A £100,000 fund will be set up to help Scotland's crofters map out the boundaries of their land and secure ownership for future generations.

Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham today announced that a discounted rate will be available to crofting groups who map out the boundaries of their land and submit them to the Registers of Scotland.

The creation of a new map-based register of crofts is among the proposals within the Crofting Reform Bill currently undergoing Parliamentary scrutiny. The register will provide crofters with greater certainty and confidence in their land and reduce disputes.

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Speaking to the Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs Committee, Ms Cunningham said: "The future of crofting, and with it communities in some of our most remote rural areas, is under threat.

"The Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill aims to tackle some of the key issues undermining this way of life and to ensure crofting can respond to the challenges of the 21st century.

"Time and time again we have been told that the lack of definitive croft boundaries and an official register of interests in croft land were major challenges.

"Therefore, we plan to introduce a crofting register to put an end to boundary disputes. To help achieve this, subsidies will be available to groups of 10 crofters or more who register at the same time."

IT is hoped the mapping will reduce conflict and create clarity on the extent of individual crofts and all rights associated with them.

(GK/BMcc)