An assessment of the financial resources needed for environmental land management in the UK
A new study published today shows that at least £1.17bn a year must be invested in nature and climate-friendly farming by the Scottish Government over the next decade to meet legally binding targets and environmental commitments. This represents 26% of the total £4.4bn that must be spent by the UK and devolved governments across the whole of the UK to meet such commitments.
The new report, An assessment of the financial resources needed for environmental land management in the UK, is written by an independent economist and reveals that at least £4.4bn a year needs to be directed solely towards environmental land management schemes that will allow the UK as a whole to achieve its net zero greenhouse gas emissions target on land, halt and reverse the catastrophic declines of nature, improve air and water quality, and look after our cultural heritage. The study estimates the costs for each of the four UK countries; Scotland must spend £1.17billion per year for the next ten years to meet its commitments.
Vicki Swales, Head of Land Use Policy for RSPB Scotland said: “It is vital there is ongoing commitment to increased levels of farm funding in Scotland over the next ten years. The majority of this funding must be spent on supporting nature and climate friendly farming so that this becomes the norm across all of Scottish farmland and our crofting areas. This requires a very significant shift from our current funding system which allocates only 6% of funding to environmental land management schemes."
