17 June 2010, LINK Marine Taskforce

Visionary Report Charts A Sustainable Future For Marine Renewables

Today Scottish Environment LINK launch a visionary report setting out recommendations for the responsible growth of the fledgling marine renewables energy industry.

“Our report includes recommendations to safeguard the marine environment, thus helping the responsible development of the industry. Our vision is of a thriving industry that will help reduce the causes of climate change and bring secure longterm jobs whilst safeguarding a diverse, productive sea. By setting out clear environmental objectives along with simple, practical solutions, we set out our aims to avoid potential damage or conflict from the outset.

10 June 2010, LINK Wildlife Natural Environment

A Missed Opportunity? Wildlife Bill and Deer Management Planning

We are concerned that the proposals do not offer a serious improvement to the current voluntary approach to Deer Management Planning, organised by the network of Scottish Deer Management Groups. We believe that the current voluntary approach to deer management planning has been given a chance over at least a decade or more and has proved largely ineffective, as evidenced by the recent Scottish Government response to Parliamentary questions on this subject. We think that Deer Management Groups need enhanced Scottish Government support to deliver effective deer management planning as part of wider sustainable land use planning and delivery of public goods...

10 March 2010, LINK Marine Taskforce

Marine Act Heralds New Dawn For Management Of Scotland’s Seas

Following a decade of campaigning by members of Scottish Environment LINK, and the passing of the Marine (Scotland) Bill by the Scottish Parliament on 4th February, today’s Royal Assent by Her Majesty the Queen creates the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

After almost ten years of campaigning, we are delighted that we now have a Marine (Scotland) Act. We particularly welcome the duty to protect and enhance our seas, a marine planning system that includes environmental targets and a duty to deliver a network of marine protected areas...

4 February 2010, LINK Marine Taskforce

Parliament Votes to Protect Scotland's Marine Environment

"After almost ten years of campaigning, it is great that the Scottish Parliament has passed a bill that will improve the health of Scotland’s seas. We particularly welcome the duty to protect and enhance our seas, a marine planning system that includes environmental targets and a duty to deliver a network of marine protected areas."

LINK Marine taskforce welcomes the passing of the Marine (Scotland) Bill. 

2 December 2009, LINK

We Must Learn to Live WITH the Land

Scottish Environment LINK today published “Living with the Land”, a paper outlining proposed content for the Sustainable Land Use Strategy (SLUS)

"For too long we in Scotland have lived off the land, now we need to live with the land. Instead of land being viewed as simply a resource to be exploited for profit and pleasure, we must learn to nurture and sustain the natural qualities of all of our land because its health is absolutely essential to people’s well-being

29 October 2009, LINK Marine Taskforce

Marine Bill must be ‘World Leading’ Too

Calum Duncan, the Convener of Scottish Environment LINK’s Marine Task Force has called for all parties in the Scottish Parliament to continue their progress towards a strong Marine Bill...

14 October 2009, LINK Marine Taskforce

Marine Bill Must Return Our Seas to Health

Scottish Environment LINK today released an independent scientific report on the historic decline of species in Scotland’s seas, and called for the Marine (Scotland) Act to contain strong measures to reverse these declines - not just to protect what is left

See report: Recovering Scotland's Marine Environment

13 May 2009, LINK Freshwater Taskforce

Welcome for New Flooding Bill

Sustainable flood management, good for people and biodiversity! LINK welcomes the passing of the new Bill on flooding. This is a major opportunity to have more sustainable approaches for the management of flood risk.

30 April 2009, LINK Marine Taskforce

Sea Change Needed

Scotland’s environment groups welcome the Scottish Marine Bill

After years of campaigning, we are delighted to see a Marine Bill before the Scottish Parliament. This Bill is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ensure that our seas are adequately protected and sustainably managed, so that future generations can benefit from them as we have.

As the Bill progresses, it is now crucial that we get it right. Healthy seas are the foundation on which all other activities at sea depend and therefore need to be at the very heart of what the Bill is for. A healthy marine ecosystem underpins the productivity of our seas: human induced changes to this ecosystem result not only in the decline of marine wildlife, but also in damage to the economy, as fishing, wildlife tourism and other industries suffer the consequences.’

