The Scottish Government has published its revised Land Use Strategy.

The amended 'Getting the best use from our land' plan sets out policies and proposals for Scottish land over the next five years and beyond.

As Scotland's second land use strategy, the recently passed Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act have paved the way for key features including:

• Management of natural resources with an ecosystems approach to land use

• Partnership activity to bring a range of interests together to consider land use at a local level in both rural and urban areas

• Developing and implementing activities to promote climate friendly farming and crofting


• The relationship between ownership, use and management of land

• Continuing to explore the potential of catchment based approaches for managing land.

Land Reform Minister, Dr Aileen McLeod, said: "Land is a fundamental resource for the nation and we all benefit from a more integrated and strategic approach to land management. Land use is crucial to our economic prosperity as well as how we mitigate and adapt to climate change.

"With such a precious asset, it is hugely important for us to balance the growing demands on our land and make informed decisions about the way it is managed – Scotland's revised land use strategy provides the best framework for this.

"New legislation – the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 – demonstrate the dynamic nature of the debate on land in Scotland.

"Our new Land Use Strategy, 'Getting the best from our land', represents a bold and ambitious programme and I look forward to seeing its positive impact on land use in Scotland over the coming years."

To view the revised strategy, visit here.

(LM/JP)