Tha thu an seo: Clàr nan Comharran > Àrainneachd Mhara A' Faotainn Dìon Dualchas Na Cruinne 2nd An t-Iuchar, 2004 - RI SGAOILEADH AIR BALL ÀRAINNEACHD MHARA A' FAOTAINN DÌON DUALCHAS NA CRUINNE Chaidh Làrach Dhualchas na Cruinne ann a’ Hiort a leudachadh an-diugh gu bhith a’ còmhdach àrainneachd na mara timcheall nan eilean. Chaidh na h-eileanan creagach, iomallach seo, a tha 64 km an iar air na h-Eileanan Siar, a chomharrachadh an toiseach mar Làrach Dhualchas na Cruinne ann an 1986 airson sealladh na dùthcha agus fiadh-bheatha. Tha comharrachadh an latha an-diugh a’ leudachadh na dìon gu àrainneachd na mara a thuilleadh air na h-eileanan fhèin. Choinnich Comataidh Dhualchas na Cruinne an t-seachdain seo ann an Souzhou, Sìona, gus beachdachadh air na h-àiteachan a chaidh ainmeachadh airson comharrachaidh. Bha iarrtas airson inbhe dhùbailte an cois an tagraidh gus làrach Hiort a leudachadh ach am biodh e a’ còmhdach na tha air a chlàradh de dhualchas nan eilean a bha uair nan sgìre croitearachd. Chaidh dàil san tagradh seo gus an tèid barrachd fiosrachaidh coimeasail a chur gu Comataidh Dhualchas na Cruinne aig Comann Foghlaim, Saidheans is Dualchis nan Dùthchannan Aonaichte (UNESCO). A’ cur fàilte air an naidheachd, thuirt Allan Wilson, Iar Mhinister na h-Àrainneachd: “Tha sealladh dùthcha an seo a tha gun shamhail. Bheir leudachadh na làraich gu bhith a’ còmhdach àrainneachd na mara barrachd dìon dhan àite. Ged a tha na h-eileanan iongantach fhèin le iomadh gnè eòin a tha gu math tearc, ’s ann dìreach bho chionn ghoirid a chuireadh luach air àrainn nàdarra na mara. “Chaidh obair mhòr a-steach do chùis nan eilean agus, gu h-àraidh, a thaobh dìon agus leasachadh na h-àrainneachd agus an dualchais. Tha an comharrachadh ùr ag aithneachadh cho cudromach ’s a tha àrainneachd nàdarra Hiort, agus mu thimcheall air, aig ìre na cruinne. Tha mi an dòchas gum faighear an aon aithne dhan dualchas.” Thuirt Ian Jardine, Ceannard Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba: "Saoilidh mi gur e rud math a tha seo do dhualchas nàdair na mara ann an Alba. ’S e àite sònraichte a th’ ann a’ Hiort agus tha aithne air a bhith aige mar Làrach Dhualchas na Cruinne bho chionn faisg air 20 bliadhna. Le bhith a’ leudachadh a’ chomharrachaidh gu bhith a’ còmhdach nan uisgeachan timcheall air, tha aire an t-saoghail ga tharraing chun an fhiadh-bheatha iongantach a tha ann. Faodaidh sinn a-nis an aithne a bharrachd a tha seo a chleachdadh gu bhith a’ toirt luach dualchas na mara fa chomhair an t-saoghail." Tha an àrainn nàdarra a tha air a dìon a-nis a’ còmhdach na mara timcheall nan eileanan far a bheil àitean-tuineachaidh eòin-mhara cho cudromach ’s a tha air an t-saoghal. Thuirt Robin Pellew, Ceannard Urras Nàiseanta na h-Alba: “Ged a tha e na bhriseadh-dùil gun deach dàil sa cho-dhùnadh a thaobh dualchas na làraich, tha an leudachadh a tha a’ gabhail a-steach dìon àrainneachd na mara air leth cudromach. Cha mhòr gun tug daoine buaidh idir air na cladaichean agus air grunnd na mara timcheall Hiort agus tha sin a’ ciallachadh gu bheil e air àite cho àlainn ’s a tha air an t-saoghal.” A’ bruidhinn ann an Souzhou, thuirt Robin Turner, Ceannard Arc-eòlais Urras Nàiseanta na h-Alba: “’S e gu bheil e gun shamhail a tha a’ dèanamh na cùise doirbh a thaobh sealladh dualchais Hiort. Dh’fhairtlich oirnn àite eile a lorg air an t-saoghal gus coimeas a dhèanamh air na tha air fhàgail de nithean ann an àite cho iomallach agus le dòigh-beatha annasach – an ìre mhath an urra ri eòin-mhara airson am bìdh. “Bidh e math a bhith ag obair còmhla ri eòlaichean eadar-nàiseanta san raon seo gus an rannsachadh riatanach a dhèanamh gus inbhe shònraichte Hiort mar àite luachmhor dhan t-saoghal gu lèir a dhaingneachadh.” Thèid beachdachadh air tagradh comharrachadh an dualchais aig coinneimh san àm ri teachd de Chomataidh Dhualchas na Cruinne ann an Durban, Afraga a Deas, deireadh an Ògmhios 2005. Thuirt Mgr Alec Dòmhnallach, Fear-gairm Chomhairle nan Eilean Siar: “Tha mi uabhasach toilichte gun deach inbhe Làrach Dhualchas na Cruinne ann a’ Hiort a leudachadh gu bhith a’ còmhdach àrainneachd nàdarra na mara. Tha sinn moiteil gu bheil làrach cho cliùiteach an urra rinn agus tha sinn gu fada an comain UNESCO agus na buidhnean eile a thug sinn chun na h-ìre seo. Tha na h-Eileanan Siar mu thràth ainmeil airson am bòidhchid nàdarra. Tha e na phoileasaidh aig a’ Chomhairle uallach a ghabhail airson na h-àrainneachd luachmhor a tha againn agus, aig an aon àm a’ deanamh cinnteach gu bheil dòigh-beatha sheasmhach aig na daoine a tha a’ fuireach an seo. Seach gu bheil Hiort a’ toirt sealladh dhen dualchas aca do mhuinntir nan Eilean Siar, nì sinn cinnteach gu bheil an t-àite air a dheagh dhìon.” CRÌOCH Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh cuir fios gu: Francoise van Buuren, Ceannard Conaltraidh, Urras Nàiseanta na h-Alba (0131) 243 9384 Mairi Gillies, Oifigear Follaiseachd, Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba (01463) 723134 Elaine Mitchell, Ceannard