Land Rights and Responsibilities Protocols

Our series of protocols around the Scottish Government's Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement sets out practical advice on how land owners, land managers and communities can work together to make better – and fairer – decisions about land use.
 

Protocols

The protocols are intended to be used by everyone to improve the transparency, accountability and governance of our land:

• Community Engagement in Decisions Relating to Land
• Transparency of Ownership and Land Use Decision-Making
• Land Ownership by Charities
• Land Ownership by Private Trusts
• Diversification of Ownership and Tenure
• Negotiating Transfer of Land to Communities
• Good Stewardship of Land
• Common Good Land
• Responsible Natural Capital and Carbon Management.

Further protocols are planned for the future in line with our Strategic Plan 2020-23.
 

Webinars

Our Good Practice Team hosted a four-part webinar series, Putting into Practice Land Rights and Responsibilities, introducing the key messages and practical expectations of each of the new protocols. These were recorded and are available for you to view on our YouTube channel. Click on the links below to open each webinar in a new page:

• Community Engagement and Transparency in Ownership and Land Use
• Land Ownership by Private Trusts/Charities
• Diversification of Ownership & Tenure and Negotiating Transfer of Land to Communities
• Good Stewardship of Land

Telling us about your experience

If you have an enquiry about the protocols and how to use them, please contact us. We can provide information and support or signpost you to another organisation.

We are keen to hear of and share positive examples of good working relationships and welcome information about successful collaboration between landowners, land managers and local communities. These case studies can help tell other landowners, managers and community organisations about good practice. Get in touch with our Good Practice Team to share your stories, or to find out more on how you can improve your practices, at goodpractice@landcommission.gov.scot or 01463 423 300.

If you experience a situation which differs significantly from the expectations set out in this protocol, please contact us with details and supporting evidence where available. We encourage you to speak to the relevant landowner or community organisation to find a resolution first but we know that this is not always possible. If there is a relevant regulator you should also approach them. Where appropriate we will provide advice and work with you and the other parties involved, if applicable, to deal with any difficulties and help improve practice. Knowing what is happening in practice also helps influence the future development of policy, protocols and guidance.