An Inverness student has become the first winner of an award from the Scottish Land Commission to enhance her research.
Heloise Le Moal, a forest management student at the University of the Highlands and Islands, has been given £1,000 to travel to France, Belgium and Switzerland where she will consider the approaches taken to forestry ownership and management, comparing them with the methods used in Scotland.
Her work will involve exploring the historical development of the woodlands and analysing how they are managed and who the main benefactors are.
The 26-year-old said: “I am fascinated by land reform, as the good use of land has never been as crucial to tackle climate change as now.
“I hope my research on municipal forests in Belgium, Switzerland and France will allow a better understanding of forest ownership and management on the continent, at a local level.
“As a young woman in forestry I am thrilled to get this chance and I am very grateful to the Scottish Land Commission.”
Scottish Land Commission chief executive Hamish Trench said: “Heloise’s research connects to some very current issues for land reform in Scotland, including climate change, co-operative land ownership and local governance.
“Her research will add to our increasing number of international case studies that help us to stimulate new ways of thinking about land ownership and use in Scotland.”