A joint call for “urgent clarification” on new Bill
Two leading organisations representing the crofting sector have joined forces to call for “urgent clarification” on how crofters and crofting landowners can benefit from environmental developments on common grazings.
The Scottish Crofting Federation and Community Land Scotland called for an amendment to the Crofting Bill – currently at Stage Three in the Scottish Parliament – that would provide “clarity around how the benefits from these projects should be divided”.
Donna Smith, CEO of the Scottish Crofting Federation, said there are some welcome advances proposed in the new bill including a stronger emphasis on duties and streamlined technical processes.
However, benefits from environmental development need urgent attention, she said.
“One major concern is that whilst the bill encourages environmental projects on both crofts and common grazings - a positive step - it is clear that there is uncertainty over the rights to any benefits generated by these, particularly when crofter led,” she said. “We urge that government provides some clear guidance on this in the near future before any damaging precedents are set.”
CLS Director of Policy, Dr Josh Doble, added: “The rise of natural capital markets risks previously low-value common grazings and upland grazing being seen as potentially highly profitable.
“This in turn has raised the prospect of landowners’ seeking to remove or diminish tenants or crofters access to these sites in order to deliver natural capital projects.
“During the passage of the Bill we have been concerned by a growing narrative about taking away crofters’ rights and increasing landowners’ powers, using the pretext of Net Zero or natural capital projects.
“We firmly believe that crofting should be made to work better for all stakeholders and ensure benefits are justly shared to increase the possibility of successful and resilient projects on common grazings.”
At the same time, CLS and the SCF also called for a wider and deeper overhaul of crofting legislation in the next parliament.
Ms Smith said: “What has also become very clear through the passage of this bill is the need and the will of all to now look at wholesale crofting reform. We hope that this begins very soon into the new parliamentary term whilst the discussions are fresh and so that momentum is not lost.”
Dr Doble, continued: “Crofting is a form of communal land tenure to sustain viable agriculture and communities. It is not a system for the maximization of personal profit. Crofters’ rights were hard-fought and won over centuries.
“With growing demand for all types of land, crofting legislation should strengthen these crofters’ rights and not erode them. We look forward to more robust reform in the next parliament which puts the wellbeing and sustainability of crofting in the driving seat.”