Rural Scotland in Focus Report 2010

This report has been written by researchers from SAC?s Rural Policy Centre, along with contributions from specialist authors from partner organisations, in transport, health, environment, the voluntary sector and rural services. It presents the latest evidence about the way that rural Scotland is changing and provides a commentary on specific issues, challenges and opportunities across the economic, environmental and social landscape of Scotland?s rural areas. The report is structured around a series of questions on topical issues: ? How is Scotland?s rural population changing? ? How resilient is the rural economy to the current recession? ? What is the future for Scotland?s rural infrastructure and services? ? How are Scotland?s rural communities taking ownership of their own future? ? What impact will climate change have on rural Scotland? ? How effectively is water quality being managed? ? How well is farmland biodiversity being maintained? ? What future for upland biodiversity?