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Scotland’s BiodiversityIt’s In Your Hands

Our VisionIt’s 2030: Scotland is recognised as a world leader inbiodiversity conservation. Everyone is involved; everyonebenefits. The nation is enriched.

Our AimTo conserve biodiversity for the health, enjoyment andwellbeing of the people of Scotland now and in the future

Our Objectives

A strategy for the conservation and enhancementof biodiversity in Scotland




Our Objectives

Species and HabitatsTo halt the loss of biodiversity andcontinue to reverse previouslosses through targeted action forspecies and habitats

PeopleTo increase awareness, understandingand enjoyment of biodiversity, andengage many more people inconservation and enhancement

Landscapes and EcosystemsTo restore and enhancebiodiversity in all our urban, ruraland marine environmentsthrough better planning, designand practice

Integration and Co-ordinationTo develop an effective managementframework that ensures biodiversity istaken into account in all decisionmaking

KnowledgeTo ensure that the best new andexisting knowledge onbiodiversity is available to allpolicy makers and practitioners

Scotlan

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iversityIt’s In Your H

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w w w . s c o t l a n d . g o v . u k

© Crown copyright 2004ISBN 0-7559-4120-9

This document is also available on the Scottish Executive websitewww.scotland.gov.uk

Astron B34235 05-04

100% of this document is printed on recycled paper and is 100% recyclable.


Species and HabitatsOutcome 2030

The loss of priority species and habitats has been halted, and many priority speciesand habitats are increasing in both numbers and range. The overall balance ispositive. Comprehensive monitoring systems are in place to enable accurateassessment of the state of our biodiversity. Where decline continues, the reasons areunderstood, and measures are in place to minimise losses. The genetic diversity withinspecies is better understood and actions to conserve this diversity for priority speciesare in place. The spread of invasive non-native species has been slowed or halted, andspecific areas, regions or islands are designated as free from some invasive and non-native species. Rare and specifically ‘Scottish’ varieties of domestic plants and animalshave been catalogued and more effectively conserved.

Wider countryside measures ensure that further species are not joining the prioritylist, although there is recognition that some changes due to climate change areinevitable and irreversible.

PeopleOutcome 2030

A sense of responsibility for and stewardship of biodiversity is a core value in Scottishculture, and particularly for all users and managers of land and water. Corporateresponsibility reporting is widespread among businesses and includes reporting onenvironmental and biodiversity issues and appropriate best practice.

More people understand and enjoy the social, economic and environmental benefits ofbiodiversity. All those who work directly with nature and natural resources – farmers,foresters, gamekeepers, fishermen, fish farmers, gardeners, civil engineers, architects,land, park and open space managers and designers – have increased awareness andunderstanding of biodiversity issues, are better able to identify and motivated todevelop opportunities for biodiversity enhancement, and have become more engagedin advising on the best ways forward.

Children and adults experience more firsthand learning about biodiversity in the openspaces around them, and reinforce the demand for action at all levels to enrichbiodiversity in parks and golf courses, sports fields, transport corridors, green andbrown-field sites. Many more people recognise and enjoy the complexity and beautyof their environment and take steps, through actions small and great in their dailylives, to conserve and enhance it.

Landscapes and EcosystemsOutcome 2030

Scotland’s landscapes are attractive and diverse; and terrestrial and marine ecosystemsare healthy, productive, and rich in biodiversity. Planning is more strategic and moreintegrated, taking full account of the complex relationships between different elementsand activities in landscapes, seascapes and ecosystems, in both time and space.

The overall pattern of land and water use, in both rural and urban environments,supports a rich and varied array of wildlife. Organisms can move, feed, reproduce anddisperse effectively, and are better able to adapt to changing circumstances of landuse and climate change. Farmland, urban green-space, transport corridors, gardens –and indeed all ‘managed’ environments including coastal and marine – have becomericher in wildlife through widespread improvements in design and practice.

Integration and Co-ordinationOutcome 2030

Biodiversity – and Local Biodiversity Action Plans – are taken into account in allsignificant development programmes and grant schemes; and in policy, planning,design and development decisions taken by government and business. LocalBiodiversity Action Plans are better co-ordinated with each other and with nationalbiodiversity objectives, and they are more effectively communicated to relevantdecision makers and practitioners.

Incentives are in place at all levels to encourage biodiversity conservation andenhancement and to include biodiversity as a routine component in best practice.Environmental assessment procedures specifically address biodiversity issues, includingcumulative impact. This strategy and its associated implementation plans have becomea major force for the successful integration, facilitation, co-ordination and promotionof biodiversity action.

Analysis of monitoring data reveals trends and issues requiring action across differentarms of government. Mechanisms are in place to initiate and co-ordinate such action.

KnowledgeOutcome 2030

Anyone who wishes to learn more about Scotland’s biodiversity in general, or inrelation to specific issues or opportunities, has ready access to stimulating andappropriate information.

School children, students, researchers and the general public are able to draw on agrowing and accessible resource of information on the value and state of Scotland’sbiodiversity, and practical ways to enhance biodiversity at all levels from gardens tolandscapes. More specific, high quality information and advice on best practice areavailable, tailored to the needs of different sectors and levels of decision makers.Simple access gateways and search systems have been developed to bring togetherthe numerous sources of biodiversity information.

Biodiversity advice is consistent, realistic and accessible. We understand better thecontribution of biodiversity to health and quality of life, and the social and economicvalues of biodiversity more generally. Critical gaps in our knowledge are reviewedregularly by a wide range of stakeholders. Cost-effective and co-ordinated research isundertaken as required.

Outcomes 2030This 25 year strategy sets out to realise a bold vision. Once this vision has been turnedinto a reality, a lot will have been changed and improved.

The following outcomes describe how we will approach biodiversity conservation andenhancement in Scotland in 2030.

