Crofters have greeted Scotland's new Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands with a 'to-do' list.

The Scottish Crofting Federation warned newly-appointed Mairi Gougeon that 'there is much to be done' to protect crofting and the island economies it underpins.

SCF chair Donald MacKinnon said: “We are pleased to see a strong cabinet appointed to lead Scotland, and welcome Mairi Gougeon as Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands. We are, of course, sad to see Fergus Ewing go as a strong rapport builds up with time and he had a good feel for crofting. But we are confident that Ms Gougeon has the experience and capacity to get to know crofting and our islands and to take them into consideration in forming policy. We need to see all policy ‘croft-proofed’ and ‘island-proofed’ before it is enacted.

"We have an immediate threat in the form of unbridled access to our markets for Australia’s, and possibly New Zealand’s, meat," said Mr MacKinnon. "This would be catastrophic for crofting and hill production. And what will our post-CAP agricultural support system look like? There has been advisory group after advisory group commissioned to offer recommendations on direction of travel but we have yet to see a plan for where we are going with this. Time is running out.

“SCF put many proposals to the parties before the election for what we would like to see the in-coming government commit to,” he continued, “and they still stand. High up with agricultural support comes the reform of crofting legislation and the National Development Plan for Crofting – both of which this government has pledged they will do in this term of office. It is essential that we get on with these three things.

“There are other important things included in our list,” he added, “and we will meet with the Cabinet Secretary as soon as possible to discuss them.”

Forestry sector body Confor welcomed Ms Gougeon as a politician who already had experience of tree-planting policy.

CEO Stuart Goodall said: “We’re sad to see Fergus Ewing go, but we are pleased that Rural Affairs retains Cabinet Secretary status – and that Mairi Gougeon has knowledge of the area as she was deputy to Fergus Ewing and Roseanna Cunningham for part of the last parliament.”

As Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy, Mr Ewing set up the Mackinnon Review in 2016, to look at the barriers to creating new woodland in Scotland, and led on the full devolution of forestry policy to Scotland. He also delivered the Scottish Forestry Strategy in 2019, a blueprint through to 2029 which has all-party support.

"Fergus Ewing leaves a powerful legacy – a new generation of modern, mixed-species and multi-purpose forests across Scotland and new-found confidence in the sector that government ambition can be turned into trees and jobs on the ground," said Mr Goodall. "He recognised new planting would deliver long-term economic and environmental benefits and linked up rural economy and climate change policy very effectively. He also worked closely with our industry, to better understand those businesses helping to provide more than 25,000 jobs across Scotland."

Mr Goodall said Mr Ewing had also understood farming and forestry were complementary and needed to work together effectively for the good of the wider rural economy: "He leaves behind an industry with real momentum – and cross-party support – we look forward to working with Mairi Gougeon to ensure that the momentum continues, so Scotland can continue to reap the environmental and economic benefits of mixed, modern forests and increasing use of Scottish wood."

Landowners body Scottish Land and Estates also paid tribute to Mr Ewing's 'long and dedicated service' to rural Scotland.

Chief executive Sarah-Jane Laing said: “On behalf of SLE I would like to extend our thanks to Fergus for his years of service to rural Scotland. No one can doubt his commitment to farming, rural business, sustainable rural development and reforestation, and it is right that we recognise his many achievements in post.

“Fergus was an engaged and informed Cabinet Secretary, attuned to the priorities of the rural economy. He was always willing to work with and listen to rural business stakeholders. I personally enjoyed working with him on a range of initiatives and policies, including the women in agriculture taskforce and to deliver vital, business saving support for rural tourism during the pandemic. We wish him well and look forward to working closely with him in his capacity as MSP for Inverness and Nairn," she said,

“We would like to congratulate Mairi Gougeon on her appointment as Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary. We worked well with Mairi while she was in post as a Minister in Fergus’ team and we look forward to working together on a host of issues including the delivery of a long term integrated land use policy."