Scotland’s Environment and Rural Services (SEARS) is a partnership between eight
public bodies
A statutory corporation is a government entity created as a statutory body by statute. Their precise nature varies by jurisdiction, thus, they are statutes owned by a government or controlled by national or sub-national government to the (in so ...
aiming to improve experience among Scotland's land managers by working together to provide an efficient and effective service.
The SEARS partners are:
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Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), formerly known as the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) of the United Kingdom.
It was fo ...
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Cairngorms National Park Authority
Cairngorms National Park ( gd, Pàirc Nàiseanta a' Mhonaidh Ruaidh) is a national park in northeast Scotland, established in 2003. It was the second of two national parks established by the Scottish Parliament, after Loch Lomond and The Tross ...
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Crofters Commission
The Crofting Commission ( gd, Coimisean na Croitearachd) took the place of the Crofters Commission ( gd, Coimisean nan Croitearan) on 1 April 2012 as the statutory regulator for crofting in Scotland. Based in Inverness, it is an executive non-de ...
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA; gd, Buidheann Dìon Àrainneachd na h-Alba) is Scotland's environmental regulator and national flood forecasting, flood warning and strategic flood risk management authority.Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate
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Scottish Natural Heritage
NatureScot ( gd, NàdarAlba), which was formerly known as Scottish Natural Heritage, is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government responsible for the country's natural heritage, especially its natural, genetic and s ...
History
SEARS launched as a partnership of nine organisations in 2008. The
Deer Commission for Scotland
The Deer Commission for Scotland was an executive non-departmental body of the Scottish Government. It was responsible for the conservation, control and sustainable management of all species of wild deer in Scotland. It also acted as the Gover ...
, which was formerly a member, was abolished and its functions transferred to Scottish Natural Heritage on 1 August 2010.
SEARS marked its first anniversary by publication of its first annual review at the Royal Highland Show 2009 by Environment Minister
Roseanna Cunningham
Roseanna Cunningham (born 27 July 1951) is a retired Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who served as Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform from 2016 to 2021. She was previously Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work ...
MSP.
Among the key service improvements since SEARS got underway in June 2008 are annual savings of almost £150,000 to the sheep farming industry in annual groundwater licence charge waivers and around 2,200 less inspections for land managers.