© Crown copyright 2004

ISBN 0 7559 4120 9

Published byScottish ExecutiveSt Andrew’s HouseEdinburgh

Produced for the Scottish Executive byAstron B34235 04-04

Further copies are available fromThe Stationery Office Bookshop71 Lothian RoadEdinburgh EH3 9AZ

Tel: 0870 606 55 66

1

ContentsForeword 2

Preface 4

1. Our vision 10

2. Scotland’s biodiversity 14

2.1 The nature of Scotland’s biodiversity 15

2.2 The value of Scotland’s biodiversity 17

2.3 The state of Scotland’s biodiversity 19

2.4 What are the implications of climate change? 22

3. Issues and opportunities 24

3.1 Why does the loss continue? 25

3.2 What are we trying to achieve? 25

3.3 How can we achieve it? 26

4. An agenda for action 34

4.1 Species & Habitats 36

4.2 People 38

4.3 Landscapes & Ecosystems 40

4.4 Integration & Co-ordination 42

4.5 Knowledge 44

5. Delivery 46

5.1 Everybody has a role 47

5.2 Individual responsibility 48

5.3 The public sector 48

5.4 The private sector 51

5.5 Guidance, coordination and implementation 53

6. Reviewing progress 54

6.1 The Implementation Plans 55

6.2 The Biodiversity Strategy 55

6.3 Indicators 56

6.4 Steering 56

Foreword

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Foreword“Scotland’s Biodiversity: It’s In Your Hands” is a landmarkstrategy for Scotland. It sets out a vision for the future healthof our biodiversity, and maps out a 25 year framework foraction to conserve and enhance biodiversity for the health,enjoyment and well-being of all the people of Scotland.

Biodiversity means the variety of life around us- life of all kinds, from the largest animal tothe smallest plant. In Scotland, biodiversityhas always been fundamental to our lives.Scotland’s biodiversity is part of our heritage.Our landscapes, and the plants and creaturesthat make and live in them, are recognisedaround the world and have underpinned ourlives.

But we have also had a profound impact uponour natural heritage, and in recent years wehave become far more conscious of thatimpact. From Rio, through the UK BiodiversityAction Plan, to the Johannesburg Summit,important steps have been taken along theroad of recognising the need for co-ordinatedaction to safeguard our planet’s irreplaceablenatural heritage. This Strategy will guide thataction in Scotland over the next 25 years.

A key theme of the Strategy is to raise publicconsciousness and reinforce the link betweenpeople and biodiversity - the need for peopleto appreciate, understand, protect, enjoy andabove all else conserve Scotland’s biodiversity.I want this Strategy to help us re-establish andstrengthen the relationship between thepeople of Scotland and their natural world.Alongside the Nature Conservation Bill, whichI anticipate will come into force later this year,the Strategy will give Scotland a new andintegrated system of nature conservation.

The Strategy owes a huge debt to themembers of the Scottish Biodiversity Forum.Its development has been a model ofcooperation and shared vision betweengovernment, the private and public sectors,non-governmental bodies and individualmembers of the public. I acknowledge withgratitude everyone who has contributed tothis work and has helped us produce aStrategy that does justice to Scotland and itspriceless biodiversity.

I believe the Strategy will place Scotland atthe forefront of international biodiversityconservation. I hope that it will be widely readand that all who read it will find it relevant totheir daily lives. The task now is to turn thevision of the Strategy into action that makes adifference. No one of us can do this on ourown. It is a shared challenge for each andevery one of us - Scotland’s biodiversity is inall our hands and it is our collective duty toconserve it for future generations.

Allan WilsonDeputy Minister for Environment and RuralDevelopment

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Preface

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PrefaceBiodiversity is simply the variety of life. It represents a new appreciation of nature,with the emphasis on the incredible diversity of varieties, species, habitats andecosystems that exist all around us, and on their value to humans”.1

This document presents a 25 year strategyto conserve and enhance biodiversity inScotland.

It is supported by many other documentsand initiatives. The most critical of theseare the implementation plans which havebeen produced to address the followingkey themes:• cross cutting issues• interpretation, communication and

education• urban biodiversity• rural biodiversity• marine biodiversity• local delivery

The strategy presents a vision, aim,objectives and broad directions for action,while the implementation plans are themechanism for prioritising action anddelivering the aim and our objectives. Theimplementation plans will take full accountof changing circumstances through timeand will be updated every three years.

A Report on Indicators also supports theStrategy. This report aims to facilitatemeasurement and reporting of progresstowards achieving the five strategicobjectives of this strategy.

“This concept of biodiversity embraces allliving things, from the tiniest garden ant tothe Caledonian granny pine. Biodiversity iseverywhere, in window box and wildwood,in roadside and rainforest, in snowfield andseaside and sky.

It is part of the natural heritage we have allinherited. In Scotland we have a bountifulshare of this richness; but we must not takeit for granted. We depend on biodiversity forour quality of life. What we don’t save now,our children and grandchildren will have topay for later.”

Magnus Magnusson KBE

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1 A more formal definition from the Convention on Biological Diversity: "Biological diversity" means the variabilityamong living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and theecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and ofecosystems.

Green Veined White Butterfly on Melancholy Thistle, Tayside

The need for a strategyWe need a strategy to ensure that biodiversityis conserved for the sake of our economy andfuture generations. Biodiversity conservation isan important dimension of sustainabledevelopment and a key measure of our successin achieving it.

We also need the strategy to ensure we meetour international obligations. The Conventionon Biological Diversity is a 1992 United Nationsagreement, to which the UK is a signatory,which commits us to “the conservation ofbiological diversity, the sustainable use of itscomponents, and the fair and equitable sharingof benefits arising out of the utilisation of geneticresources”. To take forward the Convention,the European Union has set an objective in the6th EU Environmental Action Programme “toprotect and restore the functioning of naturalsystems and to halt the loss of biodiversity in theEuropean Union” by 2010. It is vital that weplay our part in Scotland in meeting thatcommitment.

Biodiversity is a key indicator of success inachieving sustainable development.

Sustainable development is defined as:“development that meets the needs of thepresent without compromising the ability offuture generations to meet their own needs.”

World Commission on Environment andDevelopment (Brundtland Commission)(1987)

More specifically, we need a strategy to ensurethat we overcome the problems and developthe opportunities relating to biodiversitywhich were identified in the many supportingdocuments that led to this strategy – andwhich we summarise in section 3.

A lot is already happening. The UK BiodiversityAction Plan process has helped identify cleartargets and actions for priority species andhabitats, and the work of environmental non-governmental organisations and statutorybodies has delivered many important successstories for biodiversity and the engagement ofmany more people. But current approaches tothe conservation of biodiversity are not ascomprehensive or as well informed as wewould like. Much of the emphasis has been onconserving individual sites or species. Whilethis is a vital component of any strategy, weneed to reinforce and underpin this work byaddressing the bigger picture: the dynamiclandscapes and patterns of land and wateruse, the ways we can influence these tosupport and enhance biodiversity on thebroad scale, and how we can relate actions forbiodiversity to people’s everyday experiencesand economic wellbeing.

So we need a strategy to help us make thesebig connections. We need it to get morepeople engaged; to make biodiversity meansomething to everyone; to strengthen existingmeasures and management systems for ournatural heritage; to promote integration andco-ordination; to enhance management of ourlandscapes and ecosystems; and to promotemore informed decision making.

