Scotland’s Landscape
Why do we need action now
Scotland is known internationally for the quality of its landscape, natural capital and built heritage. To continue to uphold this deserved reputation we need to be alive to and actively manage the changes that we face in the 21st century.
Urbanisation, transport and energy choices as well as the global issues of climate change and biodiversity loss are now impacting on people’s lives across Scotland due to declining air quality, urban heating, flooding and coastal erosion. Management practices are having a profound impact on the health of our land and native species, and new development is impacting on our wild landscapes.
We are at a tipping point, where change is happening at such a scale and speed that it is hard to comprehend the potential and cumulative impacts, but we do know that some changes will be hard to reverse. We need early action to safeguard our landscape and through good design and stewardship maximise the benefits to society and nature now and for the future.
We are at a tipping point, where change is happening at such a scale and speed that it is hard to comprehend the potential and cumulative impacts.
Landscape scale design responses are required to tackle the global issues of climate change and biodiversity loss and address the challenges that Scotland faces. This will require a major shift in the mindset of all organisations and people involved in matters that affect our landscape. This needs to permeate daily actions and be supported by joined-up decision-making.
Through the combined action of the Scottish Government, local government, stakeholders, landowners and communities we can ensure that Scotland’s landscape is safeguarded and can play a full part in our recovery from current and any future biosecurity challenges, delivering health and wellbeing, inclusive economic growth and climate resilience.
Landscape and Place for Success – our vison and recommendations for change
Join the SLA
The SLA will be open to any organisation or individual who commits to contributing to its aims or work. Ideally membership will span public, voluntary, community and private sector bodies.