Publication - Consultation paper

Supporting Scotland's Transition - Land Use and Agriculture: Technical Supporting Document

Published: 6 August 2025
From: Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, +1 more … Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate, +1 more … Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic: Children and families, Communities and third sector, Constitution and democracy, +11 more … Economy, Education, Energy, Environment and climate change, Equality and rights, Farming and rural, Health and social care, Housing, Programme for Government, Transport, Work and skills
ISBN: 9781836919896

This document provides additional context to the consultation on a draft Land use and Agriculture Just Transition Plan. The Plan sets out how we are working towards achieving Scotland’s Net Zero ambitions in a fair and just way for people and communities working in or with our land-based industries.

Closed
This consultation closed 5 October 2025.

Supporting documents

Footnotes

1 Scottish Government calculations based on multiple data sources

2 Rural Scotland Key Facts 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

3 2023 Islands & Rural Insights Report from SRUC (nisrie.scot)

4 Results from the Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2024 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

5 Scottish Government: provided by Rural Payments and Inspections (RPID) in 2024

6 Results from the Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2024 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

7 Scotch Whisky Cereals Technical Note: 4th Edition | Scotch Whisky Association (scotch-whisky.org.uk)

8 1 Context and Structure - Hill, Upland and Crofting Farmer-led Group: climate change evidence - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

9 Forestry Facts & Figures 2024

10 Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019-2029

11 Scotland’s National Peatland Plan: Working for our future | NatureScot (Accessed 25/11/2024.)

12 Restoring Scotland's Peatlands | NatureScot (Accessed 25/11/2024)

13 Our marine sector in an independent Scotland - Paper 8 (www.gov.scot)

14 Coast and seas | NatureScot

15 Lochs, rivers and wetlands | NatureScot

16 Our marine sector in an independent Scotland - Paper 8

17 For details about how ‘rural Scotland’ is defined, you can visit the Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification 2022 webpage

18 4. Conclusions - Rural Scotland Data Dashboard: Overview - gov.scot

19 2023 Islands & Rural Insights Report from SRUC (nisrie.scot)

20 Scotland's Census 2022 - Rounded population estimates | Scotland's Census

21 Rural Scotland Key Facts 2021 (www.gov.scot)

22 Mid-2021 Small Area Population Estimates, Scotland: Report

23 In 2011, the definition of islands was not the same as the definition used in the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 Search | Scotland’s Census (scotlandscensus.gov.uk). The 2011 definition includes islands located in fresh water bodies whilst the 2018 definition only includes islands surrounded on all sides by the sea.

24 There are some areas with a high level of population growth, for example the Orkney Islands. See: Population Projections for Scottish Areas 2018-based - National Records of Scotland (NRS) compiled by RESAS classification of local authorities.

25 NRS Small Area Population Estimates (2022)

26 1. Introduction - Rural Scotland Data Dashboard: Overview - gov.scot

27 Population Projections for Scottish Areas 2018-based - National Records of Scotland (NRS)

28 Regional gross value added (balanced) by industry A and BDE: Scottish Government (SG): Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) classification for the rural economy, 1998 to 2021 - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

29 Scottish household survey 2019: annual report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

30 Rural Scotland Data Dashboard - Infogram

31 Scotland's Labour Market: People, Places, and Regions - Statistics from the Annual Population Survey 2019 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

32 skills-action-plan-for-rural-scotland-full-report.pdf (skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk)

33 National Islands Plan Survey: final report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

34 Supporting documents - Businesses in Scotland: 2022 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

35 Rural Scotland Data Dashboard: Overview (www.gov.scot)

36 Rural Scotland Key Facts 2021 (www.gov.scot)

37 Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

38 Results from the Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2024 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

39 Results from the Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2024 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

40 Scottish Forestry - Forestry's economic contribution (accessed November 2024)

41 Scotland's Marine Economic Statistics 2021 (www.gov.scot)

42 4. Direct Economic Activity - Aquaculture sector - wider economic impacts: estimates - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

43 green-jobs-in-scotland-report_final-4.pdf (skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk)

44 The authors of this report suggest these figures should be interpreted with a degree of caution as using the SOC2020 4-digit level, current LFS data does not provide sufficient detail of the specific economic activity – green or non-green – of many of the jobs included.

