Scottish folksinger Jimmie Macgregor today (5th of February) announced that MSP Willie Coffey has won Scotland’s first MSP Landscape competition for his evocative description of Loudoun Valley in his Ayrshire constituency.
The competition, sponsored by Scottish Environment LINK, asked MSPs to name their best loved landscape with a brief explanation of what makes their landscape so special. The responses from 29 MSPs, including John Swinney, Patricia Ferguson, Murdo Fraser, Tavish Scot and Robin Harper, makes up a diverse picture of Scotland’s internationally renown landscapes. These include classic mountain chains, landmarks in towns and cities, beaches and urban green spaces.
Willie Coffey MSP won for describing his favourite landscape as:
“Breathtaking, Serene, Historic, Moody, Broody, Alive, Bustling, Dynamic Towns, Castles, Farms, Schools, People, Wildlife – in Perfect Harmony, the Loudoun Valley”.
“Scotland’s rich biodiversity, with our unique range of habitats from temperate rainforest to high mountain tops, sustains a large part of our rural economies and underpins our sense of place. While we have made significant progress over the last 3 years in conserving some of that biodiversity, we still have a long way to go to meet our target to halt the loss of biodiversity in Scotland by 2010. The debate on Thursday, following the report to parliament published in December, provides us all with the opportunity to assess progress to date and plan action to meet future targets. As Scotland necessarily takes on more work to meet this target, less is likely to be achieved as the government’s funding commitment to support this work declines. We are looking forward to an informed debate on Thursday on how to maintain our rate of progress towards the 2010 target.
‘We welcome today’s ground-breaking announcement by the Cabinet Secretary to protect Lamlash Bay, the first time a marine area has been protected as a result of proposals developed by local representatives. The Community of Arran Seabed Trust are to be particularly commended for their tireless work in developing their proposals: surveying Lamlash Bay, raising awareness of Arran’s marine environment, and working with local stakeholders, environment groups, SNH and the Scottish Government to provide the momentum leading to today’s announcement.’
A report calling for marine protected areas in order to safeguard wildlife of special importance to Scotland will be published today. The report by Scottish Environment LINK (LINK), a coalition of Scotland’s major environment groups, argues that a network of ‘nationally important marine areas’ must be included in the upcoming Scottish Marine Bill, if Scotland is to save its unique marine wildlife, such as reefs and sea beds, basking sharks and black guillemots for future generations.
See also: the Finding NIMAs report.
Following today’s emergency meeting of Aberdeenshire Council, fourteen of Scotland’s top environmental organisations, all members of Scottish Environment LINK, have sent a joint letter to John Swinney MSP raising profound concerns about the integrity of planning process provoked by the Donald Trump’s proposed golf development in Scotland…
A Scottish Marine Bill was a welcome early promise by the SNP, yet there is no sign of it in next year’s legislative programme. A Bill is needed to ensure future generations are able to enjoy and make a sustainable living from Scotland’s world-class seas. Cross-party support for a Scottish Marine Bill would ensure such an urgently-needed Bill would sail through parliament. This is a win-win opportunity waiting to be grasped.
As ministers and MSPs return to the parliament this week, a coalition of all Scotland’s major environmental organisations have set them a challenge: Take a lead on the environment now, or soon Scotland will not be able to cope with climate change, or reverse the trends of loss of wildlife and the exhaustion of Scotland’s resources. In their report ‘Scotland 2011: Scottish Environment LINK’s Challenge to the New Scottish Government’, which was delivered to ministers and MSPs today, the 34 organisations behind the challenge set out their vision for a sustainable future for Scotland and provide solutions for how to get there.
Scotland’s leading environment groups today welcomed the announcement by Environment Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead that the new Scottish government intends to introduce a Scottish Marine Bill. Speaking on behalf of the Scottish Environment LINK Marine Task Force, convenor Calum Duncan, said “We are delighted that the new government recognises Scotland’s seas are in a guddle and need urgent attention. A Scottish Marine Bill must urgently deliver effective planning and protection for our coasts and seas, linking closely to the UK Marine Bill.”
13 April 2016 – “From the land reform debate to vital questions about health, energy policy, sustainable jobs, and the future of Scotland’s magnificent landscape and wildlife, environmental matters are at the very heart of Scottish political debate, as we approach the Holyrood elections in May”, said Scottish Environment LINK President Joyce McMillan opening LINK’s “Environment Matters” hustings on 13 April.
