Forestry and Land Scotland consults on Draft Communities Strategy
Forestry and Land Scotland is inviting feedback from people across Scotland on how to further grow its work with communities across the country and make best use of Scotland’s national forest and land.
As Scotland’s largest land manager, we have a unique relationship with the many communities who live and work in and around Scotland’s national forests and land, as well as the many communities of interest who use these important natural resources.
We are developing a new Communities Strategy to help us achieve this. It sets out the principles and strategic priorities for our work with communities and, once finalised, will help us build an action plan. The Communities Strategy will sit alongside FLS’ Visitor Services Strategy, and will focus on how communities can get more involved in the decisions, management and use of the national forests and land.
We would like your input to the Strategy to ensure we have a robust structure to guide the development of the action plan, to increase the contribution of the national forests and land to building vibrant, sustainable, wealthier and resilient communities.
The consultation is open for 12 weeks and will close on 23 August 2022.
DRAFT COMMUNITIES STRATEGY (PDF)
The consultation will run for 12 weeks from 31 May and responses can be submitted online or via our Communities mailbox (fls.communities@forestryandland.gov.scot). You can also let us know if you are interested in being involved in future workshops to develop the action plan.
FLS engages communities on decisions about how it manages the national forests through its land management plans and in a wide range of projects and activities – from staging events or facilitating community volunteering, to developing community renewables schemes or leasing or selling land through its pioneering Community Asset Transfer Scheme.
FLS is now looking for feedback on how to increase the levels of community involvement to help deliver the objectives of local communities alongside its own.
In launching the consultation, Environment and Land Reform Minister, Mairi McAllan, said;
“As Scotland’s largest land manager FLS makes a unique contribution towards biodiversity restoration and towards achieving Net Zero. But it also has a unique relationship with the many communities that live and work in and around Scotland’s national forests and land, as well as the many communities who use this important natural resource.
“FLS is now looking to build on its track record and help ensure more people engage with their work and help shape the forests and land around them.
“This is a great opportunity for people to comment on what is working well, what can be done better and what challenges and barriers need to be overcome so that more communities’ ambitions can be realised.”.