Communities and businesses across Central Scotland are to benefit from proposed changed to Europe's largest green space project.

The Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) was created by Ministers in 2009 and has assisted in transforming the environment of the area for people, the economy and nature.

Now, following a review, the Central Scotland Forest Trust, which currently supports the project, will undergo a number of changes and become the 'CSGN Trust'.

The Scottish Government will now coordinate government involvement in the scheme and support of the Trust, to help embed the cross-cutting project within relevant Scottish Government policies and programmes.

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As a result of the amendments, the new CSGN Trust will have increased capacity to:

• Coordinate action by partners to deliver improvements on the ground
• Communicate the benefits of the Green Network and secure the necessary resources and commitment to deliver the CSGN vision
• Support regional and local partners to develop appropriate projects such as greening vacant and derelict land, improving path networks and habitat restoration projects.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: "The Central Scotland Green Network is a 40 year initiative to transform Central Scotland into a better place to live and work.

"I have seen for myself the good progress that has been made in the first four years of the project and the changes announced today aim to build on the momentum gained to drive forward further improvements.

"These new arrangements will provide greater dedicated resource for local authorities and their partners, whilst also ensuring that support from the Scottish Government is more effectively coordinated."

(JP/CD)