Wild Land News no 70, Autumn 2007

COMMENT - Scotland's New Government - Opportunity And Threat Article

So Scotland enters a new era - minority government, coalition politics, an SNP administration. There is a range of policy statements/proposals that will please and annoy a range of people - no nuclear power stations; dropping the Forth and Tay bridge tolls; boosting renewable energy schemes… And the environment has also started biting back - with flooding (albeit much worse in England) and poor summer weather affecting tourism and farming.

So what does the immediate future bring for those like the Scottish Wild Land Group, pressing for greater protection and enhancement for Scotland's landscapes? The answer is… it is up to you. We now have a Government which should perhaps listen more to the public, that will back issues that people feel strongly about…. as they need to court the voters for the next election.

So lobbying, campaigning and raising the profile of wild land is not just to be done in election time - it can be done all the time…with MSPs, with the media, with the Scottish Government (the new name for the Scottish Executive). Of course others will be doing the same, so we, the environment lobby, need to be as strong if not stronger in order to get our message across.

So let's use the new political terrain to inject more vigour into our message; to say to Government you must protect our fine landscapes and wild land.

At the local level, the political map has altered too, with the change to proportional representation at the local Council elections. There are now new Councillors and changes to parties in power in some cities. These politicians can be lobbied and local and regional environmental issues raised with them.

So, a time of change, as ever. For the better.. or for the worse .. that's up to you.

The northern reaches of Loch Shiel.
Photo: John Digney