20 February 2009, LINK

Next week is Scottish Environment Week 2009

Scottish Environment Week brings together politicians, businesses, officials, environmentalists and people from all walks of life to celebrate Scotland’s environment. Since its inception in 2003, the week has become a popular fixture in the parliamentary calendar, and MSPs from all parties will be attending events celebrating the many facets of Scotland's environment.

The Week creates an opportunity to focus on the importance of our environment and its value to the society and economy of Scotland. All of the Week’s events take place in the Scottish Parliament.

9 February 2009, LINK Marine Taskforce

Environment Groups Welcome Announcement of New Planning Body for Scotland's Seas

We are delighted that Marine Scotland will become a reality. This new body must now develop and meet tough targets for the sustainable management, protection and recovery of Scotland's seas. We believe that improved protection for marine wildlife, a comprehensive network of marine protected areas and a statutory planning system that furthers the conservation of marine biodiversity are all essential for our seas protection and recovery.

Marine wildlife does not recognise political boundaries, so Marine Scotland must work closely with the proposed UK Marine Management Organisation and other administrations to deliver ecosystem-based marine planning and management. Since Marine Scotland will be part of Scottish Government, it is also vital that an independent and transparent appeals procedure is put in place.'

17 December 2008, LINK Biodiversity Taskforce

Report Reveals Vital role of Charities in Improving Scotland’s Biodiversity

Scotland’s environmental charities are playing a pivotal role in helping to improve the biodiversity of Scotland, a new report revealed today (Wednesday 17th December).

Scottish environmental charities have really shown their worth this year by taking the lead on numerous projects for people and wildlife which help meet the objectives of the Government’s Biodiversity Action Plan.

2 December 2008, LINK Marine Taskforce

Environment Groups Welcome Historic Course Charted for UK Seas

Scottish Environment LINK, the coalition of Scotland's environment charities, today welcomed the inclusion of a UK Marine Bill in the Queen's speech.

We are very pleased that this historic piece of legislation will finally become a reality. The UK Marine Bill is very important for Scotland as many activities in Scottish waters are still reserved to Westminster. We must now ensure that the forthcoming Scottish Marine Bill and the UK Marine Bill fit seamlessly together. The resulting Marine Acts must establish clear duties to enable protection, restoration and recovery of Scotland's seas, and the marine wildlife and coastal communities that depend on them

5 November 2008, LINK

Investing in the Environment Makes Sound Financial Sense

Scotland\'s environment movement today (Wednesday 5th November) called on government to ensure Scotland\'s environment is properly protected in order to secure the economic gains it provides. A new report, Valuing our Environment, launched today, shows that sustainable use of our environment underpins the economy by £17.2 billion a year, or more than a tenth of the country\'s economic output.

5 September 2008, LINK Agriculture Taskforce

A Better Deal is Possible for both Scottish Farmers and the Environment

A new report published today by Scottish Environment LINK, to coincide with the conclusion of the Government’s consultation on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), points the way forward for a fairer distribution of funding which would help more farmers as well as the environment cope with the changing priorities for the countryside.

The current CAP does Scotland no favours at all. Our farmers and crofters receive a ridiculously low share of the European pot, and yet they could be producing high quality food as well as enhancing the environment for the good of the whole country. Scotland has some of Europe’s finest farmland, supporting a vast range of wildlife – and yet this goes unrecognised in the current CAP funding structure. It is time we lifted our country from the bottom of the EU’s agricultural funding league table, and demanded that the valuable contribution our land managers make is properly recognised. We are calling on the Scottish Government to take a lead in renegotiating what the Common Agricultural Policy can provide for Scotland.

5 February 2008, LINK Landscape Taskforce

Scotlands First MSP Landscape Competition

Scottish folksinger Jimmie Macgregor today (5th of February) announced that MSP Willie Coffey has won Scotland’s first MSP Landscape competition for his evocative description of Loudoun Valley in his Ayrshire constituency.