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Bee nectaring

What’s in the strategy?We present our vision for the future ofbiodiversity in Scotland in section 1. The visionis broad, as it must be for a 25 year strategy ina rapidly changing world.

In section 2 we explore biodiversity inScotland: its value and importance, its currentstate, and the major factors which influence it.

In section 3 we explore the issues andopportunities: what it is we are trying toachieve, the issues we need to address andthe kinds of action that need to be taken if weare to succeed.

In section 4 we explore where we hope to bein 25 years time – the desired outcomes inrelation to each of our five strategicobjectives, and the actions required to deliverthese outcomes.

In section 5 we set down the broadmechanisms for delivery of the strategy. Wehighlight the particular opportunities andresponsibilities for different agents andstakeholders, and the ways in which theimplementation of the strategy will be steeredand coordinated.

In Section 6 we consider the processes andthe timeframes for reviewing progress andrefining the implementation plans towards thevision set out in this strategy.

What’s not in itTaken alone, this document cannot do justiceto the scope and value of Scotland’s biodiversityand the complexity of the issues associatedwith its conservation and enhancement, norto the vast amount of work which lies behindthis strategy, and indeed behind currentaction for biodiversity in Scotland. A range ofmaterial is available which addresses theseissues in more detail, but much of it issummarised in a set of documents producedby the Scottish Biodiversity Forum and theScottish Executive. These documents include:1. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (1994)2. Biodiversity in Scotland: the way forward

(Scottish Biodiversity Group 1997)3. Action for Scotland’s Biodiversity (Scottish

Executive 2000)4. Flying Start (Scottish Biodiversity Group

2001)5. Biodiversity in Scotland: progress report

(Scottish Executive 2002)6. Towards a Strategy for Scotland’s Biodiversity

(Scottish Biodiversity Forum 2003):• Biodiversity Matters!• Scotland’s Biodiversity Resource and Trends• Candidate indicators of the state of

Scotland’s biodiversity• Summary of responses to public

consultation7. Scottish Biodiversity Forum Research Strategy

Also of particular relevance is “Meeting theNeeds…Priorities, Actions and Targets forSustainable Development in Scotland”(Scottish Executive 2002).

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Female eider duck on nest, Isle of May

And who is it for?It is essential that decision makers at all levelsin government and the public sector read thisstrategy – and help to realise its vision.Government and public bodies have aresponsibility under the anticipated NatureConservation (Scotland) Act 2004 to furtherbiodiversity, and this strategy in particular. Thestrategy should, however, be seen as a way into biodiversity conservation and enhancementrather than the ‘answer’ in itself.

The strategy is also for the people of Scotland.It addresses issues relevant to farmers and landmanagers, fishermen and fish farmers,transport companies and utility providers, andbusinesses – both large and small. Indeed, thisstrategy makes it clear that everyone inScotland has a role to play in the future ofbiodiversity conservation and enhancement.

8

Fly Agaric fungus, Birch Woodland, Rannoch

Key reference resourcesMany useful reference documents can beaccessed direct from the websites of theScottish Executive, Scottish BiodiversityForum and UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

www.scotland.gov.uk/publications

www.scotland.gov.uk/biodiversity

www.ukbap.org.uk

Also seewww.sustainable-development.gov.uk/

eac-wssd/progress.htm

Major Biodiversity Milestones

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EU BIODIVERSITYSTRATEGY 1998

6TH EUROPEANENVIRONMENTACTION PROGRAMME

NATURECONSERVATIONBILL 2003

RIO SUMMIT ANDCONVENTION ONBIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY1992

WORLD SUMMIT ONSUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT,JOHANNESBURG 2002

SCOTLAND’S BIODIVERSITY: IT’S INYOUR HANDS. A STRATEGY FOR THECONSERVATION AND ENHANCEMENTOF BIODIVERSITY IN SCOTLAND 2004

EU HABITATSDIRECTIVE 1992

EU BIRDSDIRECTIVE 1979

UK BIODIVERSITYACTION PLAN 1994

UK SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENTSTRATEGY 1999

OSPAR CONVENTIONON BIOLOGICALDIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMSSTRATEGY 1998

EU WATERFRAMEWORKDIRECTIVE 2000

GLOBAL STRAGETYFOR PLANTCONSERVATION2002

Our Vision

1

10

1. Our Vision

It’s 2030: Scotland is recognised as a world leader inbiodiversity conservation. Everyone is involved; everyonebenefits. The nation is enriched.

11

View south across Loch Insh.

The future in fragmentsButterflies have a story to tell us about fragmented habitats. Some butterflies species areincreasing in numbers, but these are mainly the ‘generalists’, such as the peacock butterflywhich can survive in a range of different habitats. Many of our rarer species, like the marsh andpearl bordered fritillaries are in decline, and these are typically the ‘specialists’ which are highlydependent on particular plants or habitats. And it is because these habitats are now sofragmented that the specialists – and a host of other organisms – find it increasingly difficult toreproduce and survive. We need to expand and link up these critical habitats or we risk losingmuch precious biodiversity.

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Let’s start in your garden“The garden is a miracle. Every year I let a bitgo wild just for the pleasure of seeing thenature struggling away to get itself sorted. Theroses look bonny, but it’s the thistles that bringthe goldfinches.”

Davy Macdonald, retired postman, Kiltarlity

Gardens are a haven for wildlife, and theirimportance has increased as wildlife in thewider countryside has declined. Most gardenscan be improved to support greaterbiodiversity through small changes in design,planting and management, for example byplanting a native tree, creating a nectar richborder, a garden pond, or a meadow.

One garden may seem trivial, and it may be ifseen in isolation, but if many people do thesame, and if public spaces are better managedfor biodiversity, then networks will spring up,our actions will reinforce each other, andbiodiversity will flourish.

Hover-fly nectaring

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Our impact can be positive

In the Western Isles, a form of sandy grassland known as ‘the machair’ provides a world classhabitat that is renowned for its swathes of summer flowers and breeding birds such as redshank,ringed plover, dunlin and corncrake.

What’s really surprising though is that the machair is, in part, created by human activity. Whilethe richness and diversity is the product of natural gradients of salinity, acidity and water level, itis the crofting pattern of land use – cattle and sheep grazing, small scale cultivation and landuse rotation – that ensures the machair does not revert to a simpler and much less rich habitat.

