DARTMOOR'S harsh and testing environment is fundamentally important in the training of soldiers, military personnel stressed as the debate over the forces' use of the moor continued this week.

More than 11,000 Army, Royal Marines, Royal Navy and RAF recruits and officers train on Dartmoor each year.

But conservationists are campaigning for this to stop because they claim military training and the moor's status and use as a National Park remain incompatible.

At a live firing exercise, which the media was invited to witness last Wednesday at the Merrivale range, commanding officer of the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre at Lympstone Colonel Nick Arding said Dartmoor's value was difficult to overstate.

'We cherish this place — without it, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to conduct our training,' he said.

'Royal Marines are experts in extreme conditions and Dartmoor is such a harsh and testing environment. We use it for most of our final exercises before recruits pass out, ready for deployment anywhere in the world.'

Dartmoor is the third largest military training area in the UK and as witnessed in Iraq, the professionalism of Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade, in particular, was honed on the moor where necessary attributes of self-reliance, survival and teamwork are forged under often hostile. conditions.

While technological advances continually influence military training on the battlefield, it is the fighting at close quarters and ability of ground troops to take, and secure, terrain that remains fundamental in conflict.

Col Arding said the military took looking after the training area very seriously and after each live firing exercise the recruits conducted 'a sweep' of the ground to clear up any ordnance.

He was keen to stress that scarring caused to the moor in July by 18 military vehicles was 'a mistake'.

'We are always very willing to put our hands up and admit that we have made mistakes and put measures in place to make sure they do not happen again,' he said.

'The damage happened in an area where vehicles are allowed, infrequently, to go off road — they were not breaking the rules but they were briefed to take care so that no damage was caused to the area. Unfortunately the damage has been exacerbated by walkers using these tracks and we are very keen to put that right by installing some temporary fencing.'

Col Arding said Dartmoor was unique as a training base in that the whole of it was also a national park.

'I believe we do a pretty good job of sharing it with other users and our impact on the environment is minimal,' he added.

The military has conservation plans in place and is under the close eye of the Duchy of Cornwall which owns two of the three army ranges.

'Groups like the Dartmoor Preservation Association have a view that it is important to preserve Dartmoor and it is quite right for them to put pressure on users of the moor, whether it is people having a picnic or the army,' said Col Arding.

'I am quite happy that the DPA points the finger at us — that is right and proper and when we receive criticism we must argue our case for being here.

'Dartmoor is an enormously important environment for everybody and I do not think our use of the moor is in conflict with its existence as a national park.'

Military training takes place most of the year on Dartmoor which includes 470 courses run by the Royal Marines but live firing is less frequent, with days and time advertised on notice boards, in the media and on the army website and areas shut off to the public.

Commander of Dartmoor Training Area Lieutenant Colonel Tony Clark said in a country as densely populated as Britain, facilities had to be shared and Dartmoor was a case in point.

'Dartmoor is the main training area for all our troops in the South West and it is vitally important — without it where else would we go?

'We all have to contribute to national defence. We cannot live in isolation and the majority of local people support the military on Dartmoor.

'It is has been said often enough but the battle of the Falklands was won on the playing fields of Dartmoor because it is such a challenging domain.'

At a public debate over military training on the moor held at Buckfast Abbey on Saturday, chairman of the Dartmoor Preservation Association Kate Ashbrook challenged the army to volunteer to abandon training when its licence came up for renewal in nine years time.

She said the soldiers' presence was noisy, restricted people's access to the moor and put people in danger — because of the risk of unexploded ordnance.

'Military training and a National Park remain incompatible,' she said. 'We have nine years left and after that the military should recognise that it is time to leave.'