LANDOWNER John Grant of Rothiemurchus Estate, who has been targeted in the past for receiving public cash in ''money for nothing'' land management deals with Scottish Natural Heritage, is now spearheading a new ''positive management'' agreement with the agency.
Mr Grant, who owns a 10,000-hectare estate at the gateway to the Cairngorms, was featured in a BBC documentary and was the subject of media coverage three years ago over claims by the then opposition Labour Party that SNH was not acting sufficiently openly in making compensation payments to landowners for profits lost on estates which had been designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
The case of Mr Grant, who received #230,000 not to fell trees and a further #70,000 a year not to increase fishing, featured prominently.
Now, however, SNH has said that Rothiemurchus is to be the subject of a new #150,000 management agreement, which will be based entirely on positive management - the approach which Scottish Office Ministers are supporting.
In other words, Mr Grant will be paid only for taking action which promotes the natural heritage quality of his land and recreational pursuits for members of the public, instead of being compensated for not doing certain things.
In addition, a partnership of public bodies is to appoint consultants to advise on the most appropriate future recreational and conservation activities with the aim of making this agreement a blueprint for other estates.
The outcome of the consultancy study is also expected to produce a partnership between the estate and the agencies, geared to providing more employment opportunities connected with the natural heritage asset.
Visitors to the Cairngorms mountain ski area pass through the extensive forests of Rothiemurchus and Glenmore and the estate is considered one of the largest and most important remnants of the ancient Caledonian pinewood forests.
Mr Grant said: ''SNH is no longer telling us what not to do. We are now coming into an agreement to provide people with a welcome and information to help them enjoy the place and enhance the natural heritage.''
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