Red Clover carpeted Machair, Isle of Lewis

Scotland’sBiodiversity

2

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2. Scotland’s BiodiversityIn this section we explore the nature and value of biodiversity in Scotland. We alsoconsider the state of our biodiversity, and look briefly at some factors whichunderpin habitat and species diversity, and the possible effects of climate change.

2.1 The nature of Scotland’sbiodiversity

Scotland is special. Not so much for the sheernumber of species that live here (though wedo have around 90,000) but rather for themosaic of habitats and scenery which makeup such a complex and varied landscape.

Scotland is a crossroads – of climatic zones andocean currents, of arctic and temperate species.Weather systems typically build from the southwest, bringing us relatively warm and wetweather, especially in the west; and this iscomplemented by the tempering influence ofthe Gulf Stream. But Arctic air frequently pushesback westwards to bring the cold crisp days ofwinter and cool spring sunshine. Arctic currentspush into the North Sea from time to time,reinforcing the distinct climates of east and west.

This climatic variation is complemented by agreat range of geology, landforms and nature.The physical landscape throws up a tremendousvariety of coastline, islands and underseaformations; glens, mountains and plateaux;rivers, lochs and floodplains. And in each andevery one of these environments, from seabedto summit, nature has woven a rich tapestryalive with myriad species of plants andmammals, bacteria and birds, fungi and fish,reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.

Then, over all of this, mankind has transformedthe detail of the landscape and the dominantvegetation down through millennia.

Our national and international assetsIn all, Scotland has 65 out of the total 159conservation priority habitats listed in theEuropean Habitats Directive. And because ofthe variation in climate and landform, manyspecies in Scotland find themselves at theextreme of their range or living in atypicalhabitats, where they have adapted as localvarieties.

Our country is internationally important for itsheather moorland, its upland blanket bog andlowland raised bog, for its machair, and for itsfreshwater and seawater lochs. Some of ourmountain summits are akin to Arctic tundra,while on the west coast there is our‘temperate rainforest’.

Our latitude, coastline and pastures combineto create an internationally important habitatfor migratory waders and wildfowl. Our richseas support 244 species of fish, amazingpopulations of seabirds, and a range offascinating mammals: seals, whales anddolphins. And throughout all these habitats livesome 25,000 largely unknown invertebrates.

The eagle, deer, salmon, grouse, grey seal,capercaillie, Scots Pine, red squirrel,heather and thistle, to name but a few, areall enduring symbols of Scottish culture andenterprise. Biodiversity lies at the heart ofthe Scottish identity.

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White-tailed eagle.Adult seizing fish from sea.

Some 90,000 species …and stillcountingAt one end of the scale we have at least40,000 species of virus, bacteria and protozoa,some 24,800 species of invertebrates, and20,000 different plants and fungi. At a morecomprehensible level, we also have 242species of birds, 63 different mammals andten species of reptiles and amphibians.

The secret life of seaweedIn the clear waters around many of our westcoast and islands can be found a rich andunusual habitat – several species of calcareousred seaweed growing on the seabed.European maerl supports over 1,700 animalspecies and 300 seaweed species. A recentstudy of Scottish maerl beds found speciespreviously unknown to science.

A rainforest close to homeOn the west coast of Scotland and on someof the larger islands grow ancient oceanicwoodlands – so rich in species that theseforests has been likened to that of temperaterainforest. Oak, birch, bird cherry, rowan,alder and many other familiar trees grow inthese woods. But what is truly remarkable isthe variety of mosses, liverworts and lichenswhich thrive in the moist, stable oceanicclimate and the unpolluted air.

A coral reef to call our ownIn the deep waters to the west and north offScotland are corals, growing on the seabed,in some cases in large reef-like colonies. Themain species involved, Lophelia pertusa, is asbeautiful and remarkable as many of itstropical relatives, and colonies support morethan 800 animal species. Even moreremarkable, it is thought to grow in waterup to 3,000m deep. These reefs were beingrapidly destroyed by deep water fishingtrawls until fisheries control measures wereintroduced in 2003 to protect them.

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Young frog on teasel leaf

Maerl Bed, West of Wyre Skerries, Wyre Sound

2.2 The value of Scotland’s biodiversity

Biodiversity has always been a source ofwealth and a stimulus to culture andenterprise in Scotland. Ours is a landrenowned worldwide for its clean air, cleanwater, wilderness areas and seascapes, andfor the biodiversity associated with thesenatural attributes.

Our nation has been built on its biodiversity.Herring, cod, haddock, and salmon werecritical to the development of our economy,our seagoing skills, our infrastructure, and thenutrition of our growing industrial cities.

Forests and forest products formed the basisof shipbuilding, and the economies and tradeassociated with it. Deer and grouse underpinthe economy of huge swathes of the uplands.While, in farming, where much of the geneticbiodiversity is influenced by man, we havedomesticated breeds or varieties – of both cropsand livestock – which are renowned worldwide.

Our dramatic landscapes and seascapes, andthe biodiversity they host, also underpin thetourism industry which employs more than 9%of the Scottish workforce and contributes morethan £4.5 billion to our national economy.In addition, economic growth in some scenicareas of north and west Scotland is closelylinked to the quality of life associated with thisenvironment, and the value that many peopleplace on this.

Likewise, people who live in urbanenvironments are increasingly realising thatthe green spaces around them are important.They add texture to life; provide opportunitiesfor outdoor activity and healthy living; andprovide a platform for learning.

The nation’s health and wealthBiodiversity is important for our health –individually and as a nation. Fully functioningecosystems provide us with healthy andproductive environments which support theeconomy of rural and coastal areas. Bacterialbiodiversity gives us productive soils and cleanwater. Without our forests, bogs and theplankton in the sea, the greenhouse effectwould be even more serious.

There are also many practical applications ofbiodiversity. People forget that the firstantibiotics came from a simple mould –discovered by a Scot. And there are literallythousands of other Scottish plants, fungi,bacteria, plankton and fish which have, orcould have, applications in medicine, healthyeating, pest management and a whole host ofother important products and areas.

Biodiversity is not just beautiful andfascinating, it is an investment for thefuture. Our fisheries show what can happenwhen we don’t get the management right.

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Atlantic salmon leaping up a waterfall on the RiverAlmond

So what’s biodiversity worth?Many people have tried to put a cash value onbiodiversity, but it is an exercise fraught withdifficulty. Different analysts provide differentestimates, but the figures for existing values arealways high, and for potential value, almostinfinite. But more importantly, the cost oflosing any significant part of our biodiversitycannot be calculated – and may be enormous.A small loss may seem unimportant, but lotsof little losses soon add up to a substantialloss; a loss that would deny future generationsa wealth of cultural, scientific and commercialopportunities; and in the extreme, a loss maythreaten the very stability of our ecosystems,and the quality of our soil, water and air.

