Scottish Environment Link have published a report entitled 'Living with the land', which offers suggestions and thoughts for Scotland's Sustainable land use strategy, due to be produced by 2011.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), home of the Community Land Unit, are planning to redesign their website.  

The Community Land Unit at Highlands and Islands Enterprise are running a one day training course looking at community land initiatives as social enterprises.

An extensive set of training materials to help with managing community assets, is now available to registered members of SCotLaNd, thanks to funding provided by the Community Land Unit at HIE.

The West Harris Crofting Trust will formally take control of three crofting estates in the west of the island today.

Funding of £96.6 million was awarded in the most recent round of the Rural Priorities fund, whilst application deadlines have been extended slightly in the spring round to take account of the bad weather.

The Brian Pack inquiry into the future of agricultural funding in Scotland has published its interim report.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have launched a consultation to gather people's views on the creation of additional Special Protection Areas (SPAs) to protect the golden eagle in Scotland.

There's two new opportunities to learn more about crofting this month with the start of the Crofting Induction courses and a new Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) briefing on the Crofting Reform bill.

So far 2010 hasn't been overly endowed with good news stories, so it's nice to hear of the mystery purchase of a new van for the Uig community shop.

The Open University has recently launched a new short course entitled 'Sustainable Scotland'. 

John Watt, director of the strengthening communities department at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) received an OBE in the New Year Honours list.

The E.On sustainable energy fund offers grants of up to £20,000 to community groups and not-for-profit organisations who want to implement sustainable energy projects in their buildings.

The Isle of Eigg are one of three communities who have shared a £1million prize in the Big Green Challenge, whilst the Argyll island of Easdale are one of the fourteen finalists in the Scottish Gas Green Streets initiative.