Environment

The 2018 application window for the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) is now open.

The scheme supports environmentally-friendly land management practices that aim to safeguard and improve Scotland’s natural heritage and help businesses adapt to climate change.

The AECS 2018 application window opened today (17 January) and will run for 12 weeks until 13 April 2018. The deadline for applications for collaborative projects which involve five or more businesses is 31 May 2018.

A Changing Landscape - Making the Most of Our Natural Assets

A key reason for reason for much of South West Scotland having been designated as the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere is its long history of agriculture and forestry which has shaped our landscapes, our biodiversity, our local economy and our local communities.

With changes on the horizon leading to increased pressures for afforestation, particularly of commercial monoculture, the intensification of livestock farming in our lowlands and the threat to the sustainability of hill and upland farming from Brexit, the makeup of the region is going to change.

Over 800 projects in Scotland are to benefit from funding from the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme to encourage environmentally-friendly land management practices.

AECS 2017 has awarded £47.7 million to 801 projects over the next five years to protect and enhance Scotland’s natural heritage, improve water quality, manage flood risk, and help agricultural businesses adapt to climate change.

Announcing the award, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:

A new fund will support young people who have an idea to promote Scotland's amazing natural environment in 2018.

The Future Routes fund has been created by Scottish Natural Heritage, YoungScot and ReRoute as part of the Year of Young People 2018. The fund is open to individuals and groups of young people from across Scotland aged 11-26.

A new campaign has been launched today urging the public and waste industry to speak up anonymously about illegal waste dumping.

Large quantities of waste are being dumped in warehouses and farm buildings in Scotland. The illegal dumping is a danger to life and health, damages the local environment, disrupts the lives of residents and rural communities and costs the economy.

The finalists for the 2018 Scottish Rural Awards have been announced.

The Scottish Rural Awards, partnered by Scottish Field magazine and the Scottish Countryside Alliance, celebrate the industry, innovation, dedication and community spirit of those who live and work in the countryside.

Finalists have been announced for the following eleven award categories:

Emilie Lindbladh from Angus LEADER/European Maritime and Fisheries Fund tells us about the Arbroath Litter Summit which took place on 13 November 2017 in Arbroath.

The community group East Haven Together launched Scotland’s first community-led litter summit on 13 November, fully funded by LEADER. They provided a powerful voice for members of the public involved in clean up initiatives throughout the county. The event brought together representatives from across the Angus community.

Winners of the 2017 Nature of Scotland Awards include Scotland's first-ever snorkel trail, a community garden and a project tackling plastic pollution.

Find out about the recent European Rural Parliament event held in Venhorst, Netherlands in this event report from Scottish Rural Action.

The village of Venhorst in Noord-Brabant did not exist until the early 20th. century when the municipality sold seven hectare plots to families wanting to settle and make a living. The nearest school was an hour’s journey away.

You can now view five paths within Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park on Google Maps.

Some of the most popular paths in the National Park have been filmed by staff and volunteers using equipment from Google so that members of the public can see the terrain before visiting.

The paths which feature on the site are:

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