The competition, sponsored by Scottish Environment LINK, asked MSPs to name their best loved landscape with a brief explanation of what makes their landscape so special. The responses from 29 MSPs, including John Swinney, Patricia Ferguson, Murdo Fraser, Tavish Scot and Robin Harper, makes up a diverse picture of Scotland’s internationally renown landscapes. These include classic mountain chains, landmarks in towns and cities, beaches and urban green spaces.

Willie Coffey MSP won for describing his favourite landscape as:

“Breathtaking, Serene, Historic, Moody, Broody, Alive, Bustling, Dynamic Towns, Castles, Farms, Schools, People, Wildlife – in Perfect Harmony, the Loudoun Valley”.

24 January 2008, LINK Biodiversity Taskforce

What State is Scotland’s Wildlife In?

“Scotland’s rich biodiversity, with our unique range of habitats from temperate rainforest to high mountain tops, sustains a large part of our rural economies and underpins our sense of place. While we have made significant progress over the last 3 years in conserving some of that biodiversity, we still have a long way to go to meet our target to halt the loss of biodiversity in Scotland by 2010. The debate on Thursday, following the report to parliament published in December, provides us all with the opportunity to assess progress to date and plan action to meet future targets. As Scotland necessarily takes on more work to meet this target, less is likely to be achieved as the government’s funding commitment to support this work declines. We are looking forward to an informed debate on Thursday on how to maintain our rate of progress towards the 2010 target.

21 January 2008, LINK Marine Taskforce

Environment Groups Welcome Lamlash Bay Protection

‘We welcome today’s ground-breaking announcement by the Cabinet Secretary to protect Lamlash Bay, the first time a marine area has been protected as a result of proposals developed by local representatives. The Community of Arran Seabed Trust are to be particularly commended for their tireless work in developing their proposals: surveying Lamlash Bay, raising awareness of Arran’s marine environment, and working with local stakeholders, environment groups, SNH and the Scottish Government to provide the momentum leading to today’s announcement.’

11 January 2008, LINK Marine Taskforce

Our Seas at Risk without Protected Areas

A report calling for marine protected areas in order to safeguard wildlife of special importance to Scotland will be published today. The report by Scottish Environment LINK (LINK), a coalition of Scotland’s major environment groups, argues that a network of ‘nationally important marine areas’ must be included in the upcoming Scottish Marine Bill, if Scotland is to save its unique marine wildlife, such as reefs and sea beds, basking sharks and black guillemots for future generations.

See also: the Finding NIMAs report.

12 December 2007, LINK Planning Taskforce

Environment Groups Unite to Pressure Scottish Government over Trump Golf Plan

Following today’s emergency meeting of Aberdeenshire Council, fourteen of Scotland’s top environmental organisations, all members of Scottish Environment LINK, have sent a joint letter to John Swinney MSP raising profound concerns about the integrity of planning process provoked by the Donald Trump’s proposed golf development in Scotland...

6 September 2007, LINK Marine Taskforce

Scottish Marine Bill Lost at Sea?

A Scottish Marine Bill was a welcome early promise by the SNP, yet there is no sign of it in next year’s legislative programme. A Bill is needed to ensure future generations are able to enjoy and make a sustainable living from Scotland’s world-class seas. Cross-party support for a Scottish Marine Bill would ensure such an urgently-needed Bill would sail through parliament. This is a win-win opportunity waiting to be grasped.

3 September 2007, LINK

Green Challenges to a New Government

As ministers and MSPs return to the parliament this week, a coalition of all Scotland’s major environmental organisations have set them a challenge: Take a lead on the environment now, or soon Scotland will not be able to cope with climate change, or reverse the trends of loss of wildlife and the exhaustion of Scotland’s resources. In their report ‘Scotland 2011: Scottish Environment LINK’s Challenge to the New Scottish Government’, which was delivered to ministers and MSPs today, the 34 organisations behind the challenge set out their vision for a sustainable future for Scotland and provide solutions for how to get there.

3 August 2007, LINK Marine Taskforce

Administrations must Work Together to Stop Seas Unravelling

As part of a joint marine campaign, Scotland’s leading marine environment groups are calling on close collaboration between all UK administrations to ensure the UK Marine Bill makes it into the November Queen’s speech, so that Scottish and UK Marine Bills can be taken forward in tandem.

