- PhD in Environmental Governance with a focus on Multi-functional Forestry, Perth College-UHI
- Msc in Environmental Management, Stirling University, Scotland
- Bsc in Applied Ecology, Cork University, Ireland
Research and lecturing activities
Rob joined The Centre for Mountain Studies in February of 2004 where he undertook a PhD which involved an interdisciplinary study of the importance of scale and landownership in relation to multifunctional forestry management. His current research includes using qualitative analysis to investigate policy mechanisms and governance processes from a sustainable rural development perspective. This has included (as part of the Sustainable Estates for the 21st Century research programme) an exploration of the outcomes of community land buyouts in Scotland, in terms of the functioning of resultant governance mechanisms and the sustainability of the rural communities involved. Further work at the European level has included a critical analysis of EU and member state policy frameworks relating to ‘quality mountain food’ supply chains in remote mountain regions.
Rob has also been involved in research on wild land, including the valuation and conceptualisation of wild land and the mapping of wildness (using GIS methodologies) in Scotland’s national parks. Rob has also acted as a consultant to a number of organisations, including Scotland’s national park authorities, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Countryside Alliance, the John Muir Trust and the Scottish Government.
Rob has developed and is currently delivering a number of modules within existing UHI MSC programmes. These include: Research Methods and Techniques, Sustainable Rural Land Use and Energy, Environmental Assessment. Recently Rob has also developed a CPD module on Sustainable Deer Management in conjunction with a number of public agencies, NGOs and the private sector. Rob is a regular MSC dissertation supervisor and is currently co-supervising two PhD students.
Key current research interests include:
- Conceptualisations, definitions and perceptions of wild land and re-wilding
- Sustainable governance (including stakeholder and community engagement) and policy processes relating to rural and mountainous regions
- Multifunctional land use and associated management and policy processes
Recent selected publications
Mc Morran, R. And Scott, A. (2012) ‘Re-claiming the land in the name of sustainable rural development’, Key benefits and impacts and impacts of community estate ownership in the Scottish Highlands and current constraints on sustainability – the participant perspective. In: Glass, J. (et al.,) (eds.), Lairds, Land and Sustainability, Edinburgh University Press (Book Chapter, Forthcoming).
Brown, C., Mc Morran, R. and Price, M.F. (2012) Re-wilding – A new paradigm for nature conservation in Scotland? Scottish Geographical Journal (In Press).
Glass, J., Mc Morran, R. and McKee, A. (2012) Working together for sustainable estate communities; Exploring the potential of engagement and partnerships between estates, communities and wider partners in upland Scotland. Centre for Mountain Studies, Perth College, University of Highlands and Islands.
Carver, S., Comber, A., Mc Morran, R. and Nutter, S. (2012) Understanding spatial patterns and distribution of wild land: developing GIS approaches to modelling wildness in Scotland’s national parks. Landscape Research (In Press).
Fisher, M., Carver, S., Kun, Z, Mc Morran, R., Arrell, K. and Mitchell, G. (2010) Review of the status and conservation of wild land in Europe for the Scottish Government. Scottish Government 2010.
Mc Morran, R. and Price, M.F. (2011) Why Focus on the World’s Mountain Forests? In: Price, M.F., Gratzer, G., Alemayehu Duguma, L., Kohler, T., Maselli, D. and Romeo, R. (Eds.) Mountain forests in a changing world. FAO 2011.
Mc Morran, R. and Price, M.F. (2011) Places for health and wellbeing. In: Price, M.F., Gratzer, G., Alemayehu Duguma, L., Kohler, T., Maselli, D. and Romeo, R. (Eds.) Mountain forests in a changing world. FAO 2011.
Mc Morran, R. and Milne, J. (2010) Forestry in Caithness and Sutherland; A context analysis. Report for Forestry Commission Scotland.
Mc Morran, R. (2010) Scotland’s wild landscapes – New ways forward. Discussion summaries and key conference messages. May 2010.
Mc Morran, R. (2010) Benefits and impacts of the grouse shooting industry – The rural community perspective. The Heather Trust – Promoting integrated moorland management. Annual Report 2010.
Comber, A., Carver, S., Fritz, S., Mc Morran, R. Washtell, J. and Fisher, P. (2009) Different methods, different wilds: Evaluating alternative mappings of wildness using fuzzy MCE. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 34, 142-152.
Mc Morran, R. (2009). Red grouse and the Tomintoul and Strathdon communities - The benefits and impacts of the grouse shooting industry from the rural community perspective. The Scottish Countryside Alliance Educational Trust Commissioned Report.
Pasca, A. et al., (including Mc Morran, R., 2009) Designation and promotion of mountain quality food products in Europe – Policy Recommendations. Euromontana 2009.
McMorran, R. (2009) In search of the wild; What is Scottish wild land, why does it matter and what are we doing to look after it? The Scottish Mountaineer, May 2009 p58-59.
Mc Morran, R., Price, M.F. and Warren, C. (2008) The call of different wilds: The importance of definition and perception in protecting and managing Scottish wild landscapes. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 51(2), 177-199.
Mc Morran, R. (2008) Scale Mis-matches in Social-Ecological Systems: A case study of multifunctional forestry in the Cairngorms region of Scotland. Aspects of Applied Biology 85, p41-48.
Mc Morran, R. and Price, M. (2008) Key policy related constraints and opportunities for the production, processing and marketing of foods from mountainous areas in Europe. Euro-MARC project report.
Carver, S., Comber, L., Fritz, S., Mc Morran, R., Taylor, S. and Washtell, J. (2008) Wildness Study in the Cairngorms National Park. University of Leeds.
Mc Morran, R. (2007) Scottish wild landscapes: Wild nature or wild experience? The Munro Society Journal 1, 26-30.
Mc Morran, R., Price, M.F. and McVittie, A. (2006). A review of the benefits and opportunities attributed to Scotland’s landscapes of wild character. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 194 (ROAME No. F04NC18).