SEL's report on effective planning for marine renewable energy, Avoiding Conflicts in the Marine Environment, was launched in Edinburgh on 17th June to an audience from the renewables sector, government agencies, and SEL’s membership.  The report’s vision is to create a thriving industry that will help reduce the causes of climate change and bring secure long-term jobs, whilst safeguarding a diverse and productive sea.

Our new Marine Policy Advocacy Officer is now in post, working alongside our existing Marine Officer, supporting the Marine Taskforce on monitoring the implementation of the new Marine Act.  The Marine Taskforce has commented on two consultations – the Marine Nature Conservation Strategy, and 'Marine Protected Areas in the seas around Scotland: Guidelines on the selection of MPAs and development of the MPA network’ and contributed to the UK Joint Links response to the pre-consultation on the draft UK Marine Policy Statement.

The Sustainable Land Use Taskforce is continuing in its preparations for its conference in early November on the SLU Strategy including collating a set of ten case studies that demonstrate sustainable land use already in practice in various areas of Scotland.  The Taskforce also responded to the Scottish Government LUS SEA Scoping report.

Our SOA taskforce is currently raising funds in order to commission an audit of Scottish Local Authority Single Outcome Agreements.

At SEL’s AGM in June, Deborah Long was appointed by LINK members as new LINK Chair, accompanied by Dan Barlow as Vice Chair and Paul Ritchie as Treasurer.  Ian McCall and David Downie both stepped down from the Board.

The Scottish Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill has now been published and the WaNE taskforce is following the Bill closely for deer management and non-native species concerns.

SEL’s Environmental Funders Taskforce has been in discussions with the Big Lottery Fund regarding mainstreaming good environmental practice in their programmes.

SEL’s rolling manifesto is in the process of being drafted by members in advance of the 2011 Scottish Parliamentary elections.