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Natural resource governance: Lessons for Scottish land reform

Land is our most valuable natural resource. But the way we use and value land is changing as we meet the twin challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, whilst supporting our vital farming and forestry sectors. We see this change in the rise of natural capital markets and rapid development in the renewables sector, raising questions about how different interests can be balanced to meet our needs and ambitions. In this critical time, it is essential to understand how land ownership, use, and management can deliver wide public, community, and private value.

Research by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) for the Commission looked at various governance models in Scotland and abroad, offering valuable lessons for land governance. The six case studies included a range of governance models from Europe, showing different scales and types of natural resources, including public ownership, shared ownership, charities, and sovereign wealth funds.

Underpinning all these models, the research highlighted six key principles as crucial to success:

  • Clear organisational purpose
  • Future proofing for long-term sustainability
  • Creative use of legal and policy tools
  • Transparency to build trust
  • Internal democracy for accountability
  • Local voice to represent community interests

In addition, two clear themes emerged which echo previous Commission research:

  • The vital role municipal government plays in supporting vibrant governance structures.
  • Direct involvement of communities and public interests in the governance of natural resources helps to create and maintain public and community value, going beyond simplistic benefit-sharing contracts between parties.

This research highlights the need for innovative and responsive approaches in Scotland to foster genuine collaboration between private, public, and community interests, particularly as pressures on natural resources and markets evolve. Collaborative governance, built on the six principles above, will be crucial for managing the complexities of changing land use, ensuring that benefits and risks are shared fairly.

The Commission intends to build on this work by providing practical insights into collaborative governance and sharing examples of best practices – but there is no need to wait. The opportunities are there to be grasped now, use this research to inform innovative governance, and share the experience.

Natural resource governance publications