The Scottish Government’s attempts to boost land capacity have started to make an impact.

That was the finding of the first progress statement from the Land Use Strategy, published today at an event at Scottish Natural Heritage in Battleby, Perth.

The vision of the exercise is for “a Scotland where we fully recognise, understand and value the importance of our land resources, and where our plans and decisions about land use deliver improved and enduring benefits, enhancing the wellbeing of our nation”.

Objectives laid out for this ultimate goal include the “responsible stewardship” of natural resources, increased connection between people and the land, and businesses working with nature “to contribute more to Scotland's prosperity”.

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The Strategy was announced in March last year with the aim of “integrating” land use in Scotland, taking the needs of various users into account.

In the year since, a land use information hub has been created on Scotland’s Environment web.

A Scottish Government spokesman said it was “a valuable central point for land use, environmental information and accessing resources”.

Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson welcomed the publication, saying: “Many decision-makers, land managers and others are now working together and focused on common goals, which the progress report shows is already having a very positive impact. I look forward to seeing even more progress being made in the year ahead as further milestones are met.”

To view the progress statement, click here.

(NE/GK)