Here you will find our response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on Scotland’s Fourth Land Use Strategy (closed 5th October 2025).

This response was developed by the Scotland Policy Group.

CIEEM have contributed to and support the Scottish Environment Link’s (ScotLINK) response to this consultation, and refer to that in answer to several questions. We added:

The Land Use Strategy presents an aspirational vision, but it does not appear to fully engage with the inherent tensions within that vision. For example, the proposal for expanded woodland cover (p.10) raises important questions: what is the underlying purpose of expansion, where should it occur, and what types of woodland are intended? How might such expansion interact with existing peatland restoration objectives or biodiversity goals? Similarly, in relation to agriculture, the Strategy does not clarify whether it envisages a move towards intensification or extensification.

The actions outlined on pages 20–21 do not always demonstrate clear support for genuine integration. It is not evident that these measures have consistently advanced sustainable land use, despite the claims made. With regard to the proposed targets, it remains unclear whether they are mutually reinforcing or potentially in conflict with one another.

Reference is made to the National Marine Plan, but the Strategy does not sufficiently address the interface between land and sea. Stronger consideration should be given to coastal dynamics, including managed realignment and nature-based forms of coastal protection, if the Strategy is to provide a genuinely integrated approach. Likewise, more explicit attention to the role of nature-based solutions—such as those mitigating risks from wildfire, flooding, or landslides—and clarity on where these could be most effectively implemented, would significantly strengthen the Strategy’s capacity to support practical planning and delivery.

Overall, the Land Use Strategy would benefit from offering clearer direction on the mechanisms required to deliver its ambitions. Rather than relying on, or adapting, existing instruments such as agricultural and forestry support schemes—many of which have historically been developed in a siloed manner—the Strategy should provide explicit guidance on how integrated land use outcomes are to be achieved.
Some specific recommendations:

• Clarify the rationale, location, and type of proposed woodland expansion, and assess implications for peatland and other biodiversity objectives.
• Clearly articulate the desired direction for agricultural development.
• Ensure that targets are assessed for potential synergies and conflicts to promote coherent and integrated outcomes.
• Strengthen integration with the National Marine Plan, particularly regarding managed realignment and nature-based coastal protection, to fully address the interactions between marine and terrestrial systems.
• Increase consideration of nature-based solutions, identifying geographical areas where these interventions could be most effective and supporting their planning and delivery.
• Move beyond reliance on existing, siloed mechanisms by providing explicit guidance on how new, integrated approaches to land use should be realised.