Scotland: Island purchased by residents is a sustainable example – 11/11/2023 – Environment

As the ferry rocked against the concrete pier on the island of Eigg, there was a delay in disembarking passengers.

Sailors carried boxes and packages from a boat to the vessel and double-checked the bow to make sure they hadn’t forgotten anything.

The last order was a bundle of newspapers rolled up and individually labeled. As the newspapers moved back and forth, one of them rolled toward the steps leading to the water. The boot of one of the ferry crew stopped him just before reaching the edge.

Although it was just a newspaper, those who had just arrived realized the risk of losing it and shared the relief of the island’s residents when they saw that it had been recovered.

Eigg is part of Scotland’s Inner Hebrides, called the Little Isles. It is located 24 kilometers from the mainland and has a ferry that runs several times a week for supplies and transport, depending on weather conditions. In this place, waste is not an option and sustainability is a necessity.

“Sustainability has always been part of life on the island and the farms here,” explained Norah Barnes, ranger at the Scottish Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust in Eigg.

“You become a little more conscious of what you’re wearing. You can’t just go to a store down the street to buy something. Everything we want, we literally have to check in.”

The islands are Eigg, Canna, Sanday, Rum and Muck. Together, they have a population that varies between 150 and 200 people.

Eigg measures eight by five kilometers. Although it is the second largest, it is by far the most populous, with around 110 residents, which has helped them foster a community that collectively takes charge of the island’s future.

Community life

After getting off the ferry, I walked a little way to An Laimhrig. Recently expanded and remodeled to serve the growing number of residents and visitors, the resort is at the center of community life.

As I oriented myself with a map, residents came and went, collecting packages, delivering letters and buying supplies at the island’s only supermarket that also doubles as a post office.

In addition to a cafe and grocery store, the complex houses a craft store, bicycle rentals, as well as public bathrooms and showers for those who camp outdoors or stay in communal tents. And there is also the stone monument that commemorates the community purchase of the island in 1997.

The mysterious donor

With landowners absent or lacking interest in the island, Eigg residents became convinced that community ownership was the only way to secure the island’s future.

“Residents realized we wouldn’t have a great community unless we created it ourselves,” said Maggie Fyffe, secretary of the organization that owns Eigg.

When the island was put up for sale in 1996, locals began to raise money.

“The residents contributed and we had a big fundraising campaign. We had the famous mystery donor who ended up giving more than US$1 million and that’s why we closed the deal.”

Although visitors come for a variety of reasons, Eigg is ideal for those interested in outdoor activities.

The most famous areas are Singing Sands beach, in the north of the island, where the movement of quartz sand emits a characteristic sound, and the imposing rock ridge of An Sgurr, formed around 58 million years ago from a volcanic eruption. occurred in the east of the island.

In between are rugged plains, forests, miles of coastline and white sand beaches that look like those in the Caribbean, and even a small patch of temperate rainforest.

The island was unaffected by the industries that altered the landscape in much of Britain. “We don’t have very intensive agriculture here,” Barnes explained. “The landscape is conducive to wildlife. There is no commercial fishing or large-scale agriculture and the beaches and sea have clean, clear waters.”

To enjoy the clear sky and the view from its summit, I decided to climb An Sgurr. This mountain seems invincible, with imposing dark stone walls. One path offers a relatively easy climb to the top.

At almost 400 meters high, the views from the summit are incredible, stretching out towards Rum, Skye and the mainland. No other place offers a better view of Eigg. As the wind picked up, I watched the island’s wind turbines stir the air.

Energy pioneers

In 2008, Eigg became the first community in the world to live off-grid. Energy comes from wind, water and sunlight.

The three systems complement each other, so that almost all climatic conditions favor electricity production.

To guarantee supply, there are still backup generators, but the vast majority come from renewable sources.

“The amount of renewable energy we use varies depending on the climate, but we use up to 90%,” explained Fyffe.

The benefits of the new renewable system were numerous. The island previously relied on diesel generators, which was a logistical headache, explains Barnes.

“It was necessary to transport the diesel, transfer it to barrels, take it home and fuel the generator. It was a huge job. The use of renewable energy greatly improved people’s daily lives and the environment.”

It is also a step towards self-sufficiency. With the global energy crisis driving up prices around the world, Fyffe explained how this model helped protect the island from rising costs of living.

“The price [da energia] it was higher here than on the mainland, but it’s probably cheaper now. We step up a little every now and then, but we haven’t done that in the last few years because it’s been so difficult for everyone.”

The island continues to work to become more sustainable. “We are involved in another feasibility study that looks at how we could get to zero carbon emissions,” Fyffe said, adding.

“We hope to build a house and renovate the old doctor’s office for rent and we will test heat pumps that use air to see how efficient they are. Then people can live in these properties,” he explained.

“We will need more structure for this, probably three large turbines, although we are still at an early stage.”

Reforestation options

As most of the island uses wood stoves for heating, Eigg is running a sustainable forestry project to ensure wood supplies, cutting down trees for firewood for island residents and wood for export, but at the same time planting new trees and expanding forests.

“A nursery was created to replant trees in deforested areas,” Barnes explained. “Some will be used for firewood and others will be preserved for wildlife. Native trees are also being grown.”

The island’s population is the highest it has been in at least half a century. Eigg also appears to have managed to avoid the problem of communities becoming empty in the winter as residents move into second homes.

The main challenge appears to be providing a permanent home for residents living in caravans or temporary accommodation.

“We’re trying to provide homes for people who live here. We have some in temporary accommodation, so we’re trying to increase the properties available for rent,” Fyffe said.

“There are a lot of people waiting for a rental property to appear.”

As infrastructure improves, this growth and demand for housing is a positive sign that counters the threat of depopulation many islands face.

And this optimism appears to be shared by the region’s wildlife.

“Four years ago, a pair of sea eagles returned to the island after becoming extinct on Eigg,” Barnes said.

“They were reintroduced to Rum but have returned to Eigg and bred for the past three years.”

_{The text was originally published here.}