Land

To celebrate International Women’s Day with this year’s theme ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’, we talked to Clare Cooper, the co-initiator of Bioregioning Tayside – one of the first bioregional initiatives in Scotland responding to the climate and biodiversity crises. Their Inception Group consists entirely of women, who each with their unique expertise help to bring bioregioning projects in Tayside to life.

 

Agroforestry: trees mean business

In this webinar we will explore three hands-on ways to make money from your trees: fruit production, coppicing and timber production. Join us to hear from experts, farmers and crofters about their experience and ask your questions about:

  • Coppicing: how, why, when
  • Fruit trees: the right product for your project
  • Timber: reasons to embark on this long-term crop
  • Challenges and how to tackle them.

Scottish Forestry will also be present to answer your questions.

FREE and open to crofters, farmers, land managers and foresters. 

The Scottish Government published its Vision for Scottish Agriculture which sets out plans for Scotland to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

A new National Strategy for Economic Transformation, underpinned by detailed analysis of Scotland’s economic strengths and weaknesses, has been published.

The strategy contains over 70 actions across five key priority programmes that have been identified as having the greatest potential to deliver economic growth that significantly outperforms the last decade within the current constitutional arrangements.

People who are part of, or wishing to enter a land or nature based industry, can apply for funding support to gain practical skills required to respond to the climate change challenge.

Supported by Scottish Government funding of up to £250,000 and administered by Lantra Scotland, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Practical Training Fund is open to applications from people aged 13 and over.

The next 10 years will be decisive in building a more resilient, entrepreneurial and fair economy, according to Economy Secretary Kate Forbes. 

Speaking ahead of the expected publication of the National Strategy for Economic Transformation, Ms Forbes said the Scottish Government will work with businesses, trade unions, third sector and public bodies to seize Scotland’s economic potential.

Protecting foxes, hares and other wild mammals from being chased and killed by packs of dogs is the purpose of the Scottish Government’s new Hunting with Dogs Bill.

The Bill will replace existing legislation in this area, making the law clearer and closing loopholes.

Rewilding Britain is launching the UK’s first Rewilding Innovation Fund to boost locally led land and marine nature recovery projects across Britain, including community initiatives and those focused on improving people’s health and wellbeing.

The fund will be given to innovative projects seeking to create new opportunities for large-scale nature restoration, such as through community engagement, business plans or use of technology.

The purpose of the Natural Capital Pilots are to inform what future rural support outside of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) might look like. 

Financial support will be made available to help crofters and farmers on Scotland’s islands effectively manage local populations of greylag geese.

In some locations, an increase in numbers of geese has caused significant agricultural damage to barley crops and improved pasture, from cropping being eaten and trampled.

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