Purpose of the Working Groups
To gather evidence and opinion to inform the development of a set of clear and ambitious recommendations for the future of landscape-related policy in Scotland in order to strengthen its role in delivering Scotland’s national outcomes and Scotland’s contribution to embedding the principles of the European Landscape Convention and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
For the purpose of the initial working group discussion the following definition has been adopted:-
Landscape is about the relationship between people and place. It provides the setting for our day-to-day lives and is an important part of the quality of life for people everywhere: in urban areas and in the countryside, in areas recognised as being of outstanding beauty, as well as everyday areas. Landscapes are an essential component of people’s surroundings, and expression of diversity of their shared cultural and natural heritage and a foundation for identity.
Structure of the Working Groups
Three time-limited working groups have been established. The scope of their work is framed by an overarching principle of landscape and placemaking for public benefit and underpinned by recognition of the need for effective stewardship and management of landscape and place. It is difficult to draw clear boundaries around issues but to make the work more manageable three streams of health, environmental resilience and economy have been identified.
| Overarching principle: Landscape and Placemaking for Public Benefit | |
| Working Group 1 Landscape for health and wellbeing | Working Group 2 Landscape and resilience to environmental challenges |
| Underpinning process: Effective stewardship and management of landscape and place |
To help with this process, the SLA commissioned a short piece of research1 identifying key issues and challenges facing Scotland’s landscapes. These included:
- The need to promote a shared definition of landscape and placemaking
- The potential for legislative/policy changes to improve design and management of non-designated landscapes and strengthen protection of designated sites
- Addressing strategic drivers for change e.g. climate change
- How to widen involvement in decision-making to ensure governance is just and democratic
- Siloed policy and practice preventing multiple benefits from being realised
