The twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss open up massive land use issues, says Prof. Roger Crofts. “Unless these are discussed and tackled as a matter of urgency, the current conflicts between what we demand from the land are going to get much worse.”

Land, he says, is needed for so many purposes – to expand food production for local consumption and export; to plant trees for carbon offsetting and supplying the timber industry; for restoring nature, protecting soils and recovering wetlands; for producing renewable energy; and for housing and economic development.

As founder Chief Executive of Scottish Natural Heritage and Convenor of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Environmental group, he is well placed to ask the big questions about land use. How should we decide to get multiple benefits from land use changes? And who decides, communities or governments or markets or just whatever turns up? His presentation of the issues is followed by a short break for tea/coffee and then a discussion with Howie Firth bringing out audience questions.

This event is part of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s programme of environmental dialogues.