Summer - Royal Scottish Geographical Society

NEWS People • Places • Planet
Scouting
in Malawi
In 2007, I was part
of a UK expedition
to Malawi. We took
a total of thirty
four young people
from the UK to
work with the
Scout Association
of Malawi.
Twelve were from
Scotland. Our
project was the
renovation of the
National Campsite
just outside Zomba
on the slopes of
the Zomba Plateau.
We helped to make
the campsite
self sufficient
and already this
year, they have
generated sufficient
funds, to pay the
Warden’s salary for
one year.
Scottish Scouting
is launching an
appeal to support
Scouting in Malawi
which, having been
outlawed during
the Banda years, is
once again growing
rapidly.
Anne Masino
Geosciences
Geosciences have been
given a stay of execution
at St Andrews University.
New Principal Louise
Richardson, has postponed
the closure of the division of
the Geography Department.
The next twelve months will
see a full review of options
before a final decision is
made, so they are not out of
the woods yet.
First UNESCO Chair in Scotland appointed at UHI
Professor Martin Price, Director
of the Centre for Mountain
Studies (CMS) at Perth
College UHI, was appointed
Chairholder of the UNESCO
Chair in Sustainable Mountain
Development at UHI Millennium
Institute in March.
This UNESCO Chair encourages
cooperation across borders and
recognises that mountains cover
24% of global land, and that 26%
of the global population lives in
and around mountains, which
provide vital goods and services
to over half of humankind.
The project objectives are:
1) to facilitate further
development and implementation
of the Global Change in Mountain
Regions Research Strategy;
2) to organise and contribute
to international meetings
that facilitate action towards
sustainable mountain
development (this will include an
international conference on global
change and mountain regions in
Fair Maid’s House update
We have recently applied for substantial funding for
the Fair Maid’s House on the back of our successful
planning application. If successful we may be
accelerating our plans despite the recession.
We hope to update further in the next issue.
Perth in September 2010, linked
to a public event co-organised
with the RSGS);
3) to foster and support the
development and delivery of
Masters-level courses that
support sustainable mountain
development and subsequently
with institutions in Latin America.
For more details contact:
Professor Martin Price,
Centre for Mountain Studies,
Perth College UHI,
martin.price@perth.uhi.ac.uk
Demand for water everywhere, but not a drop to drink
The World Water Development
report recently warned that 47%
of the global population would
be living in areas of high water
stress by 2030. It also warned
that ‘some countries are already
reaching the limits of their
water resources’, resulting in an
intensification of competition for
water resources that threatens
to stoke conflicts and make
water supplies an “increasingly
politicised issue”.
The report warned that a number
of factors are combining to
increase demand for water at a
time when climate change means
more regions are likely to face
prolonged droughts.
Welcome
We are very pleased to welcome Fiona Parker
(top) and Marie Hainey who have joined the
staff at RSGS HQ. Fiona works full time and
Marie part time helping to run the office and
the finances and they will be the first point of
welcome for those of you wishing to contact
the office.
According to the
report, population
growth combined
with increased
demand for meat
and dairy products,
increased demand
for biofuels and
an expected
60% increase
in hydroelectric
power will increase
pressure on water
resources in many
countries.
The report concludes that these
risks mean there is a strong
economic case for investing in
water infrastructure, calculating
that each dollar invested in
improving access to water and
sanitation will deliver a boost to
GDP of between $3 (£2.14) and
$34 (£22).