Environment

Young people with a passion for climate and nature are being asked to come forward and help transform Scotland’s first National Park into a thriving, sustainable place for future generations.

The red-billed chough is clinging on in its last Scottish stronghold on the islands of Islay and Colonsay, with barely 50 pairs remaining.

Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards are back for 2024 after a wonderful celebration in 2023. And this year four key areas form the focus of the prestigious Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards – climate, community, forestry and farming.

Proposals to increase reuse and recycling and cut waste are being put forward as part of a consultation.

Reducing single-use, disposable items like cups, banning the destruction of unsold goods and promoting the reuse of construction materials are just some of the actions being suggested as part of the draft Circular Economy and Waste Route Map consultation.

A first-of-its-kind system in the UK is being trialled in Edinburgh to see if waste heat from a large computing facility can be stored in disused mine workings and used to warm homes.

Agroforestry and farm woodlands: Managing your trees

Treeline is a family-run forestry business based on a Pentland hill farm near West Linton in the Scottish Borders, who provide woodland management and contracting services as well as supplying high quality woodfuel and forestry machinery.     

Join them or a farm walk (followed by hot soup) to hear from farmer-foresters Gavin and Nick Marshall on topics including: 

FAS Connect Conference

The inaugural FAS Conference will be held on 31st January at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh. The conference will bring together members of the 45 FAS Connect groups from across Scotland. This event gives attendees the opportunity to take a step back from the day to day and look to the future. Panel sessions will form the basis of the day with a mixture of expert panellists and farmer speakers covering topics such as Global Outlook, Time and Technology and Carbon and Biodiversity.

Tight safeguards on XL Bully dogs are to be introduced in Scotland to make it a criminal offence to own the breed without an exemption certificate.

The legislation will mirror what has been introduced by the UK Government in England and Wales, and prevent Scotland from becoming a ‘dumping ground’ for this breed.

A bid to nominate Affric and Loch Ness as Scotland’s third national park has been launched, with organisers saying the area’s globally important natural and cultural heritage deserves protection and celebration. 

The partnership behind the proposal says the area of the Scottish Highlands is one of the world’s most beautiful places, and national park status would benefit current and future generations.

Pages