Soil governance in Scotland
Soil is a fundamental resource for Scotland, underpinning our society, economy and environment and we were asked to explore the mechanisms currently in place for its management.
This project aimed to understand the extent of the different legislative and policy mechanisms for the conservation and management of soil in Scotland, and how they relate to key national institutions.
Key findings:
- Policy relating to soil is wide-ranging and on multiple scales, and close reading of the original texts indicate key relationships between different instruments. However, we confirmed the existing understanding of no single policy designed specifically for the protection of soil.
- Policy instruments can be categorised into three broad areas:
- Regulatory – environmental protection and regulation
- Framing – principles and standards
- Enabling – shaping and encouraging direction of travel.