Holy Island, Isle of Arran. Scotland, United Kingdom

Holy Island, near the island of Arran (SW Scotland, UK) was regarded as a holy site during medieval Celtic Christianity. A few years ago the island was acquired by a Tibetan Buddhist organization who set up on the island the Center for World Peace and Health, which promotes world peace, spirituality, ecology and sustainability in harmony with nature. As well, it organizes meetings, retreats and other types of activities on the island.

This paper ,following the methodology of The Delos Initiative, discusses the natural, cultural and spiritual values of the island, along with the pressures and impacts it is facing and the prospects for conservation. The conclusions highlight the lack of a current clear management policy and propose the drafting of a comprehensive management plan, which should fully recognize the spiritual values of natural and the environmental protection.