The event offered a chance for each of the five main parties in the Scottish Parliament to debate their 2016 manifestos with an audience that cares passionately about our environmental future, and about the potential for good policy in this area to enhance all our lives. At the end, Joyce summarised discussions noting there was a lot of consensus on where we need to be by 2030 or 2050 but what is lacking is a common agreement on how we can get there. “The conversation is likely to be heated at times, but we can be sure that it’ll also throw light on some of the most fundamental issues facing the Scottish Parliament over the next five years – and beyond”, added Joyce.
LINK Chair Helen Todd commented: “People and the environment are inextricably linked. To create a flourishing Scotland where people can prosper we need to take good care of our environment. The six asks included in our LINK manifesto provide a solid basis for doing so. We urge Scottish political parties to take forward our manifesto proposals and call on voters to support our efforts for creating a better environment.”
“We sincerely hope that the next government and parliament will work on the basis that our environment is just as important as other policy areas and we look forward to engaging in a meaningful and regular way with our government, MSPs and other stakeholders. In this respect, LINK will be seeking an early meeting with the next Environment Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment”, added Helen.
In providing their views on what needs to happen in the next term to put Scotland on a more sustainable path candidate MSPs highlighted:
“Our environment is the only place we have to live so we need to take care of it. We have been good on the technical side, on targets for emissions and renewables. We now need to focus on developing sustainable food systems and farming”, said Heather Anderson, SNP List Candidate for South of Scotland.
“For Scottish Labour the next Scottish Parliament needs to deliver on both Environmental and Social Justice. We need a Warm Homes Act which will help tackle fuel poverty, a big expansion in the number of community and cooperative and community renewables schemes. We also need to see investment in green infrastructure, whether its public transport and active travel or affordable housing which will enable people to make low carbon lifestyle choices and business decisions. We’re the only party with fairer tax and investment policies at this election to make that happen”, noted Sarah Boyack, Scottish Labour Environmental Justice Spokesperson and Candidate MSP for Edinburgh Central.
“Scottish Conservatives support measures to decarbonise our economy and protect our environment. At this election we are putting forward a number of key asks: from making the case for new Scottish National Parks to investing in £1billion in making Scotland’s homes warm and reduce carbon emissions. Scottish Conservatives will support communities in safeguarding green space and community land and we will work to build a sustainable Scotland for all Scots to live, work and grow up”, said Miles Briggs, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Candidate MSP for Edinburgh Southern.
“With new powers coming to Holyrood we have the opportunity to protect and regenerate our environment and put wellbeing rather than pure economic growth at the heart of government, it will need a bolder greener Scottish Parliament to deliver this agenda in the next 5 years”, highlighted Mark Ruskell, the Scottish Green Party’s spokesperson for Rural affairs, Food and Environment and candidate MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Region.
“The Liberal Democrats are keen to put our future on a sustainable path and willing to work issue by issue with other parties to achieve this”, added Martin Veart Scottish Liberal Democrat Candidate for Edinburgh Northern and Leith.
Notes to editors:
Download the press release here.
Contact details
Daphne Vlastari, LINK Advocacy officer: 0131 225 4345 or daphne@scotlink.org
Scottish Environment LINK is the forum for Scotland’s voluntary environment community, with over 35 member bodies representing a broad spectrum of environmental interests with the common goal of contributing to a more environmentally sustainable society.
LINK is a Scottish Charity (SC000296) and a Scottish Company Limited by guarantee (SC250899). LINK is core funded by Membership Subscriptions and by grants from Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Government and Charitable Trusts.
Visit us at ukvps3.ie-dev.co.uk/scotlink-wordpress/ or follow us on @ScotLINK
Welcoming the publication today of the long-awaited consultation paper on a UK Marine Bill, Scottish Environment LINK’s Marine Task Force said that it is now up to the Scottish Executive to show that we can deliver for Scotland’s seas. Task Force Convenor, Calum Duncan, said,
“This could be the biggest breakthrough for managing our seas in centuries. For years environment groups north and south of the border have campaigned for marine legislation to resolve the destructive ‘free-for-all’ that is failing both our seas and coastal livelihoods. This UK-wide consultation sets up a general framework for reserved activities. What we need now is a tailor-made Scottish Marine Act to deliver on the whole range of devolved marine issues, from conservation and marine protected areas to renewable energy, fisheries, pollution and aquaculture. A Scottish Marine Act could finally deliver the healthy, abundant seas supporting, for the long-term, many thousands of Scottish livelihoods, which is the objective of the Executive’s own marine and coastal strategy. ”
