About the MAP
In the United Kingdom, the James Hutton Institute coordinates the Multi-Actor Platform Rural Scotland. This has a regional focus covering the whole of Scotland.
The platform will operate in alignment with the Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutes Gateway (SEFARI Gateway). This will aid in linking similar lines of policy evolution between national and European scales.
The focus will be on both the environment and the people of rural Scotland. The aim is to improve the flow of research, knowledge and expertise to and from policy, industry and the public. The expected impact is to understand emerging trends affecting rural areas and to inform thinking in public policy, private sector and civil society of the future of rural Scotland. Outcomes sought are improvements in the resilience of rural communities, and delivery of public policy on tackling climate change and the pathways to achieving its target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions whilst also creating economic opportunities and supporting communities in navigating the changes that will emerge.
Objectives
The activities of this MAP are being designed to achieve objectives which will be developed with its members at the kick-off workshop. Principal topics are expected to be:
- MAP objective 1: Review trends which could influence the environment and people of rural Scotland.
- MAP objective 2: Identify the implications of a net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045 on environment, land use and people.
- MAP objective 3: Identify and recommend how civil society and business can contribute to achieving public policy objectives of tackling climate change together with no net loss of biodiversity.
- MAP objective 4: Co-create visions of rural Scotland.
- MAP objective 5: Raise public awareness and understanding of implications of environmental change.
Composition
Civil society, NGOs, business organisations, farmer organisations, land owner organisation, research institutes, local and regional government.