People, land and the Environment
Multidisciplinary solutions for sustainable land use and community resilience
We support organisations in navigating the complex relationships between land, communities and the natural environment. By combining social science, environmental research and advanced analytical methods, we deliver practical, evidence-based solutions that inform policy, strengthen community initiatives and promote sustainable land management.
From strategic planning to grassroots engagement, we provide the tools and insights needed to build resilient, long-term relationships between people and the landscapes they depend on.
Integrating people, land, and environment for sustainable development
We bring a broad range of expertise to public and private sector projects that focuses on the critical connections between people, land, and the environment. Our research helps us uncover how people use and value land, integrating cultural, economic, and social dimensions to guide sustainable land use and management decisions.
Our range of expertise includes sustainability, social and economic dimensions of rural development, culture and social norms, local food, agriculture and wider food systems, transport, land management and transitions, energy, natural resource use, human-environment relationships, valuation of natural resources, governance and institutions, risk, communities and health.
Through community engagement and co-design, we can ensure local voices are included in decision-making, fostering collaboration and stakeholder buy-in. We can deliver training, workshops, and knowledge exchange activities to build capacity with stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
We have a range of tools to help explore behaviours and attitudes and facilitate participatory research. Our new immersive suite, opening in summer 2025, will provide a unique facility for engaging people with its 360⁰ screen and supporting technologies including augmented reality.
Antonia Boyce, Business Development Manager
James Hutton Institute Scientific Services bring a broad range of expertise to public and private sector projects that focuses on the critical connections between people, land, and the environment.
Research on people, land and the environment explores how human activities interact with landscapes, natural resources and ecosystems. Through collaborations involving James Hutton Institute Scientific Services, researchers investigate how land management decisions affect communities, agriculture and environmental sustainability.
Land is essential for food production, biodiversity, cultural heritage and economic activity. Understanding how communities interact with land helps inform better policies and management practices that balance environmental protection with social and economic needs.
Research supported by James Hutton Institute Scientific Services helps identify sustainable land use practices that support rural livelihoods, environmental protection and long-term community resilience.
