For Release on: 21 June, 2007

Scotland's Rural Environment to be examined at Edinburgh Meeting

Scientist's carrying out the government's research into the future of Scotland's countryside will meet with key individuals from the farming and environmental sector on Monday 25 June to discuss solutions to the major challenges ahead.

'Making Scotland's Rural Environment More Sustainable' will bring together for the first time those researchers working on the Scottish Executive's ?10 million flagship environmental research programme, with representatives from a variety of other organisations interested in creating a sustainable Scottish countryside.

Coordinator of the research programme, Professor Steve Albon said: "A number of factors including climate change, pollution, policy shifts and urbanisation are placing our rural communities, land, and natural resources under increasing threat.

"Our biggest challenge is how to stimulate economic growth and social inclusion, without harming Scotland's natural environment, which has also become an important international 'brand' in its own right.

"We have invited to the meeting key individuals with an interest in rural Scotland, including politicians, policy makers, and staff from a variety of non- governmental organisations. The idea is to get greater collaboration between interested parties in finding solutions to the pressing rural challenges we now face."

Key themes that will be discussed include developing rural communities, conserving natural heritage, safeguarding the nation's soils and enhancing water quality.

The five-year programme is a major collaboration between researchers from lead organisation the Macaulay Institute along with colleagues from Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BIOSS), Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) and Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI).The innovative research has brought together social and economic scientists working with environmental scientists, geographers, mathematicians and statisticians.

Professor Albon said: "The day will involve an overview of the current research where discussion and feedback from attendees will be actively encouraged and culminate in a participatory workshop. Together we will explore issues where further evidence is required, and how we can improve the effective communication of our findings to society in general."

The Macaulay Institute is the premier land use research institute in the UK. Two hundred and seventy staff are based at the Macaulay Institute at Craigiebuckler in Aberdeen. The Macaulay Institute aims to be an international leader in research on the use of rural land resources for the benefit of people and the environment and is involved in research across the globe; from Scotland to Chile and China. More about the Macaulay Institute can be found at www.macaulay.ac.uk

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Notes to Editors

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