The value of our plantsFlora Celtica is an international project basedat the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh,documenting and promoting the knowledgeand sustainable use of native plants in theCeltic countries of Europe. For example, itsrecords tell us how bog myrtle, a distinctiveshrubby plant of moorlands, has traditionallybeen used to flavour and preserve beer, as agarnish for food, and as an insect repellent.Indeed, in 1995, a commercial repellent formidges based on bog myrtle was producedon Skye under the trade name Myrica.

The value of wildlife tourismWildlife tourism is growing in popularity andnow generates substantial income for theeconomy, especially in more remote parts ofScotland. Whale and dolphin watchinggenerates around £3.4 million per year;visiting osprey sites generates around£1.7 million; and a long establishedrecreation – angling on the Tweed –generates £12.5 million. The total generatedby all forms of wildlife-related tourism, andits contribution to mainstream tourism willbe far higher.

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Interpretation Board, Vane Farm RSPB Reserve

Greenspace ScotlandGreenspace comprises between 10% and40% of the area of the major Scottish townsand cities. This is a huge resource, potentiallyrich in biodiversity, which is close to themajority of the people in the country. Thereare tremendous opportunities to combineincreased biodiversity with better access,learning facilities and promote healthy livingmore generally.

2.3 The state of Scotland’s biodiversityWe may not have control over many of thefactors affecting our biodiversity – climate,ocean currents, rocks and the basic physicalstructure – but people have been a majorforce in shaping our landscape andbiodiversity for thousands of years and ourinfluence continues. While some of ouractivities have benefited biodiversity, manyhave resulted in declines. Some of thesedeclines are now slowing or being reversed,but much of our biodiversity is still underthreat.

The main changes in biodiversity experiencedin Scotland relate to the felling of ancientforest, the grazing of sheep and deer, theintensification of agriculture and commercialfishing, the planting of non-native conifers,the spread of urban development, theintroduction of fish farming, and the increasein pollution.

Measuring the impact of these changes isdifficult. Clearly it is an impossible task to

monitor the status of all 90,000 plus species,so the data we have is by nature veryselective. Nonetheless some major trends canbe recognised, and many species serve asindicators of broader change.

Some of our rarest species and habitats arecontinuing to decline in status, a few arebeginning to recover, thanks toconservation action and investment; buthalf show no sign of significantimprovement, despite our efforts so far.

Good news and bad newsThe summary below gives a very brief andnecessarily selective overview of some keytrends. A more comprehensive analysis wasmade in: Towards a Strategy for Scotland’sBiodiversity: Scotland’s Biodiversity Resource andTrends. Scottish Biodiversity Forum, ScottishExecutive 2003.

Marine and freshwater environmentsAfter a long period of decline, the quality ofwater in our rivers and lochs has improved,related to the decline of heavy industry alongwith better effluent regulation and sewagetreatment. The loss of the otter in the lowlandshas been reversed, suggesting that some fishand crustaceans have also returned. Theseimprovements are encouraging. Nevertheless,further conservation efforts are required formany freshwater species. For example, thefreshwater pearl mussel, of which we hold50% of the world’s population, continues todecline. In fact, in 2000, some fifty percent ofnative freshwater species were thought to havedeclined throughout Scotland. The extinctionof the Scottish population of the vendace – afreshwater fish – in 1980 illustrates what canhappen if we fail to take appropriate actionin time.

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Forestry, Craigmore Wood viewed from Dulnain Bridge

The quality of our coastal waters has generallyimproved in recent years, again benefiting frombetter sewage treatment and stricter regulationof industrial effluents, coupled with a declinein industrial activity. Related to this, the Clydeand Forth are again showing a greaterdiversity of invertebrates and fish. Many seabirdpopulations in Scotland have also increased,but some species such as the cormorant,kittiwake and roseate tern have shown markeddeclines. This mixture of positive and negativeis typical of the trends we are seeing in manyof our distinct environments, clearly furtheraction is required where species are stillshowing decline.

Fishing undoubtedly affects biodiversity. TheNorth Sea has been intensively trawled fordecades, and the range of sea bed creatureshas been altered. Scavenging crustaceans andstarfish have displaced bivalve molluscs andother long-lived species. Out of 21 commerciallyexploited fish stocks in 2003, 16 are currentlyconsidered to be fished beyond safe biologicallimits. This in turn has led to the exploitationof deep water, slow growing, long lived andtherefore more vulnerable species – such asorange roughy, and to damage by trawlers ofdeep water Lophelia coral reefs.

Farmland and woodlandOn the land, there have been some notableimprovements in recent years, but the news isnot all good. Throughout most of the lastcentury increasing intensification in agriculture,and the spread of urbanisation, have led tothe loss of much of our semi-natural land, aswell as many of our hedgerows and farmponds. As a result, farmland birds, wildflowers,mammals and pond-life have all declined.

After a period of decline in forest cover, followedby intensive planting with non-native conifers,we are now seeing an increase in the area ofwoodland with native species. Over the past20 years there has been a significant shift tomore sustainable forest management, includingdiversification of planted forests, and restorationof management in degraded native woods.

The overall trends in woodland birds are mixed.Some have increased their range and numbers,others have decreased. One of the mostnotable species in decline is the capercaillie,now down to a mere 1,000 or so birds.

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Otter on riverbank

Mountains, heaths and bogsMoorland, peatland and rough grassland cover50% of Scotland’s land area, and in many waysdefine the character of Scotland’s landscape.But these habitats have changed significantlysince the 1940s, and while the rate of changehas slowed in recent years, some of the trendscontinue.

The area of heather moorland has declined asa result of afforestation and conversion tograssland. There has been a reduction inregeneration in some areas as a result of largeincreases in grazing pressure by both sheep anddeer. Montane heath has declined, probably asa result of a combination of grazing pressure,nitrogen enrichment and possibly climatechange. Afforestation, agricultural practices, andpeat extraction have all contributed to declinesin blanket bog and lowland bog. Many of ourgrasslands have lost species richness due toreseeding, fertilisation and more intensivemanagement. Illegal persecution of raptorscontinues to be a problem in many areas.

There is some good news though. The totalarea affected by potentially harmful levels ofnitrogen deposition is expected to declinesignificantly in the years to come, and changingincentives under the EU common agriculturalpolicy should eventually lead to moreappropriate grazing regimes for sheep. And, asnoted above, forestry policy and the incentivesassociated with it, have changed in favour ofbiodiversity conservation in recent years.

