Scotland’s Landscape Charter builds on the European Landscape Convention and focuses on the principles of collaboration, dynamic management and diversity.
Scotland’s Landscape Charter is about promoting awareness of the critical contribution of landscapes to all our lives and the action required to maximise the many benefits they bring now and for the future. It is based on an overarching vision that, as a nation, we all cherish our landscapes and recognise them as a vital resource, fundamental to our prosperity and wellbeing and that we all play an active part in decisions that affect them.
The Charter is endorsed by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon MSP, on behalf of the Scottish Government together with NatureScot, Heritage Environment Scotland, the Scottish Land Commission, and Architecture and Design Scotland.
Rachel Tennant, Co-Chair of Scotland’s Landscape Alliance, outlines the importance of the Charter
“The truth is that if we are to thrive, then we need our landscapes to thrive too. This means a collaborative, cross sectoral and a forward looking, thoughtful approach to how we design, plan and positively manage change in our landscapes. We need to work with communities of place and interest to deliver functional, resilient and dynamic landscapes and to make better choices for people and nature.”
The Cabinet Secretary said:
“The Charter helpfully highlights the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change and points to landscape considerations being a key element in decision making if we are to achieve our ambition of a net zero and nature positive Scotland”
The Charter builds on the European Landscape Convention and sets out a vision with three supporting principles:
- Collaboration between sectors and organisation to achieve a joined-up approach;
- Dynamic management of landscapes, taking account of changing needs, circumstances and challenges;
- Diversity in our landscapes alongside good planning, thoughtful design and active collaboration to positively manage change is key to resilient landscapes for the future.
The Charter is accompanied by six best practice case studies from different settings across the country showing how the framework can be applied and the positive outcomes that can be achieved.
Watch
- Duncan McLean of LUC describe the Claypits, Glasgow’s Inner City Nature Reserve
- James Stead of RSPB introduce CLIMATE Forth
- The Isle of Canna Community Development Trust explain the Canna Infrastructure projects
Those who are engaged in decisions and activities that affect the landscapes can support the Charter through their ongoing work and submit their own projects as current best practice examples for publication on the SLA website where positive and quality change or benefit has occurred that meets the vision and principles of the charter while demonstrating how best practice can benefit our landscapes for the people of Scotland.