45 rural+deprivation+evidence+review.pdf (www.gov.scot)

46 3. Main Findings - Scottish Islands Survey 2023: main findings report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

47 Summary statistics for follow-up leaver destinations, no. 5: 2023 edition - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

48 The Modern Apprenticeship (MA) programme provides people aged 16 and over the opportunity to secure industry-recognised qualifications while earning a wage.

49 Modern Apprenticeships statistics - Skills Development Scotland

50 Commission for the Land-Based Learning Review Report to Scottish Ministers (www.gov.scot)

51 Commission for the Land-Based Learning Review Report to Scottish Ministers (www.gov.scot)

52 National Islands Plan Survey Final Report (www.gov.scot)

53 Rural Scotland Business Panel Survey October 2022 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

54 Total Income from Farming 2018-20 (www.gov.scot)

55 Results from the Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2024 - gov.scot

56 Results from the Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2024 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

57 Section 5 - Food and Drink Industry Overview - Local Food for Everyone: Our Journey - gov.scot

58 Scottish farm business income: annual estimates 2023-2024 - gov.scot

59 Scottish farm business income: annual estimates 2023-2024 - gov.scot

60 Scottish farm business income: annual estimates 2023-2024 - gov.scot

61 Scottish farm business income: annual estimates 2023-2024 - gov.scot

62 Facts & Figures | Crofting Commission

63 Crofting Commission Annual Report and Accounts

64 Economic Condition of Crofting 2019-2022 (www.gov.scot)

65 Executive Summary - Economic conditions of crofting: survey 2019 to 2022 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

66 Scottish Forestry - Forestry's economic contribution (accessed November 2024)

67 Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019-2029 (www.gov.scot)

68 Aquaculture - Scotland's Marine Economic Statistics 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

69 Scotland's National Strategy for Economic Transformation: Evidence Paper (www.gov.scot)

70 National Islands Plan Survey: final report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

71 Record renewable energy output - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

72 trends-rural-scotland-2025-working-paper.pdf

73 Natural capital - importance to the Scottish economy: research - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

74Scottish Greenhouse Gas Statistics 2022 - gov.scot

75 2 Evidence base - Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill: supporting evidence and analysis - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

76 Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill – Supporting Evidence and Analysis

77 Developing a method to estimate the costs of soil erosion in high-risk Scottish catchments: final report - gov.scot

78 Committee on Climate Change - UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017 Synthesis Report - July 2016 (theccc.org.uk)

79 Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019-2029 (www.gov.scot)

80 Scottish Greenhouse Gas Statistics 2021 (www.gov.scot)

81 The WrEN Project – a large scale natural experiment

82 Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019-2029 (www.gov.scot)

83 Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019-2029

84 Adaptation Measures - Forest Research

85 Scottish Forestry - Resilient forests

86 Scotland’s National Peatland Plan: Working for our future | NatureScot

87 Scotland’s National Peatland Plan: Working for our future | NatureScot

88 Scotland’s National Peatland Plan: Working for our future | NatureScot

89 scotlands-third-land-use-strategy-2021-2026-getting-best-land.pdf (www.gov.scot)

90 Ecosystem services - nature’s benefits | NatureScot

91 State-of-nature-Report-2019-Scotland-full-report.pdf

92 Biodiversity Intactness Index data | Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk)

93 Natural Capital Asset Index | NatureScot

94 State-of-nature-Report-2019-Scotland-full-report.pdf

95 30 by 30 explained | NatureScot

96 The Proportion of Scotland's Protected Sites in Favourable Condition 2023 | NatureScot

97 Natura 2000 - Biodiversity - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

98 Sites of Special Scientific Interest - Biodiversity - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

99 Ramsar sites and nature reserves - Biodiversity - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

100 Services and Lifestyle - Rural Scotland Key Facts 2021 - gov.scot

101 Rural Scotland Key Facts 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

102 The cost of remoteness - reflecting higher living costs in remote rural Scotland when measuring fuel poverty: research report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

103 Scottish household survey 2019: annual report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

104 Microsoft Word - Transport Poverty in Scotland v1.0 FINAL (sustrans.org.uk)

105 Scottish household survey 2019: annual report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

106 National Islands Plan Survey: final report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

107 Rural Scotland Key Facts 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

108 Supporting documents - Scottish Household Survey 2021 - telephone survey: key findings - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

109 Baseline data report - June 2022 - Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme | Transport Scotland

110 National Islands Plan Survey: final report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

111 Scottish Islands Survey (2023) Main Findings Report (www.gov.scot)

112 National Islands Plan Survey: final report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

113 National Islands Plan Survey: final report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

114 3.0 Abattoir Infrastructure In Scotland - Mobile abattoirs - viability and sustainability: report - gov.scot

