European Landscape Convention

The European Landscape Convention (ELC) is a Council of Europe initiative that highlights the importance of all landscapes and encourages more attention to their care and planning. The UK signed up to the convention in 2006, and it now provides a framework for our work for Scotland's landscapes.

This 3 minute film provides an insight to the ELC's approach based on a set of five principles:

• Our landscape - people, from all cultures and communities, lie at the heart of efforts for landscape, as we all share an interest in, and responsibility for, its well-being.
• All landscapes - the landscape is important everywhere, not just in special places and whether beautiful or degraded.
• Changing landscapes - landscapes will continue to evolve in response to our needs, but this change needs to be manged.
• Understanding landscapes - better awareness and understanding of our landscapes and the benefits they provide is required.
• Tomorrow's landscapes - an inclusive, integrated and forward-looking approach to managing the landscapes we have inherited, and in shaping new ones, is required.

To find out more about the European Landscape Convention see the Council of Europe's website  . 

UK Landscape Award

Scottish Natural Heritage supports the UK Landscape Award of the European Landscape Convention (ELC), which is run every 2 years. Information on the 2010 Award, including the entrants and Scottish winner, can be found on the award website  .

Extracts from the convention

Selected text from the Convention.