Wild Land News no 70, Autumn 2007

Scotland's living landscapes - places for people Report

In September 2007 The Scottish Landscape Forum published its report that was sent to Scottish Ministers in March 2007. The report is the culmination of short but intensive work from the Forum, which comprised a diverse range of governmental and other bodies.

The report has 22 recommendations under 4 main headings -

Taking forward the European Landscape Convention
Promoting a people-centred approach
A stronger institutional framework
Improving our practices.

We in SWLG are interested especially in the topic of strengthening the institutional framework, the proposals include the following wish list:

A National Statement on Landscape from Scottish Ministers
Update and modernise current legislation with a possible Landscape Bill if this was seen as the most appropriate way to deliver landscape protection, planning and management.
Require public bodies to have regard for particular landscape values.
Strengthening the protection and management of National Scenic Areas.

The report outlines how steady progress could be made, but this will only happen with strong leadership from the Scottish Government and senior officials. Our concern is that landscape protection is rarely given prominence or priority when deciding major issues. The proposed actions must have some teeth to give better protection for our wild land and other landscapes.

The Landscape Forum was originally a short-life Forum, but it is to continue its work, and look in more detail at certain aspects. This is to be welcomed, but equally well, the report needs to be backed and implemented by Government, rather than welcomed and filed. We support the work of the Forum and SNH and wish to see more resources and action into this important field.

Alistair Cant