19 June 2007, LINK Marine Taskforce

Scottish Marine Bill welcomed, Now Action Needed to Match Rhetoric

Scotland’s leading environment groups today welcomed the announcement by Environment Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead that the new Scottish government intends to introduce a Scottish Marine Bill. Speaking on behalf of the Scottish Environment LINK Marine Task Force, convenor Calum Duncan, said “We are delighted that the new government recognises Scotland’s seas are in a guddle and need urgent attention. A Scottish Marine Bill must urgently deliver effective planning and protection for our coasts and seas, linking closely to the UK Marine Bill.”

29 March 2007, LINK Marine Taskforce

UK Marine Bill Throws Down Gauntlet for Management of Scotland’s Seas.

Welcoming the publication today of the long-awaited consultation paper on a UK Marine Bill, Scottish Environment LINK’s Marine Task Force said that it is now up to the Scottish Executive to show that we can deliver for Scotland’s seas. Task Force Convenor, Calum Duncan, said,

“This could be the biggest breakthrough for managing our seas in centuries. For years environment groups north and south of the border have campaigned for marine legislation to resolve the destructive ‘free-for-all’ that is failing both our seas and coastal livelihoods. This UK-wide consultation sets up a general framework for reserved activities. What we need now is a tailor-made Scottish Marine Act to deliver on the whole range of devolved marine issues, from conservation and marine protected areas to renewable energy, fisheries, pollution and aquaculture. A Scottish Marine Act could finally deliver the healthy, abundant seas supporting, for the long-term, many thousands of Scottish livelihoods, which is the objective of the Executive’s own marine and coastal strategy. ”

16 March 2007, LINK Biodiversity Taskforce

Call 999: an Emergency for Scotland’s Biodiversity

5 April 2007: 1,000 days left to 2010, when the target to halt the loss of biodiversity expires. How is Scotland doing in terms of progress towards this target?

See also: The report Call 999: an Emergency for Scotland’s Biodiversity

12 March 2007, LINK Marine Taskforce

New Wave of Measures Agreed for Scotland’s Seas

Marine spatial planning, a new Marine Management Organisation and ways to protect species and habitats that are ‘Scottish specialities’ could revolutionise how we manage our seas and coasts. These recommendations from a group of marine experts, convened by the Scottish Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Ross Finnie, could greatly benefit people and wildlife says Scottish Environment LINK.

7 February 2007, LINK

The Demise of Scottish Gin?

Prize-giving proves tonic as Holyrood is alerted to the plight of the Juniper bush.

Plantlife Scotland, the national branch of the leading UK charity working to protect wild plants, launched a report on the stark decline of Juniper during Scottish Environment Week with a competition to win a bottle of gin - aromatic Juniper berries provide the flavouring for gin.

How old is the oldest Juniper recorded in Britain? Tony King, researcher for Scott Barrie MSP, knew that the answer to this Scottish Environment Week quiz is 255 years old.

5 February 2007, LINK

Looking After your Environment is Good for your Health

The well-being of Scottish citizens will be the primary concern of participants in 2007’s Scottish Environment week that starts today in the Scottish Parliament. Investing in Scotland’s environment is good for your health – will be the message of the week...

1 February 2007, LINK

Global Warming a Threat to Tourism in Scotland

Changes in weather patterns due to global warming threaten the tourist economy in Scotland, a conference in Edinburgh will report. Climate change will be one of the key issues discussed by speakers at a conference on sustainable tourism on 1st February at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, to launch Scottish Environment week...

14 November 2006, LINK Planning Taskforce

Vital Planning Vote: MSPs Urged not to Ignore Communities and the Environment

MSPs have been warned not to push through planning reforms that could actually threaten the environment and erode public confidence in the system...

13 June 2006, LINK Planning Taskforce

Impacts of Unjust Planning Legislation Reveled in New Maps

New maps produced by Scottish Environment LINK demonstrate the alarming implications of the Scottish Executive’s planning reforms for the first time.

