Land reform is about more than just ownership

Land, and how it is governed, is of fundamental importance to people and communities in Scotland.

In just a few weeks the Scottish Government will set out details of a new Land Reform Bill which aims to deliver greater public benefits through a democratically accountable and transparent system of land rights that promotes fairness and social justice, environmental sustainability and economic prosperity.

We recently published the results of our land reform consultation analysis, where most proposals received overwhelming support from respondents. The analysis shows the level of public interest and support for land reform and how land works for the people of Scotland.

The forthcoming Bill will be underpinned by our view that the land and people who form part of a community are often its best and most valuable assets. Owning their land can help realise their aspirations and dreams, make a real difference to long-term sustainability, and build stronger, resilient and supportive communities.

Land reform is about much more than land ownership. Our plans for land reform are about modernising the rights and responsibilities around land, and reflect the values of this Government, including promoting fairness and social justice, environmental sustainability and economic prosperity.

Our vision is for a strong relationship between the people of Scotland and the land of Scotland, where ownership and use of the land delivers greater public benefits through a democratically accountable and transparent system of land rights.

Land makes a huge contribution to our economy. However, it also has an important role in addressing the challenges facing our communities, including tackling poverty and securing employment, addressing climate change and housing shortages, and providing energy and food.

We want to see a socially just society – one which ensures that people can access the resources they need to provide their families with a secure home, to engage in meaningful work and contribute to society. However, access to resources, including land, is very unevenly distributed across our society.

But land reform is not an attack on large land ownerships. We recognise the expertise and important role of land owners in managing land.  Neither is it about arbitrarily taking land away from land owners, or about growing the public sector.

It is about out how we work towards the kind of society we want to be in the next 50 years – a society that is fairer, more productive, healthier and more self-determined. Through the Land Reform Bill we want to remove barriers to communities’ sustainable development by encouraging greater collaboration between communities and land owners to ensure benefits are secured from land.

There has been worldwide interest in the human rights dimension of land reform and the work we are doing in Scotland is seen as progressive and important in modernising our approach to how land is governed to balance human rights.

As we go further into the 21st century we will continue to face increasing challenges of mitigating and adapting to climate change. Alongside this will be continuing demands on our land to provide homes, food, clean water and energy as well as benefits such as recreation and health. We will need flexibility and creativity to address future challenges and a willingness to try new models, to work in new ways and with new partners.

I believe that the proposals we intend to bring forward in the Bill will be good for the people and the environment in Scotland, by encouraging greater public interest and participation in land and helping communities reach their potential.   

Dr Aileen McLeod is Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform