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By Jayne Ashley, Head of Natural Capital 

The South of Scotland has been officially designated as the nation’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone (NCIZ).  Our Head of Natural Capital, Jayne Ashley writes about what it means and the importance of harnessing the power of natural capital in the South.

I am privileged to witness first-hand the incredible potential that our natural capital holds for the South of Scotland.  Natural Capital is not always fully understood or acknowledged, and therefore there’s the risk it may not be fully realised. But we do things differently in the South of Scotland, we can make sure this doesn’t happen here and use the strength of being the new NCIZ to tackle the dual climate and nature crises and deliver the wellbeing economy.

The South of Scotland designation as Scotland’s NCIZ is an amazing opportunity, but what does this mean, and how can we harness its power for a better future? 

The NCIZ covers a region which is ‘perfect positioned to drive change due to its unique and unrivalled qualities.’  There are three main strengths, which, when combined, sets the South of Scotland apart from anywhere else.   

The first of these strengths is our vast natural capital assets that support and shape the region’s communities, economy and the businesses operating here.  The South of Scotland represents a fifth of Scotland’s land mass, with all the great strengths of coastal and marine life, dark skies, robust agricultural and forestry sectors, stunning landscapes and natural beauty. This makes natural capital one of our key investment opportunities.

The second is our strong partnerships. We have a strong and ambitious Regional Economic Partnership (REP) in the South, who are fully committed to exploring opportunities to deliver a ‘green fair and flourishing’ South of Scotland. The ‘Team South’ approach has shown that commitment time and time again and most recently by being the first area in Scotland to publish a Regional Land Use Framework (RLUF) which sets out our collective vision for land use across the South to address the climate and biodiversity crises.  Both partnerships build on a long and successful history of third sector delivery from a range of inspiring organisations across the South of Scotland.

The third strength is our powerful and ambitious entrepreneurial mindset here in the South. There is  fantastic innovation right across the region as communities and business sectors work to become more robust and resilient. There is still so much to do but every day we see more and more the incredible willing spirit of ambition to keep innovating and delivering better outcomes.

These three strengths combined is what makes us the NCIZ and this provides a huge opportunity to drive forward the wellbeing economy and help Scotland address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change through furthering natural capital opportunities, attracting responsible investment and progressing innovation.

The NCIZ shines a spotlight on the South of Scotland’s activity and approach, allowing us to innovation through collaboration and at scale.  The NCIZ will allow the South of Scotland to be a ‘living lab’, tackling critical regional, national and global issues and share our learnings across Scotland and beyond. Enhancing our natural capital assets is essential to ensure the success of our businesses and communities

The South of Scotland is uniquely positioned to lead the way in harnessing the power of natural capital and being awarded the badge of the NCIZ confirms that. No other area has it - so we need to celebrate it and talk about it as much as possible. By working together and embracing innovative solutions, we can tackle the climate and nature crises while creating a fairer and more prosperous society for all. 

It’s the right place, we have the right people and it’s the right time for the South of Scotland! 

 

So, if you are a business or organisation who is proud to be doing great things in the South of Scotland, you’re part of the NCIZ!  Download your NCIZ badge here and display on your website, social media channels and documents. 

For more information about why the South of Scotland is a great place to invest and do business visit www.investinsouthofscotland.com