Guarding against invadersHuman activity – either accidental ordeliberate – can introduce non-native invaderswhich damage our native biodiversity.Escaped North American mink are one of thereasons why the native water vole is now sorare, as they are serious predators of voles,while a fish called the ruffe, introduced inLoch Lomond by anglers, is decimating someof the very special native fish that live thereas they out-compete them for food andhave higher survival rates. Sika deer nowoccupy one third of the red deer range –and interbreed with them, harming thegenetic integrity of our native species. Theintroduction of hedgehogs to the WesternIsles has wreaked havoc amonginternationally-important breeding waderpopulations as hedgehogs eat their eggs.The giant hogweed is now quite common ondisturbed ground, where it smothers nativeplants, as well as causing injury to childrenevery year. With huge increases in large scalemarine traffic, alien marine organisms havebeen spread to new areas when ballast watersare discharged.

The impact of non-native invaders can berapid and uncontrollable, so we need toguard against the threats, and manage themcarefully when they arise.

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Badanloch Bogs, Ben Griams, Sutherland

Giant Hogweed

2.4 What are the implications ofclimate change?

Air and sea temperatures are predicted toincrease significantly in the 21st century –by as much as 2 to 3°C. East coast waterswill warm at a greater rate than those in thewest. We can anticipate wetter autumns andwinters, drier, hotter summers and moreunpredictable weather events. Changes inprecipitation will affect run-off and erosion.These changes will affect biodiversity.

Already there are signs of change. The nuthatchand kingfisher appear to be moving north. Inthe future, birch may increase in pinewoods,oak may increase around the margins, and thetree-line will probably shift upward from itscurrent level of 650m. Arctic-alpine habitatsmay disappear completely from our mountaintops, along with birds like the dotterel andsnow bunting.

In the marine environment, there is likely to bean increase in the number of southern speciesentering our waters; but we may lose speciessuch as the sea-pen, the green sea urchin, andpossibly the cod. Sea level rises – predicted atup to 70cm by 2080 – will affect coastal habitat,and this rate of change may be greater thanthe rate at which some species can adapt.

But perhaps the most important issue will bethe extent to which species can shift theirrange as climate change takes place and sealevels rise. If they can adapt, the impacts onbiodiversity will be limited and possibly positive.But for many less mobile species – especially onland where their habitat is already fragmentedthis shift will not be easy. So in addition toworking towards targets to reduce greenhousegases, we need to plan for these shifts, bymaximising the connections between habitatsand minimising the barriers to movementand dispersal.

Managing coastal realignmentEvery year 100 hectares of saltmarsh andmudflats are lost in the UK as a result ofrising sea levels and erosion. These are keyhabitats for biodiversity – many beinginternationally recognised for theirimportance for wildlife.

Whilst it may be some years beforeinternational action to cut the emission ofgreenhouse gases yields real results, there isalready much being done to adapt to thepredicted effects of climate change on ourcoasts. In February 2003, the seawall at NiggBay was breached allowing a 25 hectare fieldto flood and revert to intertidal habitat usinga process known as ‘coastal realignment’. Thisis the first time that this approach to dealingwith rising sea levels, flood risk and coastalhabitat loss has been tried in Scotland.

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Nigg Bay Realignment Site, Nigg Bay, Cromarty Firth

Bogs and so much moreThe quality of Scotland’s bogs and marshes isrecognised worldwide, though most peopledon’t always recognise them as assets. Butthey are! Bogs have been storing carbon inthe form of peat for thousands of years – ifthey are drained and allowed to dry out thiscarbon is released into the atmosphere,adding to the greenhouse gases, which arecausing climate change.Bogs and marshes also reduce the risks offlooding, serving as a buffer against rapid

run off during exceptional downpours. Theyhelp maintain a consistent supply of cleanwater to rivers and lochs including Scotland’sfamous game fishing sites. And if this were notenough, bogs and marshes are also home tospecial plans, birds and insects not foundelsewhere. The carnivorous sundew, the bogasphodel, the dunlin, snipe and golden plover;the great variety of small, often unnoticed butnonetheless beautiful sphagnum bog mossesand liverworts.

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Sphagnum moss bog pool, Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve (NNR)

Issues andopportunities

3

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3. Issues and opportunitiesThe basis for a biodiversity strategyIn this section we consider what it is we are trying to achieve, the kind of issues thatwe need to address and the kinds of action that need to be taken if we are tosucceed. This serves as a rationale for the strategy objectives set out in section 4.

3.1 Why does the loss continue?As we have seen in the previous section, someof our biodiversity has been lost, and this loss iscontinuing, albeit at a lower rate. The causesand threats are many and are explored in detailin the supporting documents for this strategy.

Many of the threats are now being much bettermanaged, but we still have some way to go.A key issue is the intensity of resource use.Intensive and unsustainable resource use liesat the heart of much biodiversity loss in bothterrestrial and marine environments, but thesehave also been important factors in oureconomic development. Sustainabledevelopment, and sustainable resource use,recognises the need to balance social,economic and environmental interests toensure that the drive for economic growthdoes not compromise the welfare and qualityof life of current and future generations. Thecontinuing loss of biodiversity suggests thatwe have not yet achieved this balance.

This is partly because we lack the decision-making procedures to achieve this balance. Itis partly because we do not value biodiversityas much as we value some forms of economicdevelopment. It is partly because we simply donot understand, or communicate effectively,many of the values of biodiversity, or thecomplex links between them. And it is partlybecause we often do not recognise theopportunities to enhance biodiversity, and inso doing to improve the quality of our livesand increase economic opportunities.

3.2 What are we trying to achieve?Our overall aim is to conserve biodiversity forthe health, enjoyment and wellbeing of thepeople of Scotland now and in the future. Butwhat does this mean in practice?

Conserve what we haveWe should seek to conserve what we have. Weshould do whatever we can to halt the declineand where possible reverse losses in biodiversity.We need to protect the best and enhance therest. In so doing, we will generate widerenvironmental, social and economic benefits.

Sustain healthy ecosystemsBut we also need to address widerenvironmental issues. Most wildlife is dependentupon a complex environment. Conservingbiodiversity is often unsuccessful if weconcentrate on limited patches. We need tolook at the bigger picture: reconnect nature;extend and link up habitats; reduce barriers;and understand the dependencies and needsof different species. We need to think in termsof landscapes and ecosystems, not just interms of species and habitats.

