Scotland's Fourth Land Use Strategy: 2026-2031

1. Introduction: Our Land

Land use has often been viewed through the lens of individual sectors that contribute to our economy, like agriculture and forestry.

Through Scotland’s third Land Use Strategy we sought to move this conversation away from ‘sectors’ and on to the integrated nature of land.

Through this fourth strategy and beyond we will further develop our understanding of our land and the benefits and need for integration.

As a government we are committed to putting Scotland’s land, environment, and natural capital at the heart of what we do. It is one of our greatest national assets and is fundamental to our economy, environment, and our wellbeing as a nation.

It is the foundation for our livestock, arable, dairy and fruit and vegetables producers to provide much of the food and drink we eat, it supports the renewable power we use to heat our homes, the timber and land to build them and it supports both our rural and urban communities.

It is the basis for the ecosystems* that we rely on for the air we breathe and the water we drink.

That is why we must take a holistic systems approach to enable us to balance the multiple demands that are placed upon it in a way that protects and enhances the health of our land and supports our just transition to a net zero, nature positive economy.

In 2022, Scotland’s ecosystem services were estimated to be worth £5.9 billion (excluding oil and gas). Industries reliant on natural capital support around £40 billion of economic output annually, or around 14% of Scotland’s economy, and at the minimum around 260,000 jobs, directly and indirectly.

Ecosystem Services

*Ecosystem services are typically grouped into four broad categories:

Provisioning services

Physical things we can take from the environment such as food, water, and timber.

Regulating services

Ensuring we have an environment fit to live in through services like natural flood protection and air filtration.

Cultural services

The benefits we get from the environment that are perceived by us, such as aesthetic beauty and recreational benefits.

Supporting services

The processes that ensure that ecosystems are healthy and can continue to supply the benefits above in the long term, for example pollination of crops and wild plants or the creation of healthy soil.

1.1 The changing context of land

Part of the solution

Scotland’s land provides one of our biggest opportunities to support the delivery of our climate and nature positive ambitions.

As Scotland transitions, we will need to continue to produce our food in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible, whilst recognising the natural constraints on what we can produce. We will also have to restore and enhance important habitats.

In realising these ambitions, we must identify opportunities for nature-based solutions like the further integration of trees on farms or the restoration of degraded peatlands as they can be pivotal in mitigating climate change whilst restoring nature.

This integrated approach will be key as the UK National Ecosystem Assessment also highlights that since the 1950s, changes in Scotland’s natural environment have led to a decline in the overall benefits derived from nature.

This means it is vital we act in an integrated, inclusive, and collaborative way. We will look at new approaches including the role of both public and private investment, to ensure we can optimise the impact we have.

It is also at risk

It is clear that we are now experiencing extreme weather events more often.

Temperatures in February and March have risen, by up to 2°C, while other months have seen an average increase of around 1°C (Rivington and Jabloun 2022). Nine out of ten of our hottest years have all come in the 21st century.

We have seen severe flooding and intense rainfall that damages homes and livelihoods, as well as putting increasing pressure on our public services.

We have also seen recent instances and increasing risk of water scarcity, affecting our food producers, households, and nature. Future projections suggest a more volatile climate with increased variation in conditions each year.

Climate change is the biggest challenge to Scotland’s landscapes, wildlife, and habitats. At the same time, land can play a big role in supporting our climate resilience.

This will involve bringing together interested actors working at a landscape scale where there is often most opportunity to deliver real and lasting benefits.

Collaboration and integration across land, rather than working in isolation, means we can achieve greater success across all our ambitions.

1.2 Scotland’s Fourth Land Use Strategy and the next steps

This fourth strategy is different in scope and tone from its predecessors.

Through our engagement and consultation, individuals, communities, and stakeholders have told us they want to see an active Land Use Strategy. That is, a strategy that can help to energise and guide collective action on integrated land use.

In the context of land use, integration simply means taking a holistic view of the land - combining two or more activities on the same area, where applicable, in a way that enhances the overall benefits.

Consideration must also be given to the range of associated infrastructure needs that come with them. In addition to this, other external factors influence land use and must factor into discussions such as:

• global events affecting food security
• market forces driving land use change
• changes in land ownership
• indirect pressures, such as the demand for open market housing

As Scotland moves through its just transition to a nature positive economy by 2045, it will become increasingly vital to understand how and where these diverse needs and ambitions can and could be integrated within the country’s finite land bank.

This has been reflected in our approach to this strategy, its vision, shared outcomes, and objective, as we promote alignment across a wide range of policy areas and drive forward integrated land use.

Our engagement and consultation also told us we need to shift our intended primary audience to engage with policy makers and regulators and follow through with the proposed two-phase approach to the delivery of the strategy.

This document sets out our new strategic direction, shared outcomes, and objective. It draws together other key strategies and plans, and articulates how these interact in the wider policy context. It also includes examples of the policy actions already underway in support of the long-term vision and shared outcomes.

This Strategy will have an active lifespan, as we take steps in the following key objective areas identified by stakeholders during consultation:

• Mapping and data: working with stakeholders to enhance the understanding of the extent of competing priorities and spatial trade-offs; and looking at how changes in land use can be delivered in a way that provides multiple benefits
• Finance, policy and incentives: working with stakeholders to explore the foundational factors that influence land managers’ decisions and how they do, or could align, to support integrated practices
• Communication, skills, and education: working with stakeholders to further understand and articulate the wider multiple demands on land use, the actions needed and the rationale behind them, and support the skills and educational needs of those involved throughout the transition.
• Regional/ local approaches to delivery: working with stakeholders and rural communities to drive and support discussions about integrated land use at regional and/or catchment scales

We will build on the positive actions such as:

• the establishment of Whole Farm Plans
• the passing of the Land Reform Act 2025
• our support of the Integrating Trees Network
• our work implementing the recommendations of the Land-based Learning Review
• the ongoing work in the development of Regional Land Use Partnerships

Action Point

Within 12 months of publication of this strategic document, we will:

• publish a delivery plan based on the objective areas identified through consultation – mapping and data; finance, policy and incentives; communication, skills and education; and regional/ local approaches to delivery
• publish a refreshed set of land use principles to support the embedding of integrated and resilient land use across all relevant areas