Land use strategy: progress statement 2015

1. Introduction

This fourth Land Use Strategy ( LUS) Progress Statement 2015 provides details of how the Strategy has been delivered for the period May 2014 - June 2015. It contains information on the milestone actions associated with the Strategy Proposals as well as information on the activities of the regional land use pilot projects in Aberdeenshire and the Scottish Borders. The information in this report is supplemented by information on the Scottish Government LUS webpages and this includes information on the trends demonstrated by the ten LUS indicators which can be found in the monitoring section of the LUS webpages. The most up-to-date information about the Strategy can found on these pages.

1.1 Scotland's Agenda for Sustainable Land Use

The Land Use Strategy sets a long term Vision towards 2050 with three clear Objectives relating to economic prosperity, environmental quality and communities. To help deliver these Objectives and move us towards the Vision for Scotland, the Strategy identifies ten Principles for Sustainable Land Use which reflect Scottish Government's priorities for land use. The Principles are relevant for all those taking significant decisions about changes in land use and everyone involved in planning for the future of land use in Scotland.

Vision for Scotland's land to 2050

A Scotland where we fully recognise, understand and value the importance of our land resources, and where our plans and decisions about land use deliver improved and enduring benefits, enhancing the wellbeing of our nation.

Objectives

1. Land-based businesses working with nature to contribute more to Scotland's prosperity

2. Responsible stewardship of Scotland's natural resources delivering more benefits to Scotland's people

3. Urban and rural communities better connected to the land, with more people enjoying the land and positively influencing land use

In 2011 the Strategy set out a series of Proposals for action which are being taken forward by Scottish Government ( SG) and their delivery partners during the five-year lifetime of the current Strategy up to March 2016. The Proposals encompass a range of milestone actions which, taken together help deliver the Strategy. A second Strategy will be published in 2016 and information about its development is contained on the Land Use Strategy webpages.