Forestry ownership is intimately related to the multi-faceted requirements of land reform.
Given the various scales and types of land ownership that must be addressed, it is clear that there is no single measure that will radically change Scottish land ownership patterns: what’s needed is a wide-ranging but integrated package of measures. This should include:
• Regulating the market in large-scale land transfers through the introduction of a Public Interest Test, introducing a requirement for prior notification of intent to sell, setting limits on individual land ownership and introducing residence requirements;
• Reforming the tax and subsidy system and increased regulation of green finance mechanisms to tackle the fiscal advantages of large scale ownership;
• Broadening the scope of and support for collective ownership models to facilitate involvement by a much wider cadre of individuals and organisations, and introducing powers allowing communities to manage land on behalf of Scottish Ministers;
• Developing a range of models of affordable small-scale land holdings for individuals on both community and public land;
• Greater coordination and integration of datasets, and research and publication of comprehensive information on land ownership patterns and support. Forthcoming bills on Land Reform, Agriculture and Community Wealth Building represent significant opportunities to introduce legislation to advance the diversity and transparency of ownership.
Forthcoming bills on Land Reform, Agriculture and Community Wealth Building represent significant opportunities to introduce legislation to advance the diversity and transparency of ownership.