25Black Grouse Woodland sites provide important wildlife corridors

Usually, though not always, this means creatinga mosaic of linked and varied habitats to formlarger, more stable habitat units, richer inbiodiversity – not just in the countryside, butalso in urban areas, and with links between thetwo. And we need to ensure that our actionsat this level sustain and support those speciesand habitats which we value, and which areimportant for the maintenance of healthy andproductive ecosystems – from the osprey,bumble bee and Scottish primrose to thecomplex web of organisms which contribute toproductive soils and fisheries, to clean air andpure water.

Biodiversity is all about networks andconnections: the web of life; ecosystems.A piecemeal approach to biodiversityconservation and enhancement won’t work.

Engage more peopleThe underlying reason for biodiversityconservation is to ensure that our generationand future generations reap the benefits of richbiodiversity and healthy ecosystems in termsof productive natural resources, economicopportunity, spiritual inspiration, and culturalenrichment. Engaging more people inbiodiversity conservation represents both an endin itself and a means to an end. It will enrichour lives and those of future generations.Everyone should benefit.

Promote sustainable developmentScotland is committed to sustainabledevelopment. This means that we must takeaccount of social, economic and environmentalissues in all our development decisions, andensure that we do not squander resourceswhich may benefit future generations –including biodiversity.

Although we now have measures in placedesigned to promote sustainable development,many of our decision making mechanisms failto give sufficient weight to its variousdimensions. This is not surprising – social andenvironmental benefits are typically muchharder to define than financial benefits. Wemust redress the balance and develop newapproaches which take account of a widerange of current and possible future values.

3.3 How can we achieve it?

3.3.1 Bring biodiversity into the mainstreamBiodiversity conservation is often seen as aspecialist issue; something for theenvironmentalists. It needs to be brought intomainstream decision making. Not enough ofus consider it to be our own responsibility – oropportunity – and this dramatically reducesthe potential for biodiversity conservation andenhancement.

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Dor beetle, Birks of Aberfeldy, Perthshire

Cattle grazing above Aoradh, Loch Gruinart RSPBReserve, Islay

Very little of our land or water is currentlymanaged to benefit biodiversity. While 20% ofScotland is covered by one type ofenvironmental designation or another2, mostof these sites are still managed primarily forcommercial purposes, albeit with certainconstraints designed to prevent serious loss ofbiodiversity. As a result, large parts of thesedesignated areas, and much of the widerenvironment is subject to little if anymanagement specifically directed towardsconserving biodiversity. In many cases this isnot an issue: much land and water use isperfectly compatible with, and in some casesenhances biodiversity. But elsewhere there isdirect conflict between biodiversity interestsand commercial interests.

In rural areas, the agri-environment schemes area step in the right direction, but environment-friendly land and water management, fisheriesmanagement, and business activity should bethe norm not the exception. Conditions relatingto the safeguarding and enhancement ofbiodiversity should be routine for any form ofpublic subsidy or grant. The cross compliancearrangements introduced as part of theCommon Agricultural Policy Reform packageare an important step in this direction.

However, this is not just an issue for ruralbusinesses. All businesses affect biodiversityeither directly through their managementpractices, or indirectly through their use ofresources as raw materials or their generationof waste. While energy efficiency and wastemanagement have risen up the businessagenda, biodiversity is still a marginalconsideration. So there are opportunities tomake biodiversity a mainstream business issue– and local and national government, publicand non-government agencies all have a roleto play in promoting this, especially amongstsmaller companies.

3.3.2 Targeted action for species andhabitats

Some species are at risk, and urgent action isrequired for their conservation. The UKBiodiversity Action Plan and the LocalBiodiversity Action Plan network provide aframework for prioritised and targeted actionfor species and habitats. This process isstrengthened by, and strengthens, the on-going management of designated sites whereour most vulnerable biodiversity occurs andneeds the strongest protection.

We should build on the opportunitiesassociated with site designation, and ensurethat management for biodiversity conservationextends outside the boundaries of designatedsites, through initiatives such as ImportantPlant Areas and Local Sites. We should work toensure that designation enhances value andincreases responsibility. We need to identifyways in which biodiversity can bring shortterm as well as long term benefits. We need toget wider support for the appropriatemanagement of designated sites; and topromote support for actions under LocalBiodiversity Action Plans. We need to getthose responsible in national and localgovernment, including community councils,to examine their plans and actions, and seehow they can help.

If sites are special, then people should beproud to keep them special. We shouldensure that designation enhances value andincreases responsibility.

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2 Sites of Special Scientific Interest; National Nature Reserves; National Scenic Areas; Wetlands of InternationalImportance; Special Areas of Conservation; Special Protection Areas; Local Nature Reserves; National Parks

Roslin Glen, Midlothian

Local SitesLocal Sites are of great value to people livingin Scotland’s towns, cities and countryside,providing opportunities for lifelong learning,access, health and the economy, as well ashelping to achieve biodiversity objectives.

There are over 3,000 Local Sites in Scotlanddesignated by local authorities. These non-statutory sites (sometimes called Wildlife Sitesor Sites of Interest to Nature Conservation)complement Sites of Special ScientificInterest (SSSIs) and help to underpinnational and international governmentconservation objectives. Local Site systems aimto identify all land of high nature conservationvalue in a local authority area and fosteraction at a regional and local level.

These sites have a crucial role in realisingBiodiversity Action Plan (BAP) targets, and areincreasingly being incorporated into LocalBiodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) acrossScotland, as the survey process helps toidentify and target priority habitats and specieswhich need active management.Improvements to the sites can be securedthrough partnerships between local authorities,land owners, Non-governmental organisations(NGOs) and government agencies, workingtogether to deliver site management plans.Local Sites are recognised in local land useplanning policies giving them an enhancedlevel of protection when local authoritiesconsider proposals for new developments.

We should also be wary of invasive non-nativespecies which can threaten native species andhabitats. The need to improve legislation tomanage the movement and use of non nativespecies is currently being assessed, but it isundeniable that greater awareness andknowledge of non-native species is necessary.

3.3.3 Better managed landscapes andecosystems

Managing landscapes and ecosystems maysound daunting, but we already do it. Currentpatterns of land-use are largely defined by theEU Common Agricultural Policy, the ScottishForestry Strategy, the Rural Development Planand the raft of incentives and constraintsassociated with them. The pattern ofexploitation and the current state of ourfishery resources is greatly influenced by theEU Common Fisheries Policy.

Most of these policies now emphasisesustainable development and the need tobalance incentives for production with those forenvironmental conservation and enhancement.The common fisheries policy specificallyrecognises the need for an ‘ecosystem’approach to fisheries management. We haveto ensure that these important ideas areimplemented in practice.

