Public engagement on landscape and ecosytem futures: Scotland
Sciencewise-ERC funded project 2011
Background
As part of a larger project on landscape and ecosystem futures, this project focuses specifically on Scotland and is led by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
Aims and Objectives
The study aims to explore, with selected communities, ways of assessing the effects of climate change on landscape and quality of life at a local level. This extends to helping communities make informed choices about how they want these changes managed.
Delivered By
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)
Scottish Natural Heritage is responsible for Scotland’s natural heritage.
Land Use Consultants
Land Use Consultants is a specialist environmental consultancy.
Latest Status Updates
- Community dialogues complete in the Machars area in Dumfries & Galloway and Nairn
Find Out More
- Scotland Rural Land Use StudyThe Scottish Government
- Landscape Polcy and GuidanceScottish Natural Heritage
- Natural Capital Initiative
- Participatory Ecosystems
- Landscapes of the FutureSciencewise-ERC @ the British Science Festival
- Enabling citizen choices about land use and the natural environmentNatural Capital Initiative open forum
- National Ecosystem Assessment
- Putting a price on natureBBC News
Key Impacts
- The Scottish pilot established good policy and practice links with local authorities during the process which then helped shape other dialogue initiatives and regional strategies. There was seen to be potential immediate influence on Highland Council's Adaptation Strategy.
- The pilots provided lessons for incorporating participatory approaches to ecosystem valuations, and how these approaches might be developed in future.
- Those who were engaged in the dialogue processes felt they were positive and interesting, and enabled meaningful conversations about issues that are important for local communities.
- The concept of ecosystem services worked well as a neutral entry point to enable communities to have meaningful conversations about landscape and land use planning. It also enabled open discussion of potentially contentious subjects such as wind energy projects with less immediate polarisation of views.