Their legal case was rejected and both organisations have since announced that they would not pursue any further action. However, they remain concerned, as do many other environmental groups such as ourselves, that laws designed to protect and enhance important natural areas are being compromised by SNH and Scottish Executive.

I mentioned earlier that the Cairngorms are valued as a wilderness area - indeed, one of the last wilderness areas in Western Europe. There are very few areas left which are so natural and varied.

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