Scotland's Fourth Land Use Strategy: 2026-2031
Scotland’s Fourth Land Use Strategy sets out a new vision and objectives to support the development of integrated land use. The strategy covers the next five years and includes a commitment to publish a delivery plan and a refreshed set of land use principles.
Foreword
Scotland’s land is iconic, unique and the foundation of our life. It is vital to our economic, environmental and wellbeing ambitions for the nation. It provides the food we eat, supports employment, is home to our wildlife and gives us all green spaces to love and enjoy.
The first Land Use Strategy published in 2011, was the first of its kind in the world, and sent a clear message about the importance of land use. The vision, objectives, and principles which we set out in that strategy have helped start a conversation about the choices and decisions we need to make about how we use and manage our land.
The second Land Use Strategy (2016) maintained this framework and in addition set out 9 policies and 5 proposals across a range of areas such as agriculture, forestry, natural capital, and land reform. The second Strategy was swiftly followed by the Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement (LRRS) established through the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016.
The third strategy (2021) marked a significant shift, moving away from an approach focused on individual sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and nature to one focused on landscapes - to better reflect the integrated nature of land use.
Asks of our land continue to grow – for food and drink production, achieving net zero through renewable energy and natural capital investment, to providing space for housing, tourism, and recreation.
We continue to drive progress in areas such as Sustaining Scotland: Supplying the World: A strategy for Scotland’s food and drink industry; the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, the National Planning Framework 4, our Peatland ACTION 5 Year Partnership Plan, and Forestry Strategy.
The Land Use Strategy can play an effective role in considering together the key areas impacting our land and providing a clear vision for how to manage these demands.
Mitigating and adapting to climate change
Recently we published our draft Climate Change Plan – 2026-2040. Land use is a fundamental part of the plan. The plan sets out the policies and proposals that will be implemented to mitigate climate change, the opportunities and challenges of doing so, and the ways in which delivering the plan will build a more resilient and prosperous economy that is fit for the future.
We also know that our climate is already changing and our land will need to adapt to this. Through the Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029 we set out what we need to do to ensure that we adapt to climate change and the risks if we do not protect the land we have.
All of this means that we need to work together across many different areas. Through collaboration with farmers, landowners, managers and our wider rural communities and organisations, we must take a united and joined-up approach.
That is why I am pleased to deliver this fourth strategy which sets out our new vision, shared outcomes, and core objective to support and deliver an integrated and resilient approach to land use in Scotland.
Mairi Gougeon MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
Laid before the Scottish Parliament by the Scottish Ministers under section 57 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
March 2026
SG/2026/35
Contact
Email: lus4@gov.scot