The maps reveal which areas of Scotland could be in line for major developments, including nuclear waste dumps, waste incinerators, nuclear power stations, landfill sites, prisons and electricity transmission lines if amendments to the new planning legislation are not approved tomorrow.

Proposals in the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill for the National Planning Framework mean that the Executive could approve in principle any type of development without opportunities for local communities to object.

9 June 2006, LINK Landscape Taskforce

Tourist Industry should Join with First Minister in Supporting Scotland as World Champions

Landscape campaigners are challenging Scotland's tourist bosses to cease their attack on Scotland's First Minister about who to support in the World Cup and spend more time positively supporting Scotland's own world class player - its landscape.

Landscape organisations have welcomed the Scottish Executive’s establishment of a Scottish Landscape Forum and will be devoting their full support to making it a success, urging other bodies and interests, such as VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise, to participate fully.

10 May 2006, LINK Planning Taskforce

Disappointed and Disillusioned by Planning Reforms

Local communities have, yet again, had their requests for real rights denied by the majority of the Scottish Parliament’s communities committee. The Stage 1 report published today concludes that a majority of the committee do not see any need for communities, local authorities or individuals to have the right to participate in a formal examination of the National Planning Framework. This will enable any current or future government to establish the principle of development for national developments without the risk of public challenge. As it stands, the legislation will allow Scottish Ministers to designate any individual development or development type as a national development and include it in the National Planning Framework. This could include energy developments, waste disposal sites, major areas of urban expansion, roads and railways. Once included in the Framework the principle of the development cannot be challenged.

30 March 2006, LINK Climate Taskforce

LINK Welcomes Climate Targets

We welcome the Government's announcement to set Scottish targets to reduce emissions. We have long argued that this is a key part of ensuring that Scotland makes progress in tackling climate change.

"We will now be keeping a close eye on the implementation of the strategy to ensure that it results in real cuts in climate emissions from Scotland."

9 February 2006, LINK Agriculture Taskforce

LINK Launches New Farmed Environment Audit and Welcomes Rural Development Strategy Consultation

There has been varied success, in recent years, in improving environmental trends in Scotland’s farmed environment. While it is clear from the audit that some environmental issues, such as bathing water quality, have been improved during the last few years, a range of important environmental issues such as the contribution of agriculture to greenhouse gas emissions, water abstraction and pollution, and habitat and species decline remain a major concern. The new Scottish Rural Development Plan gives us a perfect opportunity to create and improve the means of tackling these environmental priorities in the Scottish countryside. The State of Scotland's Farmed Environment” gives us the background information to do this”.

9 February 2006, LINK

Celebrating Scotland’s Environment and its Benefits to Communities.

Speaking at the reception, Fred Edwards (LINK President) will call the environment movement ‘prophetic’. He will argue that public perception about environmental issues has become ‘the stuff of headlines’ and the ‘There is the dawning of a wider realization of the seriousness of these matters’. He will praise the work done by the Executive on the Strategic Environment Assessment Act, which ‘places a substantial tool in the hands of those charged with caring for our environment’ and applaud the launch of ‘Choosing Our Future’ that will help to bring about real sustainability....

1 February 2006, LINK Freshwater Taskforce

Scottish Water Conflict Bad News for the Environment

The delivery of a large investment programme requires good co-ordination and communication between the government agencies, economic regulators and Scottish Water. The resignation of Scottish Water's chair signals an ongoing conflict between these agencies, which could prove damaging for the environment, biodiversity and the Scottish people.

18 January 2006, LINK Planning Taskforce

Over 5,000 Petitioners demand that Parliament listens on Planning

A coalition of 36 Scottish environmental organisations and 1,150 Scottish community councils will today hand a petition to Parliament demanding a rethink on the draft Planning Bill.

The action has been prompted by the fear that the new National Planning Framework (NPF), included in the draft Bill, could allow Scotland to become a dumping ground for large-scale and potentially damaging developments in the UK.
 

