This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Response to Custodians of Change
20/01/2003
The Executive's response to recommendations within the Custodians of Change report, which identifies priority environmental issues for Scottish agriculture for the next five to ten years. was published today.
Minister for Environment and Rural Development Ross Finnie said:
"Custodians of Change is a comprehensive and innovative report. It draws on the views of a wide range of rural stakeholder interests, and offers suggestions for a more inclusive and integrated approach to agriculture and the environment.
"The report, and our response, plans to help farmers make the most of their environmental assets in a way which will deliver improvements to the environment and the wider community.
"The Executive supports the three priority areas for action identified in the report: reducing the spread of pollution to water, biodiversity and habitat protection and landscape change.
"These priorities will be addressed in the context of the Executive's overall aim to develop policies to deliver sustainable land management, founded upon the principles of sustainable rural development."
Other developments outlined in today's response are:
- £450,000 for new experimental and modelling projects on climate change in keeping with the Executive's commitment to making an equitable contribution to delivering UK obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol
- The Executive is considering short-term pilot projects to assess the suitability of co-operative planning at a regional level as a way of delivering reduced diffuse pollution and enhanced biodiversity and landscape improvement in a specific area
- Publication of a consultation paper on possible improvements to the Rural Stewardship Scheme, which will include proposals for collaborative action to protect and enhance the agriculturally-managed environment
The Executive accepted action point 41 of A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture that a specialist working group should be set up to examine the environmental issues which will impact on farming and food processing over the next five to 10 years.
The Custodians of Change report was produced by the Agriculture and Environment Working Group (AEWG) in response to that action point. The Minister welcomed its publication at the 2002 Royal Highland Show, undertaking to consider the recommendations and provide a detailed response.
The Executive has set five key objectives as the longer-term response to the Custodians of Change Report.
- Develop and implement integrated agricultural and environmental policies
- Deliver policy and implement proven practical solutions on the farm to enhance the contribution that agriculture can make to the environment
- Facilitate and implement a regional focus in achieving environmental and agricultural objectives consistent with local sustainability objectives and priorities
- Provide an appropriate and proportionate advisory and training component as a means of achieving its objectives
- Commission a strategic programme of research that underpins the Executive's determination to tackle its priority environmental issues for agriculture
The Agricultural Strategy Implementation Group, which the Minister chairs, will publish an annual report on progress over the next few years.