The development of wind farms in remote wild areas must be halted, according to Scotland’s largest conservation charity.
The National Trust for Scotland recognised the need for renewable energy, but argued it should not come at the cost of preserving wild land.
The Times says the organisation wants protections to be strengthened in a new national planning framework.
Philip Long, chief executive of National Trust for Scotland, said: “The trust welcomes the Scottish Government’s attention to the nature and climate emergencies and its previous commitment to protecting wild land, but it is now more imperative than ever that efforts to conserve and protect our wild land are given priority.
“Government policies such as the National Planning Framework 4 and the onshore wind energy statement should work to support rather than undermine these efforts.
“We recognise the need to develop sources of renewable energy, but these shouldn’t be to the detriment of our natural assets.
“The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report highlighted how important protecting land for nature will be in mitigating the effects of climate change, so the importance of these areas should not be underestimated.
Key for meeting ambitions
“Wild land areas are where nature and natural processes predominate, and where humans can enjoy the qualities of tranquillity and beauty. They are also key for meeting our biodiversity and climate-change ambitions.”
The Scottish Government has pledged to protect 30 per cent of Scotland’s land for nature by 2030.
The development of wind power, which has the support of SNP and Green ministers, has provoked fierce debate. A decade ago, the trust consulted its more than 300,000 members for their views on wind farms after concerns were raised about the impact of their spread.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government told the Times: “Scotland’s planning system will play a vital role in responding to climate change, in encouraging nature recovery and in helping to deliver the infrastructure needed to achieve our net zero ambitions.
“National Planning Framework 4 will signal a turning point for planning and we have been clear that responding to both the global climate emergency and the nature crisis will be central to that.
“We are carefully considering the wealth of information and views expressed during our consultation before we take a final version to the Scottish parliament for approval this autumn.”