20 December 2005, LINK Planning Taskforce

Planning Bill is no Christmas present for communities

Despite repeated consultations and overwhelming public support for the issue of limited Third Party Rights of Appeal (TPRA), the Executive has failed to deliver real rights for communities. At the same time, the Executive has made it easier to push through national developments without the risk of public challenge.

Furthermore, the proposals for scrutinising the National Planning Framework deny local communities an opportunity to challenge significant developments that could affect their environment and quality of life.

These two issues have been the source of such significant concern that Scottish Environment LINK and the Association of Scottish Community Councils have joined together to lodge a petition with the Parliament, which has already attracted thousands of signatures.
 

12 October 2005, LINK Climate Taskforce

Cross-party Position on Global Warming

LINK welcomes the joint proposal from the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats for cross-party consensus on countering global warming and new measures to cut greenhouse gases.
 

12 September 2005, LINK Marine Taskforce

Promise for Scotland's Seas Must be Countdown to Action

Welcoming the Scottish Marine and Coastal Strategy launched today by Environment Minister Ross Finnie MSP, Scottish Environment LINK's Marine Task Force1 said only prompt, decisive action can protect Scotland's seas. Calum Duncan, Convener of the LINK Marine Task Force, said:

"In the eighteen months since the Scottish Executive ended its consultation on a Strategic Framework for Scotland's Marine Environment3 we have seen the two most devastating breeding seasons on record for Scotland's seabirds and economic crisis in the fishing industry. It is crunch time for Scotland's seas. We welcome the Strategy announced today, and being invited to join the Stakeholder Group. We are optimistic it can reverse the decline around our coast - provided the Executive ensures these fine words lead to bold, decisive action."

7 September 2005, LINK Marine Taskforce

Marine Reserves in Scotland? Useful Examples from New Zealand

Tonight in Edinburgh, LINK welcomes Bill Ballantine to share his experience of pioneering Marine Reserves in New Zealand, demonstrating their value to fisheries, tourism and marine wildlife alike.

Whilst Scotland has its own set of marine management issues to grapple with, a growing recognition that a sustainable future for our coastal communities and industries relies on healthy seas means we can learn from other temperate countries such as New Zealand.

3 August 2005, LINK Planning Taskforce

New Coalition asks Parliament to Get Real on Planning

LINK together with the Association of Scottish Community Councils launch a petition calling  for the introduction of a limited third party right of appeal within the planning system. It also insists that all planning decisions, especially those related to the proposed National Planning Framework, must be open to challenge and public inquiry.

The two groups will be working throughout the summer 2005 to gather as many public signatories as possible before the issue goes back to Parliament in the autumn.
 

29 June 2005, LINK Planning Taskforce

Planning White Paper - Scottish Executive fail to deliver ‘real rights’ in the planning system

“Disappointing and discouraging” is the response to the White Paper on Planning from the LINK Planning Taskforce
 

20 June 2005, LINK Marine Taskforce

Marine Groups Support Plastic Bag Levy to Protect Sea Life

Environmental groups have voiced support of MSP Mike Pringle's proposed levy on plastic bags, as a means of preventing the unnecessary deaths of some of Scotland's most popular marine wildlife.

Numerous independent scientific studies have shown high concentrations of plastic material, including bags, blocking the guts of 177 marine species, including whales, dolphins, seals, puffins, fulmars and turtles. Some marine species, such as the endangered leatherback turtle, summer visitor to Scottish waters, mistake plastic bags for their normal prey of jelly fish, with deadly results. Many marine species are now affected by the minute toxic particles that plastic items, including bags, are reduced to by photodegradation, leading to a weakening of their immune system.

