Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider FRI 8TH AUG 2025    7:44:53 AM BST
This site uses cookies, by continuing to use this site you accept the terms of our privacy policy
Back To Top
Caithness.Org Quick Links
Home
Construction
Leisure
Manufacturing
Misc.
Primary
Professional
Public
Retail
Tourism
Transport
Site Map
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Feed 2.0 Loading...

Highland Council Ecology Strategy And Action Plan Gets Green Light

15th November 2024

At the Economy and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday 14 November 2024 councillors adopted an ambitious action plan to tackle biodiversity loss and support a nature-positive Highland.

The Council's Ecology Strategy and Action Plan Strategy sets out and defines a series of key actions and activities that will assist the Council to deliver positive action to tackle biodiversity loss and start to address the ecological emergency for the benefit of its environment, economy, and communities.

Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans very much welcomed the commitment to put the environment at the heart of future decision-making processes.

He said: "The purpose of the Ecology Strategy is to set out and define a series of key actions and activities that will help the Council deliver positive action to tackle biodiversity loss

"Key to going forward is having a proactive approach and a long-term vision with the ability to overcome challenges. We cannot continue a "Business as Usual approach" - significant changes are necessary across the Council to integrate biodiversity measures into all our operations and services

"I would like to sincerely thank everyone who took part in our consultation - individuals who engaged with the portal we used to capture their comments, community councils who took part in a dedicated on-line session, partnership agencies including High Life Highland, NatureScot, Scottish Forestry, and other members of the Highland Environment Forum and everyone, including members, who participated in the workshops that were held.

Biodiversity is one of Highland's greatest economic assets, contributing over £17 billion annually to Scotland's economy.

Councillor Gowans added: "Embracing the ‘green economy' and fostering new green industries is essential. Through leadership and exemplary action, we can drive transformative efforts to address biodiversity loss in Highland."

The actions identified in the Action Plan concentrate on the three key areas

These are:
• the management of the Council's estate
• influencing others through policy and regulation
• working in partnership with communities and stakeholders

The Strategy recognises that the ecological emergency is a constantly evolving issue, and the Strategy will be kept as a live and agile document. Actions will be regularly reviewed in order to adapt to new or revised threats, incorporate new actions and activities, and consider new and emerging opportunities and projects to drive forward our response to the ecological emergency.

Members noted the positive response to the public consultation and then went on to approve the Strategy and associated actions.

www.kelvinprobe.com]Read the full report HERE[/url]
61 Pages - Word doc

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

6/8/2025
Caledonia North Offshore Wind Farm Planning Application today 6 AugustThumbnail for article : Caledonia North Offshore Wind Farm Planning Application today 6 August
Caledonia North Offshore Wind Farm - construction and operation of an offshore wind farm comprising up to 77 turbines with a maximum blade tip height of 355m, subsea interconnector and export cabling and associated infrastructure.   The north planning committee of Highland council will decide today 6 August 2025.  
5/8/2025
Council urges landowners to check for wind damaged trees and drainage issues
Following the high winds forecast and experienced due to Storm Floris, The Highland Council is encouraging landowners to check trees and vegetation near to public roads which may have been damaged.   Landowners are also asked to check the drainage from their property that it is not blocked and overflowing onto public roads.  
4/8/2025
Council to bring Community transport providers together
Representatives from across the Highlands are being invited to a meeting that will focus on the current provision and future of Community Transport.   The event, organised and hosted by The Highland Council, will take place at Council HQ in Inverness on Wednesday 13 August.  
21/7/2025
Results Helpline to support pupils in the Highlands with SQA results
Young people in the Highlands can call a dedicated helpline offering expert advice to anyone receiving their full Higher, National, and Advanced results on Tuesday, 5 August 2025.   The pupils and students- along with their parents and carers - will be able to get support with their results through Skills Development Scotland's (SDS) Results Helpline, which opens from 8am on results day.  
Renewable energy firm ENERCON welcomed to Wick Business Park
Wick Business Park has welcomed wind energy technology company ENERCON as the first occupant of one of four new units completed last year.   ENERCON specialises in designing, producing, installing and servicing onshore wind turbines and has been operating in the Caithness area since 2013.  
3/7/2025
Bringing more empty homes back into use
Additional empty homes officers are being recruited to bring more privately owned houses back into use.   The new posts are being supported as part of a £2 million investment through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership in 2025-26 which will see staff take a more proactive and targeted approach to tackling local housing issues.  
2/7/2025
Community-Led Local Development Fund distributes over £900k to support projects in Highland
The Highland Strategic Local Action Group (LAG) met in June 2025 and considered and agreed funding for 28 projects submitted to the Community-Led Local Development fund (CLLD), which makes up part of The Highland Council Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) programme.   CRF is an umbrella term used to cover multiple external funding programmes administered by The Highland Council.  
2/7/2025
Community benefits funding delivers educational resources to Highland schoolsThumbnail for article : Community benefits funding delivers educational resources to Highland schools
Highland Council has provided 12 ‘Talking Tub' resources for use in primary schools across the Highlands, in partnership with Union Technical who deliver community benefits as part of the Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Scheme programme.   Chair of Highland Council's Education Committee, Councillor John Finlayson, said: "This is a fantastic initiative being rolled out across Highland primary schools which brings innovation and inspiration to early years children.  
1/7/2025
Additional bins will help keep popular visitor spots tidy
Visitors will find it easier to dispose of their litter at several popular spots across Highland after the rollout of additional bins.  The rollout has been planned to support the tourism season as part of the Council's ongoing commitment to improve and support sustainable tourism in the area.  
27/6/2025
Accounts Commission commends Highland Council's culture of transformation
Members of the meeting of The Highland Council (26 June 2025) have considered and agreed the Accounts Commission's Best Value report, which was published in April 2025 and highlights organisational improvements across leadership, performance management and community engagement.   In April’s report, the Accounts Commission recognised and welcomed significant progress within the organisation since the 2020 Best Value Assurance Report (BVAR) and commended the embedded culture of transformation.