The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE)

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Inquiries / Scotland's Hill and Island Areas

The final report was launched on 8 September 2008

Click here to view video of Report launch. Professor Gavin McCrone.

Click here to read summary report (PDF 591KB)

Click here to read full report (PDF 4MB)

Remit / Membership / Evidence / Time scale / Funding / Contact Us / Press Releases / Submissions Received

There are many issues affecting Scotland’s hill and island areas which give rise to uncertainties about the well-being of the communities, maintenance of environmental quality and prospects for economic development.

Major challenges and opportunities are taking place, especially to agricultural support as the CAP is reformed, but also with proposed major expansion in forestry and the opportunities for recreation and tourism. Greater recognition is also being made of the natural resources of these areas and the contribution that their wise stewardship can make, especially in terms of renewable energy and wildlife management.

These issues affect not only the Highlands and Islands but the whole of the Scottish uplands, including the Grampians and the Southern Uplands and will have implications for the environment, management of the landscape, the economy and the communities themselves.

This RSE Inquiry will, therefore, seek to make a contribution in helping secure a prosperous and environmentally sustainable future for these areas and the people who live there.

The remit of the Inquiry was to:

Identify the main drivers of change in upland and island areas of Scotland, including:
-	changes to European agricultural and regional development funding;
-	European and International instruments on biodiversity;
-	trends in tourism, forestry and recreational pursuits;
-	demography; and
-	Scottish and UK Government legislation and policy.
Identify the attributes of social, cultural, environmental and economic value in Scotland’s hill and island areas.
Consider how a change in agriculture may affect the economies of these areas and what scope there is for alternative sources of income and employment.
Consider the impact of changes to land use and ownership on the landscape, environment, housing and communities of these areas.
Review some of the implications of climate change for Scotland’s hill and island areas.
Recommend policies, financial instruments and institutional arrangements to encourage new patterns of enterprise, and to facilitate community initiatives, in these areas.

Time-scale

Report launched - 8 September 2008.

Membership

Professor Gavin McCrone will Chair the Committee. Full membership of the group is as follows:

Professor Gavin McCrone CB, FRSE, (Chairman). Former RSE Vice-President

Professor Jeff Maxwell FRSE, (Vice Chairman). Former Director Macaulay Land Use Research Institute; Chair of the Tenant Farming Forum (Scotland).

Professor Roger Crofts CBE, FRSE (Secretary). Independent Environment and Management Adviser; Non-Executive Director, Scottish Agricultural College; Honorary Professor of Geography, University of Aberdeen; Former Chief Executive, Scottish Natural Heritage.

Dr Andrew Barbour. Forestry manager, Atholl Estates; Vice Chairman, Deer Commission for Scotland; Member, Forestry Commission , Perth and Kinross Forestry Forum and their Regional Advisory Committee; Farmer at Fincastle.

Professor Nicholas Hanley. Professor of Environmental Economics, University of Stirling.

Professor James Hunter CBE FRSE. Former Chairman Highlands and Islands Enterprise; Director University of the Highlands and Islands Centre for History; Board Member Scottish Natural Heritage.

Barbara Kelly CBE, DL. Partner in a farming enterprise in Dumfriesshire; Convener Millennium Forest for Scotland Trust; Governor Crichton Foundation; President Southern Uplands Partnership.

Professor Karl Linklater FRAgS, FIBiol, FRCVS, FRSE. Former Principal and Chief Executive of the Scottish Agricultural College; Past President of the British Veterinary Association.

Mr Drew Ratter. Highlands and Islands Enterprise Board member; Chairman of the Crofter's Commission; Member Scottish Consumers' Council; crofter in Shetland; former Shetland Islands Councillor.

Professor Derek Reid. Chairman Harris Tweed Textiles; Visiting Professor of Tourism, University of Abertay; former Chief Executive, Scottish Tourist Board.

Professor Bill Slee. Economist at Macaulay Land Use Research Institute .

Oral & Written Evidence

In order to inform the work of the Inquiry, the Committee invited organisations and individuals with relevant experience to send in their views on some, or all, of the following issues.

1	What would you perceive to be the main drivers of change and sources of income generation in upland and island areas of Scotland?
2	What are the attributes of social, cultural and economic value in Scotland’s hill and island areas?
3	How will changes in agriculture, forestry and tourism affect the economies of these areas and what scope is there for alternative sources of income and employment?
4	What are the impacts of changes to land use and ownership on the landscape, environment and communities of these areas?
5	What are the implications of climate change on agriculture/communities in Scotland’s hill and island areas?
7	What are the regional variations in opportunities and disadvantage and how can these be accounted for in policies and support structures at the Scottish level?

Funding

The Society sought funding from a broad range of individuals and private and charitable bodies to cover the cost of running the Inquiry. The RSE is most grateful to its Inquiry Committee Members who gave their time and expertise voluntarily. Current donors to the inquiry are:

Argyll and Bute Council

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council)

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Highland Council

Orkney Islands Council

Perth & Kinross Council

The Lisbet Rausing Trust

The MacRobert Trust

Robertson Trust

Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland

Shetland Islands Council

Scottish Enterprise Rural Group