‘Green’ investment can deliver economic, social and environmental benefits for all in rural Scotland

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates said today that the debate around investment in natural capital should not ignore the urgency of the climate and nature emergencies - and should focus on maximising the multiple positive outcomes for Scotland.

Responding to a discussion paper published by the Scottish Land Commission on natural capital, Scottish Land & Estates said ‘green investment’ has the potential to deliver multiple environmental and economic wins for all types of landowners, be they private, public, communities, charities or farmers.

Sarah Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The reality is that the emergence of ‘green investment’ has the potential to provide existing landowners of all types and indeed farm tenants with potential revenue streams and deliver wider benefit. Green investment, like food production, creates jobs and economic activity and helps protect nature.  Community owners and farmers may well benefit from these new opportunities, which will in turn benefit local communities and deliver Scotland’s ambitious climate and biodiversity targets.

“The Scottish Land Commission is right to look at the potential of making the best of Scotland’s natural capital, and to set out both the challenges and opportunities. These are very early days and there is a need to ensure that we are all as well informed as possible, and the SLC paper helps to increase understanding of the issues. It would be a mistake if people thought that there is going to substantial rewards simply for owning land whereas revenue from carbon or nature-based solutions usually depends upon long term contracts and commitment to ongoing management with associated risks and costs. Any potential revenue stream will be available to landowners of all types.

“The fact that land across Scotland can make a significant contribution to addressing climate change is something to be welcomed and supported and the Scottish Land Commission has identified in its paper the need to balance local, regional and national interests and has rightly pointed out that potential income from carbon sequestration is, at this point, uncertain.  To date, there have been very few land acquisitions based solely on green investment but if that increases, it could be very positive in that significant funds could flow into Scotland – benefiting nature, people and jobs. 

“Land prices, like all property prices, have increased in recent years but this has been driven a range of factors including demand from purchasers other than green investors. Opportunities continue to exist for communities and others to purchase land and property assets of all types and sizes in Scotland.”