Conflicts between land users in Loch Lomond
Tourists vs. farmers
- Tourists could leave gates open whilst walking and exploring the area. This can lead to animals escaping and potentially being injured or lost. This would affect profits for the farmer
- Hill walkers could trespassEntering an area without permission. on farmers land. This could destroy farmers crops and result in lower yields or loss of crop in area resulting in lower profit for the farmer
- If tourists let dogs off their lead they could chase or scare farm animals, particularly sheep
- If tourists drop litter in fields or the area, wildlife or farm animals could eat the litter choke and potentially die
Tourists vs. local people
- Increased numbers of people visiting honeypot siteA popular visitor attraction or area, where large numbers of people visit. (Luss has 750,000 visitors per year), can lead to overcrowding in the area at peak times such as bank holidays and weekends. This can also result to increased journey times for local people
- As most tourists visit by car this can result in a range of conflicts. Tourists could park illegally on narrow streets or on grass verges leading to soil erosion or traffic congestions. Due to the sheer volume of cars visiting the area traffic congestion would build up. This leads to higher levels of noise and air pollution
- Tourists dropping litter or leaving litter behind after BBQs or picnics looks unsightly and ruins the scenery in the area. Wildlife can also be affected if they eat this litter
- Tourists might buy a second home (holiday home) in the area. However if this only used sporadically throughout the year ghost townPotential consequence of second home buying due to residents only visiting at certain times of year. can develop
Tourists vs. tourists
- Tourists can be in conflictWhen opposing land users want to use the land in different ways to suit their own needs. with fellow tourists depending how they use the area
- Those interested in active water sports such as jet skiing or speed boats can come into conflict with more passive users such as sightseers or fisherman as the noise from engines can scare fish away
- Use of boats on the loch has lead to erosion of the banks of the loch and pollution of the water from boat engines
- Tourists can also cause footpath erosion along popular walking route. This is due to walkers not sticking to the path and over use. Further erosion of the path by heavy rain escalates the problem
Tourists/local people vs. forestry
- Commercial forestry can conflict with tourists when hill walking routes and paths are closed or rerouted as tourists are trying to enjoy the scenery and wildlife
- Logging can cause noise pollution which disrupts the peace and quiet of the area and can scare away wildlife
- The heavy trucks used to transport the logs can cause traffic congestion on roads as they are slow moving. This could also increase journey times
- Logging scars the landscape and makes it look unsightly. Growing foreign trees in rows or lines looks out of place and destroys the natural beauty of the area
| Problem | Solution | Effectiveness |
| Litter | Removing litter bins in remote areas where it is difficult to empty them, leading to overflowing bins | Encourages people to take their litter home or place in next available bin |
| National Park Rangers can issue fines to people caught littering in the national Park | Forceful deterrent but hard to catch people in action | |
| Traffic and overcrowding | Setting up one way streets to improve the flow of traffic in honeypot villages or encouraged to use public transport | Limited success as people prefer the convenience of their own vehicles |
| Using farmers鈥 fields as temporary car parks reduces on-street parking | Bring in another form of income for the farmer | |
| Tourists vs tourists | Speed limits to reduce beach erosion have been implemented | This has resulted in speedboat users moving to other lakes |
| Introducing separate 鈥榸ones鈥 around the loch so tourist activities are split into different sections | This ensures all tourists can use the area as they wish | |
| National Park Rangers offer talks, guides, provide leaflets and operate visitors centres to educate the public about the area | Tourists are familiar with how to behave in the National park. This is a free service | |
| By laws introduced to stop wild fires and camping in certain areas at specific times of the year | Tourists are directed to approved camp sites where they can be regulated | |
| Tourists vs. farmers | Farmers can install spring loaded gates which close automatically | Very effective, works well but at a cost to the farmer |
| Forestry | Commercial forestry could grow trees native to Scotland and grown in a sporadic pattern | Native trees fit in with landscape and do not look out of place |
| Problem | Litter |
|---|---|
| Solution | Removing litter bins in remote areas where it is difficult to empty them, leading to overflowing bins |
| Effectiveness | Encourages people to take their litter home or place in next available bin |
| Problem | |
|---|---|
| Solution | National Park Rangers can issue fines to people caught littering in the national Park |
| Effectiveness | Forceful deterrent but hard to catch people in action |
| Problem | Traffic and overcrowding |
|---|---|
| Solution | Setting up one way streets to improve the flow of traffic in honeypot villages or encouraged to use public transport |
| Effectiveness | Limited success as people prefer the convenience of their own vehicles |
| Problem | |
|---|---|
| Solution | Using farmers鈥 fields as temporary car parks reduces on-street parking |
| Effectiveness | Bring in another form of income for the farmer |
| Problem | Tourists vs tourists |
|---|---|
| Solution | Speed limits to reduce beach erosion have been implemented |
| Effectiveness | This has resulted in speedboat users moving to other lakes |
| Problem | |
|---|---|
| Solution | Introducing separate 鈥榸ones鈥 around the loch so tourist activities are split into different sections |
| Effectiveness | This ensures all tourists can use the area as they wish |
| Problem | |
|---|---|
| Solution | National Park Rangers offer talks, guides, provide leaflets and operate visitors centres to educate the public about the area |
| Effectiveness | Tourists are familiar with how to behave in the National park. This is a free service |
| Problem | |
|---|---|
| Solution | By laws introduced to stop wild fires and camping in certain areas at specific times of the year |
| Effectiveness | Tourists are directed to approved camp sites where they can be regulated |
| Problem | Tourists vs. farmers |
|---|---|
| Solution | Farmers can install spring loaded gates which close automatically |
| Effectiveness | Very effective, works well but at a cost to the farmer |
| Problem | Forestry |
|---|---|
| Solution | Commercial forestry could grow trees native to Scotland and grown in a sporadic pattern |
| Effectiveness | Native trees fit in with landscape and do not look out of place |