Beyond community benefit – a new deal for thriving communities
This paper proposes a transformational system of new community partnership agreements to ensure community priorities are included from the earliest stage of new economic developments.
New project launches to ensure communities benefit from natural capital investment
A new initiative is launching to ensure more people can benefit from the investments being made in natural capital across Scotland.
The project will broker partnerships between local communities, landowners, and nature finance developers.
Led by Community Land Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Land Commission, the Natural Capital Partnerships Project will help deliver Government expectations that communities are involved in decisions about – and benefit from – Scotland’s land.
With investment in land for natural capital developments growing rapidly, there is a need to ensure that communities are meaningfully engaged, that they receive an equitable share of the benefits and that the risk of them being sidelined is minimised.
The Natural Capital Partnerships Project aims to establish fair and practical examples of projects where communities, developers, and landowners work together to share in the benefits of natural capital investment.
Team members based around Scotland
We will start recruiting two new team members in November to lead this work, with two additional hires planned for Spring. Team members will be based across the Scottish mainland and islands, working hands-on with landowners, investors and communities to build partnerships and create inclusive project models.
This is an ideal opportunity for candidates with backgrounds in sustainable development, or nature-based solutions and investment, or land management or community development, to make a lasting impact on Scotland’s natural capital landscape.
The project is funded with the support of Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Foundation Scotland, Scottish Forestry, South of Scotland Enterprise and others.
Other project supporters include the Scottish Land Commission, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Cairngorm National Park Authority and Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
Natural Capital News
The Credibility Gap for Green Finance
This research and analysis critiques the ‘green finance gap’. Written by Jon Hollingdale, an independent forestry and land use consultant and researcher, who has worked in Scottish community forestry since 1999.