Case Study 5A: Dairy at Smallrigg

Why does the dairy industry emit so many greenhouse gases?
Cows have a bad rep in sustainability circles. The way they digest produces relatively high amounts of methane. But it’s not just the animals’ natural bodily cycles that make the meat and dairy industry responsible for nearly 15% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The ways in which cattle feed is mass produced, animals are managed on large-scale farms, and food is stored and transported all add to the footprint. At Smallrigg Farm in Lochmaben, a father and son team are trying to help local colleagues reduce that impact.

Case Study 5B: Sheep at Kirkwood

What are the environmental consequences of sheep rearing?
At nearly 7 million ewes, rams, and lambs, Scotland is home to more sheep than people. Sheep are cultivated for both their wool and their meat, and the Dumfriesshire region of Scotland is well-known for both - as evidenced by the Moffat Woolen Mill and the sheep statues in Lockerbie’s town centre. But sheep meat isn’t much better than beef, when it comes to environmental impacts, and the textile industry is another major contributor to climate change.

Case Study 5C: Venison at Millbank

Is environmentally sustainable meat production possible?
When it comes to meat consumption, deer are one of the world’s less popular animals. The evolution of property rights in English law meant that both hunting rights and venison sales were strictly regulated; in America, deer meat doesn’t even fall under the USDA’s regular inspection processes. Unlike cows, sheep, pigs, and chickens, deer are not generally mass produced. Yet deer require less food, do less damage, and mature faster than cows...so considering them as a more environmentally friendly alternative seems smart!

Case Study 5D: Distillery at Ninefold

How does the alcohol industry impact the environment?
Producing and distributing alcohol has a huge environmental impact. On average, 7.5 pounds of carbon dioxide are produced for each 750ml bottle of liquor. 8-15 litres of wastewater are produced for every litre of booze. Nearly 20% of the carbon footprint comes from the agriculture required for base materials. Ninefold Distillery is trying to reduce some of those figures while making its rum...and it started by promoting adaptive reuse for decommissioned farm buildings.

Case Study 5E: Housing at Dormont

Does the building sector have to be so energy-intensive?
The housing sector accounts for 20% of England’s greenhouse gas emissions. In Scotland, that figure is 13%, even though Scottish homes are responsible for 30% of the nation’s energy use. This difference can be partially explained by Scotland’s focus on renewable energy. At places like the Dormont Estate, managers are taking even greater responsibility to reduce residential carbon emissions by building to the Passivhaus standard.

Case Study 5F: Forestry at Tilhill

What’s the big deal about trees?
Deforestation is behind 15% of greenhouse gas emissions around the world. Timber is in high demand, and not just for obvious construction purposes. Wood is also essential in a variety of other goods, including bacon and condoms. Trees are considered a renewable resource (especially compared with fossil fuels), but this doesn’t mean their production is without negative environmental impact. Tilhill, a Scottish-based forestry company, is working to minimise the bad and maximise the good that can come from the timber industry.

Case Study 5G: Tourism at Grey Mare’s

Why would hiking be an environmental concern?
Ecotourism - tourism focused on seeing and experiencing nature - has both benefits and drawbacks. For humans, it’s an enjoyable leisure activity. For the environment, it’s a mixed bag: looking at the big picture, nature can be supported by having more people who care about it and want to see it healthy. On the local level, though, tourism can inflict serious damage on ecosystems through things like resource use, land degradation, pollution, and infrastructure construction. The Grey Mare’s Tail Nature Reserve in Scotland balances human access and the nation’s right to roam with minimal impact through careful management.

Case Study 5H: Restoration at Threave

What is landscape restoration?
When humans began settling in specific areas rather than moving around to find resources, they engineered ecosystems for their own convenience. At small scales, this wouldn’t necessarily be a problem. But when ideas of “efficiency” emerged in the mid-1700s, mass production quickly followed - and that meant large areas of land were intensively used to do just one thing. This monocultural approach is antithetical to how nature thrives: through interconnected diversity. Landscape restoration is about bringing back that diversity.