Scotland's rural land use agencies

"The three major agencies which, along with the Department of Agriculture, have governed the management of rural Scotland for the greater part of the twentieth century, bear a heavy responsibility for the present state of Scotland's land use. Reorganisation in the early 1990s has not apparently brought radical change to these agencies, and Donald Mackay's investigation into the history and effectiveness of the Forestry Commission, Nature Conservancy Council, and Countryside Commission for Scotland makes, in part, worrying reading." "What does the future hold for Scotland's rural land management? Who should manage Scotland's rural heritage?" "In this well-researched and easy to read volume, Donald Mackay presents evidence of compartmentalism and lack of commitment to Scotland; previously unpublished material throws light on the piecemeal approach that, at times, the agencies gave to this highly topical and emotionally charged issue." "Scotland's Rural Land Use Agencies is an invaluable resource book for anyone interested in the political and social implications of the work carried out in the past by these organisations. The final chapter provides an outline of a possible way forward, but one which would need to be acted on firmly and promptly - cosmetic changes are not enough."--Jacket.