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.