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“The changing nature of Scotland”

This recently published book makes an important contribution to the understanding of environmental change in Scotland and what needs to happen to secure a healthier future for wildlife and people.

The environmental challenges facing Scotland have never been more acute. Rapidly changing land-use, climate change and economic challenges mean that the best evidence available is needed to underpin the development of nature conservation policies and strategies.

“The changing nature of Scotland” provides a stock-take of environmental change across the land, water and seas of Scotland. Drawing on more than forty papers and posters presented at a conference organised by Scottish Natural Heritage and other Scottish Government agencies, the book provides an overview of research, policies and grass root activities.

In the Lowland section, Davy McCracken and Andrew Midgley of SAC’s Rural Policy Centre cover the difficult topic of how best to deal with farmland biodiversity declines in lowland Scotland. They suggest an appropriate way forward would involve targeting biodiversity actions more effectively and making the existing agri-environment budget go further, e.g. through strengthening cross-compliance and making it mandatory for farms to be required to have, or to establish, at least 7% of the farm’s utilised agricultural area as Ecological Priority Areas. Such an approach would mean not only that farms with existing High Nature Value would be able to benefit from the types of habitats already forming part of the on-farm resource, but also that funds could become available to implement additional specific High Nature Value farming-specific support measures.

Overall, the book makes an important contribution to the understanding of environmental change in Scotland and what needs to happen to secure a healthier future for wildlife and people. Visit the publisher’s website to order hard copies of the book or to download individual chapters: www.tsoshop.co.uk

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European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism
Online: http://www.efncp.org/news/news20111022.php
Date: 2024/03/29
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