PEOPLE who believe there is an ''inevitable and remorseless conflict'' between development and the environment came under fire yesterday in Edinburgh, writes Raymond Duncan.
Magnus Magnusson, chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage, which has been involved in the bitterly fought debate over the controversial Cairngorm funicular railway proposal, said this view was depressing and misguided.
He was speaking at the launch of a report, the aim of which, he said, was ''to blow this myth out of the water, for good and all''.
The booklet, Jobs and the Natural Heritage, maintains that Scotland's natural heritage made a major contribution to employment with more than 8000 jobs directly related to it.
Launched by Scots Environment Minister Lord Sewel, the booklet also claims the natural heritage underpins the tourism industry. Open air countryside recreation alone supported 29,000 full-time equivalent jobs and generated about #730m. It says 82% of visitors come to Scotland because of the scenery, and in 1996 tourism expenditure contributed #1500m to the economy.
Lord Sewel said economic development and the natural heritage could ''march together at the same time'' rather than being in conflict.
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