15 June 2005, LINK Marine Taskforce

Environment Groups Call for Action, Not More Talk, to Protect Scotland's Seas

Real and urgent action is needed to protect Scotland's seas, say the members of Scottish Environment LINK's Marine Task Force. In response to today's statement by Ross Finnie MSP, the Executive's Environment Minister, Calum Duncan, of the Marine Conservation Society and Convener of the LINK Marine Task Force, said:

"Scotland's seas are crying out for action, not more discussion, to safeguard their future. While we welcome the Minister's overarching goal, we are disappointed that he has not clearly set out the measures he will take to meet this goal, or when they will be introduced. This contrasts markedly to the position taken by the UK Government, which is already committed to a Marine Act that will introduce marine spatial planning(2), leaving the Scottish Executive bobbing in their wake"

3 May 2005, LINK Planning Taskforce

LINK members have reacted with disbelief to planning proposals

The National Planning Framework, unlike similar strategies in Wales and Northern Ireland, is not a statutory document, nor is it subject to public consultation, so it cannot be challenged other than through judicial review. It is not subject to any form of inquiry, examination in public or formal adoption procedure.

29 April 2005, LINK Planning Taskforce

Robust Planning Laws Crucial for Scotland's Future

In order to restore public confidence and create a planning system that reflects the needs of the 21st century, we have launched a Planning Manifesto which recommends that the following five points be incorporated into the new law...

30 March 2005, LINK

LINK calls for Independent Body to Advise Executive on the Environment

Scottish Environment LINK, the umbrella group for Scotland’s environmental organisations, is calling for the creation of an independent body to ensure that Scotland is a world leader in Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The call follows the introduction to the Scottish Parliament last week of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Bill, which LINK welcomes as a mechanism to protect and improve the Scottish Environment...

9 March 2005, LINK Marine Taskforce

Action Urged to Protect Scotland's Sea Life

Representatives from Scottish Environment LINK Marine Task Force will travel to Westminster today to visit Scottish MPs in support of the Wildlife and Countryside Link's Marine Lobby. This show of support by LINK Marine Task Force will raise awareness of the importance of a Marine Act for Scotland aimed at protecting Scottish seas, sea life and the economic activities that rely upon them.

5 January 2005, LINK Marine Taskforce

The Braer – 12 Years and Still Waiting for Better Protection Measures from Shipping Accidents

Almost 12 years ago to the day the Braer tanker tanker carrying 85,000 tonnes of crude oil ran aground in hurricane force winds off the Shetland Islands. In the wake of the Braer oil spill, the Donaldson Inquiry recommended that the most sensitive and environmentally valuable parts of our coastal seas should be identified as Marine Environment High Risk Areas (MEHRAs) in order to protect them from such disasters.

It now appears that the publication of the long over due report from the Department for Transport (DfT) containing its choices of Marine Environmental High Risk Areas is finally about to happen. Scottish Environment Groups hope that the report will identify sites in UK waters and will put forward management measures that will at last give much needed protection from the threat of shipping accidents.

29 November 2004, LINK Biodiversity Taskforce

LINK members welcome the final part of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill

LINK question whether the Scottish Executive’s guidelines emphasise enough how the new law should be central to running the country’s public bodies.

These guidelines still present the conservation of biodiversity as an optional add-on. Ultimately Scotland’s future depends on assuring the long term conservation of biodiversity, in which we are all implicated and all have a role to play.”
 

22 September 2004, LINK Marine Taskforce

Sustaining Scotland's Seas: A major Parliamentary Seminar on the Future of Scotland's Seas

In a major parliamentary seminar to be held today (Thursday 23rd September), Scotland's marine environment groups and coastal community members will be telling an audience of prominent MSPs and stakeholders why a radical new approach to looking after Scotland's seas is urgently needed.

19 April 2004, LINK Marine Taskforce

Welcome News on the Future of Our Seas

Today Scottish Environment LINK's Marine Task Force [1] welcomed the Scottish Executive's public consultation on how to improve management of Scotland's seas.

"We believe that a radical change is needed in the way we manage Scotland's seas and that the introduction of new primary legislation offers an effective means of achieving this" said Darren Kindleysides, convenor of Scottish Environment LINK's Marine Task Force. "The Scottish Executive obviously share our concerns about the future of our valuable marine resources and we applaud them for beginning this important initiative."

12 February 2004, LINK Agriculture Taskforce

CAP Reform Ministerial Announcement

One of the significant markers is that there is a shift from business as usual to the commitment to engage all interests in dialogue about the way forward, primarily on the standards that public money distribution will be based on. This marks a real shift from how agriculture policy has been developed in the past.