Nature markets are here to stay, whether we like it or not. Contrary to much current opinion, such markets, which include carbon markets, biodiversity markets, and other emerging ecosystem markets, don’t have to be negative. With the right checks and balances they can open up opportunities for communities who may feel threatened by them. This is something SEDA Land will be exploring in two events: Carbon Finance – COMMUNITY BENEFITS and GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT.

We will start by looking at communities and how they may be affected. Most people agree that communities should be better engaged and benefit more from ecosystem markets, but it is not clear how this should be done, or how local residents and communities might be compensated under a public funding model. We will discuss this in the first of the two events, ‘Carbon Finance – Community Benefits’.

There are growing concerns about the impact of private investment on land prices, tenant farmers and local communities, and the potential for greenwashing. Some, including Lorna Slater, minister for the circular economy and biodiversity in the Scottish Government, argue that the scale and speed of change needed to meet net zero targets in the land sector necessitates private investment. Others argue that private investment is only necessary because of government’s failure to prioritise climate action, and that the focus should be on progressive taxation to fund nature-based solutions.

Here are some themes that are going to be discussed in the two sessions

• Who are the greatest winners and losers likely to be, and how might those with least power shape and benefit from these markets, as part of a just transition to net zero? 

• If there is to be a role for private finance in this transition, how can high-integrity markets and regulation be designed to protect tenants, communities and the public interest? 

• Should rural communities be actively engaging in these markets, passively sharing profits from local schemes, or would they be better off without these markets at all? 

• Could a carbon emissions land tax fill the gap in public finances that markets are trying to plug? 

• Might a combination of new taxes and new markets be the only way to reach the tree planting and peatland restoration targets recommended by the UK Committee on Climate Change? 

CHAIR: Miriam Brett

Co-Director, Future Economy Scotland

Miriam is one of the Co-Directors of Future Economy Scotland. She is also an advisory group member of Common Wealth think tank, a board member of Green New Deal Rising, and a research fellow at The Democracy Collaborative and the Wellbeing Economy Alliance. She sits on the expert panel for the North Ayrshire Community Wealth Building strategy, and was also a member of the Scottish Land Commission tax and land working group. Miriam most recently worked as director of research and advocacy for Common Wealth think tank. Prior to that, she was international development finance manager for an independent watchdog to the IMF and World Bank, Bretton Woods Project. Before this, Miriam was senior economic advisor to the SNP Westminster group, and a policy analyst at the Common Weal. 

Prof Mark Reed

Professor of Rural Entrepreneurship, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)

Mark Reed is Professor of Rural Entrepreneurship and Director of the Thriving Natural Capital Challenge Centre at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). He is Research Manager for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) UK Peatland Programme and a member of IUCN's international Committee on Ecosystem Management. He is a core member of UKRI-BBSRC's Bioscience for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Strategy Advisory Panel, helping BBSRC formulate its strategy for agriculture and food security. Mark is a transdisciplinary researcher specializing in environmental governance and research impact. He works with rural communities to enhance the governance of natural and agri-food systems, and his research on impact is changing the way researchers around the world generate and share knowledge so they can change the world. Find out more at: https://www.profmarkreed.com/

Hamish Trench

Chief Executive, Scottish Land Commission

Hamish Trench is Chief Executive of the Scottish Land Commission, a public body stimulating fresh thinking in how we own and use land in Scotland. The Commission advises Scottish Government and Parliament on land reform and works with land owners, managers and communities to support good practice. The Commission has recently published advice on ‘Natural Capital and Land Reform: Next Steps for a Just Transition (landcommission.gov.scot).

Alan McCombes

Public Affairs Adviser,  John Muir Trust

Alan McCombes has worked for the John Muir Trust since 2012, in a range of roles including media manager, communications editor and public affairs manager. He has also been involved been involved in policy development with a strong focus on land reform, a just transition to net zero in   the land sector, and the carbon emissions land tax. He lives in Blairgowrie.

Jon Hollingdale

Independent land use consultant

Jon Hollingdale is an independent land use consultant who has written on land use and green finance, including "The credibility gap for green finance" and "Green finance, land reform and a just transition to net zero", both commissioned by Community Land Scotland. Jon recently stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of the Community Woodlands Association, established in 2003 as the direct representative body of Scotland’s community woodland groups. Formerly a harvesting contractor in SE England, he has been working with and for community woodland groups across Scotland since 1999.