Lairds, Land and Sustainability

This is a critical study of Scotland's land use and ownership. Scotland is at the heart of modern sustainable upland management. Large estates cover vast areas of mountain environment in Scotland, with a deeply historical and unique tradition of land ownership and land use. Over the modern period, the use of these lands by stakeholders has developed into a forcing ground for large scale upland management issues. This collection of cutting edge studies is a first-to-press synthesis of studies carried out by the Centre for Mountain Studies at Perth College, which will be both enlightening and relevant to upland managers across Britain and Europe. It will compare findings from privately-owned estates as well as those owned by communities, charities and conservation groups. With the Scottish Government promoting a vision of environmental sustainability of land use and rural communities, and all eyes on the reform of land use and ownership in Scotland, this book will be extremely topical. It presents major new thinking on upland estate management. It is the first dedicated textbook on upland estate management. It features a respected and experienced academic editorial team. It is an academic synthesis of theory and practical case-studies.