Documents

People will have different understandings about the range of benefits a woodland can offer, and some people might prefer one type of benefit over another. To understand how these factors are interconnected, researchers from The James Hutton Institute are researching woodlands in different parts of Scotland: in the Central Belt (North Lanarkshire), on the west coast (Argyll), and in the Highlands. 

This report presents the results of a research workshop that was undertaken in relation to the Cumbernauld Glen.

People will have different understandings about the range of benefits a woodland can offer, and some people might prefer one type of benefit over another. To understand how these factors are interconnected, researchers from The James Hutton Institute are researching woodlands in different parts of Scotland: in the Central Belt (North Lanarkshire), on the west coast (Argyll), and in the Highlands. 

This report presents the results of a research workshop that was undertaken in relation to the Cumbernauld Forest Wood.

People will have different understandings about the range of benefits a woodland can offer, and some people might prefer one type of benefit over another. To understand how these factors are interconnected, researchers from The James Hutton Institute are researching woodlands in different parts of Scotland: in the Central Belt (North Lanarkshire), on the west coast (Argyll), and in the Highlands. 

This report presents the results of a research workshop that was undertaken in relation to the Tom an Eirannaich woodland near the community of Clunes.

Interest in carbon markets has increased rapidly in recent months, leading to new market opportunities and interest in acquiring land to invest in natural capital, typically through tree planting and restoration of degraded peatland habitats. However, the extent to which natural capital investment is driving transactions is unclear, with owners and purchasers potentially influenced by many factors. There is also uncertainty around how large-scale land acquisitions might interact with post-Brexit policies under development across the UK and the interests of rural communities.

Summary report, March 2022

Highlights

The Scottish Government Programme for Government (2021/22) commits to the creation of Regional Land Use Partnerships (RLUPs) and Regional Land Use Framework (RLUFs), as set out in the Land Use Strategy. In spring 2021 it announced five pilot Partnerships for testing approaches and practicalities, with particular reference to governance and local engagement. 

Appendices to the SEFARI report on ‘The adoption of agroecological principles in Scottish farming and their contribution towards agricultural sustainability and resilience.’ This Agroecology in Scotland is understood differently by different people and at times contrary to what constitutes agroecology.

Agroecology in Scotland is understood differently by different people and at times contrary to what constitutes agroecology.

In the face of COVID-19 and the immediate (and anticipated) impact on the food and drink sector across rural Scotland, the Scottish Environment Food Agriculture Research Institutes (SEFARI) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) established the SEFARI supported knowledge exchange ‘COVID-19 Food and Drink Sector Think Tank for Scotland’s Rural Economy’. The Specialist Advisory Group (SAG) was set up with a core membership and also with the intention of accessing ‘expert advisors’ and wider stakeholders.

This report has been developed with the aim of:

Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) is being established as a new non-ministerial office to monitor Scottish public authorities’ compliance with, and the effectiveness of, environmental law following the UK’s departure from the EU. It will be independent of the Scottish Government and will be responsible for ensuring that public authorities in Scotland comply with environmental law.

March 2022 update on database based on the Peatland Action Programme in Scotland.

The landscape for society, industry and policy is ever evolving but the last few decades have seen a sharpening focus on the key issues of climate change and the sustainable use of resources. This has led to the development of policies and initiatives around factors mitigating and adapting to climate change and activities, particularly industrial, that deliver equivalent or enhanced outputs but with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. All of this highlights a shift away from fossil fuel-based feedstocks and the requirement for sustainable and renewable resources and processes.

This report is the output of a Fellowship project aiming to increase the understanding of the animal health, agri-tech and aquaculture (AAA) sector in Scotland and improve understanding of opportunities and challenges facing the sector. This was achieved through creation of an inventory mapping key stakeholders in the sector across Scotland and a survey to key stakeholders.

The final, of four educational posters on the topic of water, created as part of the Water Words (see related blog) Responsive Opportunity Funded Project.

The third of four educational posters on the topic of water, created as part of the Water Words (see related blog) Responsive Opportunity Funded Project.

The second of four educational posters on the topic of water, created as part of the Water Words (see related blog) Responsive Opportunity Funded Project.

The first of four educational posters on the topic of water, created as part of the Water Words (see related blog) Responsive Opportunity Funded Project.

This report provides selected highlights from research and Knowledge Exchange (KE) during 2020-21, which reflect the strengths and benefits of long-term strategic funding from the Scottish Government. The SRP is delivering integrated, interdisciplinary research that creates significant innovation and practice change, while also underpinning expertise to support advice for policy and practice. Central to this is SEFARI’s enduring relationships with policy, agency, business and civic society across Scotland, UK and globally. SEFARI Gateway is the Centre for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation for the Portfolio.

This work represents the third phase of a research project conducted by SRUC and the James Hutton Institute on the impacts of, and responses to, the Covid-19 pandemic on rural Scotland and the prospects for a rural recovery. The previous phases of work incorporated stakeholder interviews to explore factors that promoted or hindered a resilient community response (Phase 1), and spatial analysis to identify areas with lower or higher underlying capacity to be resilient (Phase 2). The Phase 2 mapping was also used to identify the paired case studies used for this report (Phase 3).