UHI Integrated Land Use Conference 2026: Wellbeing, wildlife and technology – where is the balance?
Over 80 students, staff and industry professionals from across Scotland came together last week in and around Carrbridge in the Cairngorms National Park for the 14th UHI Integrated Land Use Conference, held from Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 March 2026.
Organised by the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) in collaboration with industry partners, the three-day conference explored this year’s theme: 'Wellbeing, wildlife and technology – where is the balance?'
Bringing together students from across the UHI partnership and other Scottish universities, the annual conference provides a unique opportunity to collaborate, share knowledge and engage with professionals working across land-based sectors. It also offers valuable insight into career pathways, volunteering opportunities and emerging challenges in land management.
Attendees ranged from National 5 students to PhD candidates, representing disciplines including forestry, wildlife and conservation management, gamekeeping, sustainable development and environmental science.
This year’s programme combined field-based learning with expert-led talks and interactive sessions. Field visits to locations including Auchernack Farm and Badaguish Outdoor Centre, explored topics such as wellbeing support across rural sectors, the role of outdoor environments in supporting health and dementia care and the use of technology in land management, wildlife protection, wildfire prevention.
Conference sessions also highlighted innovations in areas such as electronic identification (EID) systems, AI-supported land management, and nature-based approaches to community wellbeing. A final-day role play activity challenged students to consider different land management perspectives, including farming, peatland restoration, forestry and ecology, encouraging the development of collaborative thinking and problem-solving skills.
Dr Su Bryan, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Health and the Environment at UHI, said:
“Balancing the needs of people, wildlife and technological advancement is one of the key challenges facing land management today. Events like this are vital in helping students understand these complex relationships and the role they can play in shaping a more sustainable future.
“Since 2012, we have organised the Integrated Land Use Conference to provide students with an opportunity to learn from one another and, crucially, to learn how to work effectively together. We are grateful to all the partners whose continued support has enabled us to deliver our 14th annual event.”
The conference was supported by RSPB, Cairngorms National Park, Scottish Forestry, SEPA, Nature Scot, RES, and Scottish Land & Estates.
For more information about the conference, visit: UHI Integrated Land Use Conference.
Interested in land-based studies or health and wellbeing? Find out more about UHI’s courses starting in September