Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation

Overview

Scotland has a proud history of land reform going back to the early days of devolution. We are committed to bringing forward a new Land Reform Bill in this parliamentary session. Over the summer, we are undertaking a wide-ranging consultation on our proposals for the measures it should contain.

The Bill will be ambitious. It will address long-standing concerns about the highly concentrated pattern of land ownership in rural areas of Scotland.  At the same time, we want to ensure that our land is owned, managed, and used in ways that rise to the challenges of today: net zero, nature restoration, and a just transition.

To bring about a just transition we need to have a framework of law and policy that ensures communities can make the most of these opportunities. This means that not only must we address questions of who owns land, who uses it, and how it is managed, we must also consider the issue of who is benefitting from land, and from investment in it.

We are very fortunate to have great potential in Scotland’s natural world to sequester carbon and to support biodiversity, for example through woodland creation, peatland restoration, energy generation, blue carbon and many other initiatives. These initiatives will help us reach net zero but they also represent a real opportunity for our rural communities, for investment and for good green jobs and industries of the future.

Land is a vital resource that underpins the wealth, and the well-being, of the nation as a whole. We’ve come a long way on the ‘land question’ – but the journey continues.

You can hear from the Minister for Environment and Land Reform about whats in the consultation and why it is needed in this short video. 

Read the consultation paper 

Read the Gaelic translation of the consultation paper and respondent information form

As well as publishing this consultation paper, we have organised a series of public meetings where the Minister for Environment and Land Reform, along with government officials, will present the proposals for the Bill. All are welcome to come along to ask questions, raise issues, and contribute to the discussion. Please click on the link below for more details and to book your place. 

Why your views matter

The next Land Reform Bill will be an important part of a framework of law and policy that creates the conditions for a fairer, greener, wealthier Scotland. The measures put forward in this consultation document align with the priorities for the economy, the environment, and society that are set out in our Programme for Government.

We seek consensus as to reforms that will be in the best interests of the country as a whole, striking a balance between rights and responsibilities, respecting the diverse interests and aspirations of all those with an interest in Scotland’s land. To achieve this we need to hear a wide range of views.