APRS is a member of The Scottish Landscape Alliance and this week, they published Scotland’s Landscape Charter, a document endorsed by the Scottish Government, to stand as a vision of how Scotland’s communities, land managers and public bodies can contribute to enhancing Scotland’s landscapes.
The Landscape Charter outlines the importance of Scotland’s landscapes and promotes awareness of the critical contribution of the landscape to everyone. It lays out the action required to maximise the many benefits our landscapes bring now, and for the future.
This is a revision of the original Landscape Charter written in 2009, confirming strong support for the European Landscape Convention. In 2023, APRS carried out an extensive review of the charter which explored attitudes and approaches to landscape from land managers, NGOs, communities and individuals.
The updated charter reflects our dependence on landscapes and the and high value that continues to be placed on landscapes in Scotland. It demonstrates a commitment to sensitively managing the landscape change needed in line with the principles of the European Landscape Convention to continue to shape our future landscape ambitions through collaborative action.
Scotland’s Landscape Charter – Vision:
“All our landscapes are cherished as a vital local and national resource, being recognised as fundamental to our prosperity and wellbeing.
We enable everyone to play an active part in decisions that affect landscapes. Those who are responsible for owning, using and managing land are committed – and supported – to deliver their many positive benefits, now and for future generations.“
Three Principles:
In support of this vision, the following three key principles can guide policy, decision making and action for Scotland’s landscape:
- Collaboration
- Dynamism
- Diversity