IT is famed for its rugged beauty and uninhabited landscapes.

But the depopulation of the Highlands and Islands is a story of politics, class and commerce over centuries from the bitter Highland Clearances to todays urban-centric living. And, in a key summit this week, regional agencies and the Scottish Government will work together to overturn the decline which is bucking national trends.

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WHILE Scotlands population is on the up as a whole, that is not true of remote, rural or island communities. The average age in many such areas is increasing more steeply than in other parts, threatening the sustainability of services and even those settlements themselves.

At a meeting in Inverness, the Convention of the Highlands and Islands (CoHI) has agreed to treat the issue as a priority.

The move will see local and national government work with organisations including tourism agency VisitScotland, development body Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the multi-campus University of the Highlands and Islands to develop solutions.

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WHILE weve hit a record national headcount of 5.4 million, analysis shows this is all down to inward migration, not a booming birth rate. The number of pensioners is expected to rise by 240,000 in less than 25 years, while the working-age population is set to fall by 7000 over the same period.

Depopulation affected 14 council areas in the year to mid-2018, including Argyll and Bute and Nan Eilean Siar. And analysis suggests Brexit will exacerbate this, also affecting local economies dependent on agriculture, fishing, tourism and hospitality. Falling tax take would affect lifeline services.

WHAT ARE MINISTERS SAYING?

COMMENTING on the outcome of the summit, which saw member bodies like the Crofters Commission and NHS Orkney endorse Holyrood strategy to make communities attractive places to live, work and bring up families, External Affairs Minister Fiona Hyslop said it would help support and sustain local communities.

She added: Repopulation of our rural and island communities is a challenge we need to work together to address. While the Scottish Government can implement national policies to look at the overall balance of the population it is important these issues are also tackled at a regional and at local community level.

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United efforts to tackle falling population in Scottish Highlands and Islands - The National