Wildlife Estates Scotland (Wes)

Wildlife Estates Scotland illustrates how land management undertaken by landowners across Scotland, is in line with the principles of biodiversity conservation and can deliver multiple benefits for society and rural communities.

The WES Initiative was launched on 23 November 2010 by the then Scottish Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham and so far over 200 land and estate based businesses have signed up. Developed by Scottish Land & Estates and the Scottish Estates Business Group with advice from Scottish Natural Heritage, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Cairngorms National Park Authority, it is hoped many more will join up in the next year to strengthen WES and support biodiversity through official adherence to accredited land management practices.

WES is a national version of the EU Wildlife Estates (WE) label. This European project has been in development for a number of years and is being rolled out across member states including Scotland. A pilot scheme for WES was launched in the Cairngorms National Park in July 2011.