115 Forest Research: Forestry Statistics 2022

116 Note: Ofcom defines a rural area as having a population of 2,000 or less

117 Connected Nations Scotland report 2024

118 Connected Nations Scotland report 2024

119 Connected Nations 2023 - Scotland report (ofcom.org.uk)

120 Scotland's National Strategy for Economic Transformation: Evidence Paper (www.gov.scot)

121 Highlights - Rural Scotland Data Dashboard: Overview - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

122 Households and Dwellings in Scotland, 2023 - National Records of Scotland (NRS)

123 6 Housing - Scottish islands: data overview 2023 - gov.scot

124 Rural Scotland Data Dashboard - Infogram

125 Scottish Islands Survey (2023) Main Findings Report (www.gov.scot)

126 National Islands Plan Survey: final report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

127 2023 Islands & Rural Insights Report from SRUC (nisrie.scot)

128 Properties sold in rural areas are likely to have a different underlying profile of size and type. For example, houses are on average 38% larger in rural areas. See: Scottish House Condition Survey: 2021 Key Findings (www.gov.scot)

129 Registers of Scotland Property Market Report 2023

130 Housing statistics quarterly update: new housebuilding and affordable housing supply - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

131 rural+deprivation+evidence+review.pdf (www.gov.scot)

132 Scottish house condition survey: 2019 key findings - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

133 3. Challenges - Rural Scotland Data Dashboard: Overview - gov.scot

134 People and Communities - Rural Scotland Key Facts 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

135 Wider socio-economic context - Just transition in land use and agriculture: a discussion paper - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

136 scottish-islands-survey-2023-comparing-perceptions-island-life-2020-2023.pdf

137 Scottish Household Survey 2021 - telephone survey: key findings - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

138 National Islands Plan Survey: final report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

139 Life Expectancy in Scotland 2021-2023 - National Records of Scotland (NRS)

140 Healthy life expectancy is an estimate of lifetime spent in "very good" or "good" health, based on

how individuals perceive their general health.

141 Healthy Life Expectancy 2019-2021 - National Records of Scotland (NRS)

142 Health and Wellbeing Census Scotland 2021- 2022 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

143 Health and Care Experience Survey 2021 to 2022: national results - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

144 Health and Care Experience Survey 2021 to 2022: national results - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

145 General Practice - GP Workforce and practice list sizes 2012 - 2022 - General Practice - GP workforce and practice list sizes - Publications - Public Health Scotland

146 Scottish Household Survey 2021 - telephone survey: key findings - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

147 National Islands Plan Survey Final Report (www.gov.scot)

148 Rural Scotland Key Facts 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

149 Early learning and childcare - parents' views and use: survey findings 2022 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

150 Rural Scotland Key Facts 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

151 Economic Condition of Crofting 2019-2022 (www.gov.scot)

152 3. Main Findings - Scottish Islands Survey 2023: main findings report - gov.scot

153 4 Explaining differences - The cost of remoteness - reflecting higher living costs in remote rural Scotland when measuring fuel poverty: research report - gov.scot

154 Improving our understanding of child poverty in rural and island Scotland: research - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

155 Poverty and income inequality statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

156 National Islands Plan Survey Final Report

157 National Islands Plan Survey: final report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

158 Rural Scotland Key Facts 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

159 The National Plan for Scotland's Islands - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

160 National Islands Plan Survey: final report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

161 Women in Agriculture Taskforce: summary report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

162 Land reform in a Net Zero Nation: consultation paper - gov.scot

163 The effects associated with concentrated and large-scale land ownership in Scotland: a research review (Glass et al 2019) available at: 5dd7d807b8768_Research-Review-Concentrated-ownership-final-20190320.pdf (landcommission.gov.scot)

164 Hunter, J., Peacock, P., Wightman, A. and Foxley, M. 2014. 432:50 – Towards a comprehensive land reform agenda for Scotland. A Briefing Paper for the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee.

165 Microsoft Word - The Contribution of Scotland's rural estates to building a wellbeing economy - final report - 22Sep22.docx (scottishlandandestates.co.uk)

166 June Agricultural Census 2021

167 Crofting Commission Annual Report and Accounts

168 Community Ownership in Scotland 2022