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MINISTERIAL FOREWORD
The Scottish Government has one, clear purpose: to focus the Government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth.
Scotland's soils perform a large number of economic and environmental functions. Many industries, including farming and food production, forestry and tourism, depend on the sustainable use of soils. Soil management also plays an important role in sustainable flood management. Thus protecting Scotland's soils aligns with and supports the Government purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth.
In Scotland we have strong track record in soil protection. Research shows our soils are generally in good shape. However, there is no room for complacency, and pressures on soils need to be taken seriously in order to prevent soil degradation. The most significant of those pressures are climate change and soil organic matter loss. Whilst there are uncertainties as to how exactly a future climate will impact on Scotland's soils, there is a risk that other threats like erosion, compaction, loss of biodiversity and nutrient leaching may be exacerbated.
At the same time there are increasing, sometimes conflicting calls on Scotland's soil resource: there is rising demand for locally produced Scottish food; increasing requirement for infrastructure development as well as for forestry cover and renewable energy production.
We need to prepare for these future challenges and enhance the soils capacity to adapt to pressures under a changing climate. The Scottish Soil Framework was developed with key stakeholders, with the aim of raising the awareness about the services that soils provide to society and the pressures they face.
The objective of the Framework is to instigate a process by which key stakeholders will work together to achieve better soil protection. The multi-functionality of soil requires partnership and coordination with key delivery partners. To enable this the Scottish Government will facilitate liaison amongst relevant organisations.
Scotland's soils are one of the Nation's greatest natural assets. They are valuable, but vulnerable. It is important that we find effective ways to use them sustainably. We welcome your views on the Scottish Soil Framework, and hope that you will take this opportunity to consider what is best for the future of our soils.
Richard Lochhead MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment
Michael Russell MSP
Minister for Environment
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