The Governance Guide, published by the Scottish Land Commission, brings together stories from across Scotland that show how different approaches to decision-making can unlock innovation and make land work for everyone.

The guide aims to demystify governance – the structures and processes that shape how land is owned and managed – and make it easier for people to take action. Instead of promoting a single solution, it highlights the different ways communities and landowners can work together to make land management more effective, fair, and sustainable.

One example featured in the guide is Lister Housing Co-operative Ltd, Scotland’s oldest housing co-operative. For nearly 50 years, Lister has provided affordable homes in central Edinburgh. It was formed after local residents, students, and lecturers successfully stopped the demolition of Georgian tenement buildings in the Old Town, instead taking ownership and control of the properties through a co-operative model.

Today, Lister houses nearly 400 people in 185 properties and gives tenants a direct say in how their homes are managed.

John Rankin, CEO at Lister Housing Co-operative, highlights the advantages of this approach to decision-making. He said: “All kinds of social housing provide access to affordable housing. What sets us apart is that the co-operative model gives people the opportunity to be in charge of their own destiny. Tenants value our independence and this form of local self-control.”

Another example of collaborative land management is Doune Ponds, a successful partnership between Moray Estates and the Doune Community Woodland Group. Thanks to the hard work of local volunteers and estate staff, the site has been transformed into a thriving community resource, giving people access to nature while ensuring the land is well cared for.

Working closely with the Doune Community Woodland Group, Rory McLeod, Doune Estate manager, Moray Estates, added: “When I started working for Moray Estates, the management of Doune Ponds was one of the first projects I got stuck into. Working with the Doune Community Woodland Group was a great way for me to get to know the local community, where a common interest meant that progress could be made very quickly.

“Thanks to the work of the amazing volunteers, who attend work parties every week, pretty much whatever the weather or whatever the task is in-hand, the Ponds have been transformed into a wonderful local resource to allow the local community to access nature right on their doorstep.”

These stories, among many others in the guide, illustrate how landowners, communities, and others can work together in a way that benefits everyone. They also demonstrate the importance of having governance structures in place that enable collaboration, ensuring projects can be sustained and continue to grow over time.

James MacKessack-Leitch, policy and practice lead at the Scottish Land Commission, added: “The Governance Guide brings together inspiring and often untold stories from across Scotland and beyond that show how land can deliver for people and prosperity in innovative ways. The range of case studies highlights the transformative power of collaboration between individuals, communities, landowners, and the public sector, showing what can be achieved when different parties come together around a shared aspiration.”

“The guide provides a clear demonstration that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to how land is owned and used and is more than just a publication - it is a call to action to explore innovative approaches and take proactive steps towards new ways of working together. It is also a dynamic resource that we will continue to update as more innovation emerges.”

The Governance Guide is now available on the Scottish Land Commission website and invites communities, landowners and policymakers to explore an ever-growing collection of case studies and insights into innovative approaches to land ownership, management, and use.