Burness Paull has signed an agreement to become the exclusive Scottish Law Firm pro-bono partner of the Lifescape Project.
Lifescape Project is a specialist charity set up to promote the creation, restoration and protection of wild landscapes, including in Scotland.
Bringing together science, technology, law, economics and communications, the Lifescape Project team has set ambitious targets to drive change and build support for and facilitate rewilding and species reintroduction. The charity’s work also includes using legal mechanisms to protect and support nature and wild places.
One strand of the project driving forward this groundbreaking work is the Natural Capital Laboratory. Set up in partnership with landowners Roger and Emilia Lease, AECOM and the University of Cumbria, it aims to rewild 100 acres of land in the Highlands, restoring native forest and peatlands, and trying to change people’s perception of nature, encouraging them to ask more of their landscapes and see them as assets to be protected and invested in for future gain.
Data and technology are at the centre of how the lab operates. Drones creating 3D models and audio masts based on remote sensing technology first used in marine settings collect information, which is then analysed by algorithms to monitor how the landscape is changing over time and what needs to be done to restore it.
The Lifescape Project’s legal work is underpinned by its strong belief that law provides one of the most powerful tools in catalysing positive change for nature. The charity’s legal work to date has included spearheading a Scottish judicial review challenging beaver culling licenses issued by NatureScot (on which Burness Paull acted) and international litigation aiming to protect valuable forest ecosystems.
Peter Lawson, Chair of Burness Paull said:
“We are always looking at how we can engage with our clients and communities on innovative partnerships to bring about change. With real world ESG and sustainability high on our agenda, the opportunity to work with the Lifescape Project on exciting initiatives that will make a tangible difference to our environment and those who rely on it was a perfect fit.
“We aim to be “human and high performing” in all that we do as a firm, and this couldn’t be better reflected than in the work of the Lifescape Project, as they bring together the latest in innovative technology and science with the positive societal impact of their actions on the surrounding communities.
“We are really looking forward to working with the Lifescape Project on a range of initiatives from its substantive legal projects in Scotland to more unusual projects like feasibility studies on the reintroduction of native species and collaborating with landowners and government bodies on making “green investments” work for all parties.”
Adam Eagle, the Lifescape Project’s CEO said:
“We want to provide a sustainable future for life on earth through projects which create, promote and restore wild landscapes. We think about our financial and real estate assets, but often natural assets such as woodland and peat bogs are not seen in the same way. They can provide far reaching benefits beyond the obvious – for example we think of the value of timber from a forest, but what of the flood prevention benefits to local communities or the mitigation of disastrous climate change? In order to bring about this change, we need to be surrounded by a team who shares our passion for thinking differently and being open to new and exciting ways of doing things to achieve tangible results. Through our partnership with Burness Paull we look forward to working with the team to continue to make ideas of ecological restoration a reality.”
Burness Paull will provide a range of specialist advice including on groundbreaking forms of legal protections for rewilded land, researching and drafting briefing notes on legal issues impacting rewilding practitioners, as well as advice on funding and grants documentation, charity regulation and compliance advice and commercial contracts.
