William will be your guide in the fast evolving natural capital sector
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Landowners and rural businesses can receive expert guidance in how to make the most of their natural assets thanks to a new service from international estate agent Savills.
Savills' natural capital team draws on the firm's Scotland-wide expertise in strategic planning, forestry, farming, valuation, habitat restoration, policy and research.
The company's head of natural capital in Scotland, William Hawes, said: “Natural capital is a term with which the sector is becoming increasingly familiar, but it’s a fast-evolving and therefore potentially daunting subject.
“Natural capital refers to the world’s stocks of natural assets including geology, soil, air, water and all living things. Both society and business are placing a higher value than ever on the sources of the services that nature provides.
"As rural businesses redouble their commitments as stewards of their environment, land managers seek clear guidance on incorporating natural capital into their decision-making to ensure that the associated risks and opportunities are identified and assessed."
Savills, which has north of Scotland offices in Inverness and Aberdeen, is already working with a number of rural businesses to maximise their natural capital opportunities.
Mr Hawes commented: “For strategies to be deliverable they have to be proportionate to the scale of the business and aligned with its wider objectives. There is no one-size fits all solution, but understanding each business, its objectives and its relationship to the environment is key to building resilience in the face of changing societal, economic and political agendas.
“The climate crisis will rightly be a critical driver in decision making at all levels now and into the future. Scottish rural businesses have a unique opportunity to contribute to the solution through their extensive natural capital resources. As such this is a really exciting time for the Scottish rural sector as it plays a central and expanding role in enhancing the environment through land management.”
