This November, we were delighted to welcome visitors from the Contracts2.0 initiative to the Game & Wildlife Scotland Demonstration Farm at Auchnerran.
Comprising 26 partners across 12 European countries, delegates were in Aberdeen to attend a cross-working party meeting. The main objective of Contracts2.0 is to develop novel contracts-based approaches to incentivise farmers for the increased provision of environmental public goods alongside private goods. It is particularly focused on results-based approaches, improving environmental outcomes at landscape-scale and valuing environmental goods to increase regional added value.
Joining us on a cold but thankfully dry day at Auchnerran, Ross Macleod and Marlies Nicolai described the background to the GWSDF both as a productive sheep management unit and host to a range of wildlife and natural assets. They also outlined current areas of research and contrasted activities with those on the GWCT’s other demonstration farm in Leicestershire. Touring the farm to look at game crops, features of our participation in the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme and the geography of the surrounding Cromar area, we discussed local collaborative work, Farmer Clusters and Natural Capital initiatives. A lively discussion ensued, with loads of questions and comparisons drawn with schemes in different countries.
We look forward to maintaining and building our links with Contracts2.0!