One million acres of land could be owned by communities by 2020, according to the First Minister.

He unveiled the ambitious target at the conference of Community Land Scotland, the body that represents community landowners such as Eigg, Assynt and Gigha, who now control more than 500,000 acres.

Mr Salmond said improvements to the right-to-buy scheme, which would be set out in a Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill later this year, would make community ownership easier to achieve.

Speaking at Skye's Gaelic college Sabhal Mor Ostaig, he said: "We are committed, like no other administration, to land reform and as a powerful symbol of that commitment, I am delighted to announce today that we will set a target of a million acres of land in Scotland to be under local control by 2020.

"This is a deliberately ambitious target that can be achieved through a radical reshaping of the right-to- buy landscape that has the potential to transform the fortunes of communities across the country."

Mr Salmond said the Scottish Government's Land Reform Review Group was investigating how community ownership could be improved, while the Government will consult on a draft Bill later this year.

He added: "We have the opportunity to shape a stronger and better relationship between our land and people. Community Land Scotland will be an important voice in that land reform process, together with many other individuals and organisations. We have an opportunity to ensure more local areas are able to take their future into their own hands."