail, the Centre for Highlands and Islands Policy Studies,

published a pamphlet -- Ill Fares the Land -- written by Sir John, a

Barail board member who is currently North-west regional chairman of

Scottish Natural heritage.

A Yorkshireman, Sir John came to the Highlands in 1968 to work with

Gavin Maxwell, and has since established himself as a leading figure in

Scottish environmental circles.

A landowner himself, his pamphlet is seen as a radical departure from

the traditional proprietors' view and an indictment of their neglect.

But he said yesterday that he had already had an astonishingly positive

reponse from about 40 landowners and land agents since his ideas had

become public in recent weeks.

His pamphlet clearly describes the environmental damage already caused

by Highland land use practices of the last century, from too many sheep

and deer (deer numbers rose from 150,000 in 1960 to 300,000 in 1990

though some estimate that figure to be 150,000 short) to unsuitable

forestry.

It makes a plea to estate owners to adopt a sustainable land ethic

before it is too late. The pamphlet is introduced and endorsed by the

Prince of Wales.

Sir John writes: ''In my opinion a land ethic needs to require all

sporting estate owners to sign up to an absolute minimum of 15% (but

ideally much more) of their hill unit, dedicated to natural restoration

for 25 years.

''By this I do not mean sterilisation. I mean active management for

restoration, including sporting use: no burning; minimal grazing by a

rigorously controlled deer population; fox and hoodie control;

dedication to native woodland, or scrub, or moorland climates. All

public money from whichever government agency, for whatever purpose,

should be conditional upon such a plan.''

Sir John believes this would immediately effect a jigsaw restoration

right across the Highlands and Islands without forcing anyone into ruin.

At the end of 25 years carefully managed cropping could begin while a

further, hopefully larger area, is dedicated.

''This would be the genesis of a process of giving back to nature, at

the same time as actually planning and developing habitat for the game

species and other wildlife upon which the great Highland sporting

tradition depends.

''The dividends for our grandchildren would be enormous: an exciting

variety of game species in secure populations; better quality deer in

both woodland and open country; a richer hill experience of varied

scenery and wildlife; far less strife and argument over conservation;

and a strong competitive base for the sporting economy and land values

founded upon real natural capital.''

In his introduction the Prince of Wales identifies with Sir John's

vision: ''The type of sustainable land-management ethic advocated by

John Lister-Kaye is, I believe, a key part of a more balanced and

long-term approach to the management of the fragile Highland ecosystem

and the equally fragile human communities that depend on it.''