Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) announced today (Friday, June 21), it gives “unstinting support” for the creation of a new Wildlife and Species Forum.
The establishment of the forum was announced at the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston by Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie.
The forum will facilitate engagement between land management interests, ministers and senior officials on “key areas” of wildlife, species and associated land management policy, according to SLE.
Ministers and officials in Scotland will collaboratively explore policy opportunities that align with a just transition to net zero.
Director of Moorland at Scottish Land & Estates, Ross Ewing said:
“We wholeheartedly welcome this announcement by the Scottish government and NatureScot, and give the creation of the forum our unstinting support.
“This is something that we, alongside NFUS, urged NatureScot to embrace particularly at a time when the regulator is taking on additional licensing responsibilities.”
The director added that SLE is heartened that NatureScot and the Scottish government repsonded “positively” and the estates hope that the policy evolves with the needs of applicants.
Scottish Land and Estates
Meanwhile, the SLE said the Scottish government must “seize the moment” and deliver for Scottish farming following the passing of the new Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill.
The SLE added that it welcomed the successful changes in the earlier stages of the bill process and welcomed its journey towards Royal Assent.
SLE senior policy adviser on agriculture and climate change, Eleanor Kay, said:
“This bill presented a crucial opportunity to create legislation that is fit for Scotland.
“We welcome the fact the Scottish government and opposition parties have listened to key concerns and have embraced amendments to the bill that we and others in the sector campaigned on vigorously.”
Kay added that there is clearly lots of work still to be done for agriculture to transition to the new agriculture support, however farmers “need to take action now” to be in the best position to take advantage of the new schemes.
