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We have been part of the team that assesses the impact of the Cairn Gorm funicular railway since 2007. We act as an independent reviewer of environmental and visitor monitoring data collected by Cairngorm Mountain Limited, the company that operates the ski facilities on Cairn Gorm.

The funicular railway is operated within a set of planning conditions to ensure that the integrity of the protected areas on and around Cairn Gorm are not compromised by the funicular. This so-called section 50 agreement requires the operator of the funicilar to implement a Visitor Management Plan which defines the types of activities that are acceptable. The monitoring is a necessary part of this Plan.

We work as an interdisciplinary team to assess the monitoring data, and since 2009 we have been responsible for data analysis and interpretation of the results. We submit and annual report to Scottish Natural Heritage and The Highland Council.