Follaiseachd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba (0131) 244 2969 Nigel Scott, Oifigear Follaiseachd, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (01851) 709389 EDITORS’ NOTES: WHS Key Facts: The World Heritage List was established by the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted in November 1972 at the 17th General Conference of UNESCO. The Convention states that a World Heritage Committee 'will establish, keep up-to-date and publish' a World Heritage List of cultural and natural properties, submitted by the States Parties and considered to be of 'outstanding universal value'. As of 14 April 2004, 177 States have ratified the Convention, the United States being the first to do so. As of 14 April 2004, the number of properties on the World Heritage List is 754. For more information visit: http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31 St Kilda Key Facts: St Kilda Archipelago is a remote Atlantic Island group lying 64km west of the Outer Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland. Part of the parish of Harris in the Western Isles it consists of four main islands - Hirta, Soay, Boreray and Dun; 3 sea stacs - Stac an Armin, Stac Lee and Levenish; and a great number of smaller stacs and skerries. The population living at Village Bay on Hirta is believed to have peaked at around 200 residents and when it was evacuated on 29th August 1930, only 37 people lived on the islands. Owned by MacLeod of Harris & Dunvegan until 1931, St Kilda was sold to the Earl of Dumfries who later became the 5th Marquess of Bute. He retained the islands, unoccupied and managed as a bird sanctuary, until his death in 1956 and in 1957 the islands came into the care of The National Trust for Scotland. From 1958 onwards, NTS volunteer work parties have visited annually restoring a number of the historic buildings for use by visitors, volunteers and researchers, as well as maintaining the ruined structures and assisting with archaeological excavations. Today around 1750 people visit St Kilda every year and around 30 people live there all year round. St Kilda is managed by The National Trust for Scotland in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, Historic Scotland, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council), Ministry of Defence and its agents QinetiQ. For more information please visit: http://www.kilda.org.uk/ List of Designations include: World Heritage Site (1986) for its natural characteristics, and in particular for its superlative natural features, its habitats for rare and endangered species, and its incredible, internationally important, population of seabirds. Candidate Special Area for Conservation (currently with the European Commission, a decision is expected in the Autumn 2004) for its vegetated cliff areas, its reefs and its sea caves. These areas are considered to have a high diversity of habitat/species of European importance. Special Protection Area (1992) placing an obligation on the UK Government to maintain or re-establish a sufficient diversity and area of habitats for all species of wild birds naturally occurring in their European territories. National Nature Reserve (1957) for its national importance as a site that can be managed in the long-term for the primacy of nature. Site of Special Scientific Interest (1984) for its biological features, notably its marine grassland and heath, peatland, open water and coastland, its bird life and for its indigenous species of wren, field mouse and Soay sheep. National Scenic Area (1981) for its outstanding scenic value and beauty in a national context. Marine Consultation Area (1990) one of 29 in Scotland for its special distinction in respect of the quality and sensitivity of its marine environment and where scientific information substantiates its nature conservation importance. Geological Conservation Review Site (1984) under three different subject headings: tertiary igneous geology; quarternary geology; and its coastal geomorphology. Scheduled Ancient Monuments (1963, 1972, 2002) four major areas on Hirta were scheduled by Historic Scotland for the national importance of their archaeology. They comprise diverse and well-preserved multi-period remains of settlement on St Kilda, structures that date from prehistory through to the early 20th century. The remains have the potential to provide important information about life on St Kilda through the millennia, an extreme existence that was, and continues to be, of enormous interest to Scottish and international observers who documented the life of inhabitants from early times. The bid was prepared by the Scottish Executive and the St Kilda Strategic Management Group. The St Kilda Strategic Management Group is, itself, chaired by the Scottish Executive and includes representatives of the National Trust for Scotland, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Historic Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Department for Trade and Industry and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.