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Land Use Partnerships using a natural capital approach: lessons for Scotland
Regional Land Use Partnerships (RLUPs) are being set up in Scotland to help achieve Scotland’s climate change targets through land use change and a natural capital approach. These partnerships facilitate engagement between local and national government, communities, landowners, land managers, and a range of other relevant stakeholders. Five RLUP pilots will produce a Regional Land Use Framework (RLUF) by 2023 using a natural capital approach which considers key natural assets and the benefits these provide to communities and the regional economy.
This project examines evidence from the UK and Europe for the use of the natural capital approach in successful partnerships, working across multiple sectors and landownership boundaries. It focuses on outcomes for climate change, biodiversity and benefits to local communities. It includes six case studies of partnerships which have incorporated elements of a natural capital approach.
Findings
Based on our analysis, a natural capital approach can help:
- build a balanced overview of the range of ecosystem services and benefits to communities and stakeholders that land and natural assets can provide;
- understanding of how different services may interact in response to projects and interventions, leading to multiple benefits or negative unintended consequences;
- contextualise and respond to the different priorities and interests of specific partners and stakeholders, helping pre-empt and manage conflicts of interest;
- act as a stimulus for local investment; and
- bring stakeholders together to co-produce plans that can meet multiple objectives.