Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) has confirmed the appointment of Alan Balfour as Chair of its accreditation scheme.

Mr Balfour owns Scourie Estate, a crofting estate in the North West Highlands that holds Level 2 WES accreditation. He is Chairman of the Scottish Salmon Education and Research Fund, Convenor of the West Sutherland Fisheries District Board and a member of Scottish Land & Estates’ Highland Committee, and brings extensive experience of managing rural enterprises.

WES is an internationally recognised, independently assessed scheme and forms part of the European 'Wildlife Estate' label.

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The programme recognises and promotes high standards of sustainable land management that deliver measurable and lasting benefits for Scotland’s natural heritage, the rural economy and local communities.

Scotland is regarded as a leader in sustainable land management and ranks second out of 19 countries by area of accredited land.

Mr Balfour takes over from Miles Montgomerie, who has served as Chair since 2023.

Alan Balfour, Chair of WES, said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as Chair of WES and look forward to working with members across Scotland. Miles Montgomerie has shown an outstanding commitment over the past three years and I hope to build on that momentum.

"The work that WES members undertake across the country is vital to help Scotland reach its national biodiversity targets and also makes a huge contribution to the rural economy, while supporting the Scottish government's strategies for integrated land use and biodiversity. WES stands out as a model of what's possible when landowners, government and communities pull in the same direction."