Land Rights and Responsibilities Protocols

Our series of protocols around the Scottish Government's Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement sets out practical advice on how land owners, land managers and communities can work together to make better – and fairer – decisions about land use.
 

Protocols

The protocols are intended to be used by everyone to improve the transparency, accountability and governance of our land:

 

Webinars

Our Good Practice Team hosted a four-part webinar series, Putting into Practice Land Rights and Responsibilities, introducing the key messages and practical expectations of each of the new protocols. These were recorded and are available for you to view on our YouTube channel. Click on the links below to open each webinar in a new page:

 

Telling us about your experience

If you have an enquiry about the protocols and how to use them, please contact us. We can provide information and support or signpost you to another organisation.

We are keen to hear of and share positive examples of good working relationships and welcome information about successful collaboration between landowners, land managers and local communities. These case studies can help tell other landowners, managers and community organisations about good practice. Get in touch with our Good Practice Team to share your stories, or to find out more on how you can improve your practices, at goodpractice@landcommission.gov.scot or 01463 423 300.

If you experience a situation which differs significantly from the expectations set out in this protocol, please contact us with details and supporting evidence where available. We encourage you to speak to the relevant landowner or community organisation to find a resolution first but we know that this is not always possible. If there is a relevant regulator you should also approach them. Where appropriate we will provide advice and work with you and the other parties involved, if applicable, to deal with any difficulties and help improve practice. Knowing what is happening in practice also helps influence the future development of policy, protocols and guidance.

Enquiries

Preferred method of communication

Land Rights and Responsibilities Protocols publications

  • Good Practice

Good Practice Casework and Enquiries

Casework Report (2020 - (2023)

1.59 MB

  • Good Practice
  • Governance & Ownership

Responsible Natural Capital and Carbon Management Protocol

This protocol sets out practical expectations for new and existing landowners, managers and investors to ensure that their approach to natural capital and carbon management recognises their responsibilities, as well as their rights, in relation to land and contributes to a just transition.

263.00 KB

  • Good Practice

Casework policy – how we handle cases

These principles set out where our Good Practice team can help and what is outside our remit.

195.08 KB

  • Good Practice

FAQs on Responsible Natural Capital and Carbon Management Protocol

247.07 KB

  • Good Practice

LRRS Self-Assessment Pilot Programme 2020-21 Overview Report

The overview report from the LRRS Self-Assessment Pilot Programme 2020-21

800.56 KB

  • Good Practice

LRRS Self-Assessment Pilot Programme Report - Outputs, learning & evaluation 2020-21

The report on the outputs, learning and evaluation from the LRRS Self-Assessment Pilot Programme Report 2020-21

1.98 MB

  • Good Practice

CLS LRRS Self-Assessment Report

Community Land Scotland (CLS)'s report from the LRRS Self-Assessment Pilot Project 2020-21

1.58 MB

  • Good Practice

SLE LRRS Self-Assessment Report

Scottish Land & Estates (SLE's) report from the LRRS Self-Assessment Pilot Project 2020-21

380.20 KB

  • Good Practice

NFUS LRRS Self-Assessment Report

National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS)'s report from the LRRS Self-Assessment Pilot Project 2020-21

812.65 KB

  • Good Practice

LRRS Review 2022 - Response to Scottish Government

The Scottish Land Commission's response to Scottish Government's 2022 review of the Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement.

497.84 KB

  • Good Practice
  • Governance & Ownership

A Protocol - Common Good Land

267.99 KB

  • Good Practice

A Protocol - Good Stewardship of Land

LRRS Protocol on Good Stewardship of Land

297.98 KB

  • Good Practice

A Protocol - Negotiating Transfer of Land to Communities

LRRS Protocol on Negotiating Transfer of Land to Communities

241.35 KB

  • Good Practice
  • Governance & Ownership

A Protocol - Diversification of Ownership and Tenure

LRRS Protocol on Diversification of Ownership and Tenure

709.35 KB

  • Good Practice
  • Governance & Ownership

A Protocol - Land Ownership by Private Trusts

294.01 KB

  • Good Practice
  • Governance & Ownership

A Protocol - Land Ownership by Charities

586.64 KB

  • Good Practice
  • Governance & Ownership

A Protocol - Transparency of Ownership and Decison-Making

367.27 KB

  • Good Practice

A Protocol - Community Engagement in Decisions Relating to Land

319.14 KB