Central Scotland Forest Trust (CSFT) has been awarded the Partnership of the Year at the Backing Falkirk’s Future Awards 2012 for its involvement in The Helix ILM (Intermediate Labour Market) project which has helped local youngsters to gain invaluable skills and experience which will positively influence their level of future employability.
The Ecosystems Knowledge Network is a new, online resource for anyone wanting to share knowledge or learn about the practical benefits of an ecosystems approach to both people and nature. An ecosystems approach is a holistic and inclusive approach to looking after the natural environment, and this new website explains the terms and what an ecosystem approach means in practice.
Recently the Scottish Government set out its plans and a timetable to prepare a new National Planning Framework, NPF3.
In response, the CSGN Partnership Board and lead partners are taking steps to make the case for the CSGN to remain as a National Development in NPF3. The first step is to submit a nomination proposal form for the CSGN to remain as a National Development to the Scottish Government by 14 December 2014.
Filling gaps in information is a key activity for the CSGN, as such, we recently embarked upon a piece of work which will lead to a definition of ‘green’ or ‘low carbon’ jobs. This study will then go on to quantify the number of Scottish and CSGN employees in this ‘sector’.
Using this data, CSGN will investigate how ‘green jobs’ have been affected in the economic downturn, examine the number and type of hidden ‘green jobs’ within firms, and explore opportunities for growth in this area from environmentally based activities, goods and services.
SEPA has been working with partner organisations to prepare a draft supplementary plan for the River Basin Management Plans on ‘Improving the physical condition of Scotland’s water environment’. Paul Wheelhouse, Scottish Government Minister for Environment and Climate Change, recently launched the consultation document and announced funding for pilot catchment projects.
In a change to the previously promoted course, Forth Environment Link is now offering places on an ILM Level 2 Certificate in Enterprise. This course replaces, and is an upgrade to the ILM Level 2 Award in Exploring Business Enterprise.
The course, run in conjunction with SRUC Elmwood Campus in Fife, is suitable for anyone wanting to set up a business or diversifying an existing business relating to orchards and orchard fruit. The tutor for the course will be David Rankin, Training Associate at SRUC Elmwood Campus.
The course is open to anyone in the Central Scotland Green Network area, although priority will go to applicants from Clackmannanshire, Falkirk or Stirling Local Authority areas.
The course, which is a project of the Forth Valley Orchards’ Initiative, is a contribution towards developing the economic potential of Forth Valley’s orchards, and aims to offer individuals the opportunity to explore the implications of working for themselves and start planning and preparing for the practical and personal challenges of launching their new business. Please note that the focus of the course will be on exploring business rather than specifically on orchards.
Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) are encouraging anyone with proposals for strategic projects that will help to deliver the CSGN to prepare for the forthcoming launch of the latest round of the CSGN Development Fund.
FCS and SNH (lead partners for the CSGN initiative) will shortly be inviting applications for new projects starting in April 2013 and are encouraging anyone with potential applications to contact them to discuss their ideas at an early stage.