Carse of Stirling – an ecosystems approach demonstration project

1. Carse of Stirling –an ecosystems approachdemonstration project SUMMARY The Carse of Stirling project, led by Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, tested a method of applying the ecosystem approach to land use and decision-making. The ecosystem approach involves considering land and its uses, the way nature works and the people who benefit. Over five sessions 35 people from a cross-section of interests within the Carse of Stirling worked together to explore land uses and develop actions for increasing benefits from land. Local people now have a clearer vision of what they want from the land and have begun to form a group to make this vision a reality. Contact: Zoe Kemp, Project Manager; 0131 316 2600; zoe.kemp@snh.gov.uk • WHAT WE DID • The project aimed to demonstrate how the ecosystems approach can support decision-making around land use, which is an action in the Land Use Strategy for Scotland. • Over five sessions a stakeholder panel – • Identified the natural elements/ ecosystems in the area • Explored how these ecosystems deliver services (or • benefits) and who benefits • Thought about how the area might change in the future • Considered future • scenarios • Developed a vision • forthe future • Agreed actions • toward delivering • that vision HOW WE DID IT 35 stakeholdersrepresenting all sectors in the Carse, including land managers, communities and businesses, were identified from a long list of interested people We mapped and presented data and information to inform the discussion about future land use We presented information in a way that was engaging and easy to understand We helped people think about decisions, conflicts and choices about how the land is managed and used WHAT WE LEARNED It’s about empowering people and communities Working with multiple communities at a landscape scale is challenging People understand the need to make the most of natural assets and the tensions/ trade-offs involved but the geographical and social distribution of who might win or lose from decisions using an ecosystem approach needs to be explicit For it to engage people, everyone has to feel that they will benefit Don’t let the search for perfection be the enemy of the good KEEP IT SIMPLE NEXT STEPS SNH is helping the participants to form a group to deliver the agreed actions with the support of the wider community.  By developing community-based projects and influencing decisions that affect them, the group are empowered to make steps towards their Vision. The lessons from this work are helping the Land Use Strategy Regional Framework Pilots to apply an ecosystems approach in the Scottish Borders and Aberdeenshire. SNH and SEPA are working to share our findings and look for other opportunities to use what we’ve learned.