About Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape

Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape (CALL) is one of the larger landscape-scale restoration projects in Europe, covering 635 square kilometres, included within a 40-year vision. The project area is blessed with some of the most dramatic and instantly recognisable landscapes in the British Isles, and within these some of the rarest and most endangered habitats.

Vision

“It is 2050. The communities of Coigach and Assynt are
working together to achieve a truly living landscape through:
improved understanding of and connection with their environment;
functional ecosystems which can mitigate and adapt to
the impacts of the climate and biodiversity crises;
nature-based local employment and training opportunities; and
recognition of communities’ strong cultural heritage linked to the land”.

Values

  1. Nature as the foundation: all initiatives will be focused on Nature in some way.
  2. Working in Partnership: all initiatives should involve more than one partner; differences between partners should be respected.
  3. Multiple Benefits: all initiatives should aspire to deliver benefits to the wider community where possible.
  4. Monitoring as a core part of Building Knowledge: all initiatives should contain an element of monitoring to help improve understanding which will then be used to feedback into ongoing or developing projects.
  5. Inclusiveness: all initiatives must be open to local groups and local people whose opinion and ideas will be valued. We acknowledge and value the wider community of interest, and seek to learn from others.
  6. Complementary working: the initiative will look to contribute to the relevant development objectives wherever possible.
  7. Pool Knowledge and Resources: partners will share both knowledge and resources in order to reduce potential duplication and to ensure good value for money.
  8. Openness and Transparency: information regarding meetings and activities will be disseminated as appropriate. There will be openness and transparency between partners.
  9. Cultural Heritage: all initiatives will seek to take account of and build on the strong cultural links there have been to the land historically and into the present day. This will include appropriate use of the Gaelic language in communications materials and projects.
  10. Equality and respect: the group will function as a collective, and every partner will have an equal voice, irrespective of their financial contribution. All those involved will be treated with equality and respect.

Objectives

  1. Nature & Landscape: To deliver positive outcomes for nature and landscape, improving the condition and resilience of natural habitats in response to the climate and biodiversity crises.
  2. Research: To promote and improve the shared knowledge base and increase understanding of how to move towards functioning ecosystems across the area, to enable both resilience to climate change, and provision of valuable socioeconomic benefits and services.
  3. Working collaboratively: To maintain and expand our strong partnership, involving the wider community, crofters, stakeholders, and landowners, and work together to implement a shared vision and objectives.
  4. Knowledge exchange: To share knowledge and understanding, through communication and engagement. To encourage both residents and visitors to connect with nature.
  5. Securing Benefits: To support a vibrant and growing local human population through:
    • functional ecosystems
    • creating training and employment opportunities
    • wellbeing and identity, linked to the sustainable use of the land and its cultural significance.

CALLP Partners © Mark Foxwell