February 1: Scottish and South American beaver problems are entirely different
- Published in the Courier : 01.02.12
- Published online : 01.02.12 @ 09.13am
Sir, - Captain MacRae, (Letters, January 27) seems to think that an ecosystem will change out of all recognition in 400 years.
The difference between Tierra del Fuego and Scotland is that beavers were never there over millions of years and as a result the trees, which did not evolve with beavers, have less defence against them — things such as bad-tasting bark, or an ability to regrow by coppice or suckering if cut.
In spite of what the Captain says, the trees that grow along our riparian edges here in Tayside are still the ones that evolved with beavers — such as willow, alder and birch which have a range of strategies for dealing with beaver cut, and will flourish in the presence of beavers.
I think he has also misunderstood the extent of the beavers' presence in South America. So far as I can gather they are on an island which belongs to both Argentina and Chile — not rampaging across both countries.
Since the beaver fur enterprise in Tierra del Fuego failed and was abandoned, sensibly the authorities have decided to remove the animals — just as we are trying to remove the non-native grey squirrels and mink from the UK.
Non-native animals can have a negative impact on ecosystems. The native beaver is already demonstrably having a positive impact in Scotland, including the Tay beavers.
There may sometimes be need for mitigation where beaver plans for the landscape conflict with human land use, but the cost of mitigation is a fraction of the value of the ecosystem services provided by beavers (eg flood mitigation, biodiversity, water purity).
Louise Ramsay.
Bamff,
Alyth.
An open and honest debate is needed
Sir, - I noticed with interest that, according to your article, Scottish windfarm operators received more than £14 million in 2010 and 2011 in "constraint payments" (January 26).
These are payments made when energy sources are shut down due to the lack of capacity in the National Grid to cope with high supply.
As was revealed in a recent parliamentary answer by UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry MP, all electricity generators receive "constraint payments" when the National Grid is overloaded or there is lower than expected demand.
Payments to all types of UK generators, including fossil fuels, totalled £708m for the financial year 2010-11.
The payments made to renewable energy generators across 2010 and 2011 were therefore equivalent to a mere 2% of overall payments for one year.
This lack of capacity in the grid is an infrastructural issue that all of the energy industry is working hard to have addressed, not just windfarms.
We are aware that the energy regulator, Ofgem, is looking at how constraint payments can be kept to a minimum.
We need to have an open and honest debate about renewable energy, a debate that looks at issues such as "constraint payments" in the context of overall energy generation, rather than in splendid isolation.
Graham Brown.
Chairman, Burcote Wind,
Queensferry Road,
Dunfermline.
Life will never be the same, Mr Salmond
Sir, - I have just read the consultative document on the proposals for the independence referendum.
In it, Alex Salmond states: "Much of what Scotland will be like the day after independence will be similar to the day before: people will go to work, pensions and benefits will be collected, children will go out to play and life will be as normal."
What nonsense! Life for Scots will fundamentally change forever whether you are for it, or agin it. And there is no going back.
We know for a fact that we will have a new currency — either sterling controlled by London, the euro controlled by Germans, or the pound Scots controlled by the markets.
Ten thousand jobs will be lost at Faslane. No more Royal Navy ships will be built in Scotland and our industry will be forced to compete with those of England, Ireland and Wales.
The ludicrously generous subsidies paid to the windfarm multinationals and landowning lairds will be borne by a population of five million instead of being shared by 60 million and the forlorn hope that thousands of 'green energy' jobs will be created in the face of stiff competition from abroad (England) is fanciful and not scaremongering.
All the benefits of the Union will be lost overnight and in less than 40 years my grandchildren will face the future in a country whose economy was based on an income, which will no longer exist, from North Sea Oil (16 and 17-year-olds take notice!).
Get real Mr Salmond, you cannot be serious!
Iain G. Richmond.
Guildy,
Monikie.
Trying to bring it to a standstill?
Sir, - Could someone explain the reason for the anti-dazzle measures which have been fitted on the three major routes at Broxden?
I have travelled this route for 16 years and never been dazzled once.
Every car now has to stop at the roundabout. Are they trying to bring traffic to a standstill?
Norman Christie.
Broombarns Farm Cottage,
Forgandenny.
Old platitudes
Sir, - Jim Crumley, distinguished journalist as he is, dishes out in his 'Personal View' all the old platitudes and prejudices of the dedicated separatist.
Every person in Scotland would favour independence if it made financial sense. It does not, for the many reasons which I hope The Courier will set out clearly in due course so that readers may decide on the basis of facts and not emotions.
Ranald Noel Paton.
Pitcurran,
Newburgh Road,
Abernethy.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.