28Muirburn, Glen Gairn, Grampian

We need to ensure that the broad set ofincentives and constraints associated withEuropean and national policy result inbiodiversity conservation throughout ruraland marine environments.

National and local government are directlyresponsible for large areas of land and water –parks, roadside verges, local nature reserves,school grounds and sports fields, nationalforests, coastal waters. Looking after theseresources, and finding ways to enhancebiodiversity as a routine part of managementis a duty under the anticipated NatureConservation (Scotland) Act 2004. Actionsmay include sensitive planting and mowingregimes, minimal use of chemicals, andhabitat creation where appropriate. There areopportunities to link new and existing habitatthrough improved planning, design, co-ordination and management of all openspaces, and at all levels. The benefits can bemanifold: lower management costs in someinstances, enhanced biodiversity, greaterenjoyment and appreciation of nature.

The planning system also has a key role toplay. National planning guidance and advice3,sets development planning within the contextof good environmental stewardship andsustainable development. However, thepotential for conflict between short termcommercial interests and long term or less easilymeasured biodiversity benefits is real. We needbetter decision making protocols, and in thecase of environmental assessment, we need toensure that any trade-offs between biodiversityand more immediately commercial interestsare thoroughly examined and understood,including an appropriate assessment of risk.

We also need to think more carefully aboutthe chain of effects our actions can cause.When we develop best practice, or undertakeenvironmental assessment, we should not justconsider direct and immediate impacts; we

should consider possible knock-on effects onother organisms – both positive and negative– and the cumulative effects our actions –together and individually – will have.

Strategic environmental assessment is animportant tool which should help address manyof these issues. The challenge here will be toensure that the process is adequately informedand that biodiversity values are fully understoodby decision makers and taken into account.

3.3.4 Ensuring integration and coordinationOne fundamental problem with the existingpattern of biodiversity management is thatmuch of it is piecemeal. This relates partly towidely differing priorities – within the LocalBiodiversity Action Plan network; betweendifferent non-government organisations;between agencies and governmentdepartments; between environmental andcommercial interests. It relates to the limitedattention to biodiversity in planning, designand best practice – and indeed in alldecision making. It relates to a lack ofintegration between a myriad of policies andinterests.

293 Particularly NPPG 14, PAN 60, PAN 65 and SPP1

Nigg Bay, Cromarty Firth

We are moving in the right direction. There arenow many initiatives which attempt to addressthese problems, and promote increasingly‘joined-up’ thinking: the local firths partnershipswhich serve as forums for the exchange ofideas and perspectives; the catchmentmanagement plans under the WaterFramework Directive; the Rural DevelopmentPlan; the Scottish Forestry Strategy; the ForwardStrategy for Scottish Agriculture, and theforthcoming strategy for Scotland’s Coast andInshore Waters (2004) – these and others areall important and essential. We need to buildon and strengthen these approaches,particularly in terms of decision makingprocesses; and we need to develop similarapproaches for land use in urban and ruralareas, and marine resource use. And we mustensure that biodiversity considerations, and inparticular Local Biodiversity Action Plans, areintegrated into these processes, and indeedinto all decision making processes whichultimately affect the environment.

But whatever mechanisms or institutions wedevelop to promote integration, the extent towhich these are effective will depend upon theawareness and capacity of all those involved –whether they be the officers of nationalagencies or local government, farmers,fishermen or businessmen.

3.3.5 Encouraging awareness andengagement

We need to ensure that individuals, publicservants and private enterprise are aware ofthe potential for biodiversity conservation inrelation to their own actions, and capable ofmaking a positive contribution. Better planningand more appropriate incentives fromgovernment must be matched by a capacityto initiate and respond at a practical level.

Almost everyone already has, or could have, apositive or negative impact on biodiversity –via their political choices, their jobs andeconomic activities and their daily actions. Thereis a huge opportunity for all us to becomemore aware and more responsible; to enhancebiodiversity generally through the cumulativeeffects of thousands of positive actions, smalland large; and in so doing to enhance thequality of our lives and the opportunities forthe future.

Perhaps the greatest challenge is to makeeveryone realise that they have an impacton biodiversity and can play a part in itsconservation. We need to put people at theheart of our strategy.

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Observation platform, Wood of Cree RSPB Reserve

Many people are already engaged withvoluntary conservation and environmentalorganisations. This is a huge resource whichcan be built on to enhance biodiversity allaround us. But we need to promote evengreater awareness of the full range of values ofbiodiversity to help people understand andenjoy the natural environment. This will leadto even more voluntary action, better debates,more informed choices and decisions, andhigher levels of compliance with relevantregulations. It will underpin the sustainableuse of key species and natural resources moregenerally. It will serve as a stimulus to businessto be more innovative in attitudes and actionsrelating to biodiversity and to develop bestpractice initiatives.

Greater engagement of people with biodiversitywill also lead to more healthy, productive andenjoyable outdoor experiences, reduced stress,and an increased sense of responsibility acrossthe board. In particular, childhood experiencesare a powerful influence on how people reactto the environment in adulthood, so providingopportunities for children, especially thosefrom deprived areas and backgrounds, tointeract freely with biodiversity in a safeenvironment is vital.

Do a little – change a lotOur individual actions may seem insignificantand unimportant when set against the greatenvironmental issues of our time, and manypeople feel unable to help. This is wrong.The issues we face today are precisely theresult of millions of small actions. What webuy, what we eat, our use of fuel, the waywe deal with waste, how we manage ourgardens, how we engage with decisionmakers – all of these actions ultimately havean effect on biodiversity and the physicalenvironment. We should not shrug off ourpersonal responsibility, simply becauseprogress will depend upon many of us actingresponsibly together. Rather the reverse.

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Flotsam and jetsam, sea-borne litter on the tideline, Islay

3.3.6 Improving our biodiversity knowledgeIncreased awareness and opportunities toengage with biodiversity will generate fewbenefits if understanding is limited and goodaccessible advice lacking.

There is a long established tradition in the UKof observing and recording the natural world.It is estimated that some 2,000 statutory andvoluntary organisations and societies and over60,000 individuals currently hold biodiversityinformation for the UK. We need to use thisinformation more effectively, and the NationalBiodiversity Network is a welcomedevelopment in this regard. There has alsobeen a major effort to rationalise and co-ordinate information gathering under the UKBiodiversity Action Plan and the ScottishBiodiversity Research Forum, and these effortswill continue.

However, by definition biodiversity is complex,and there will always be significant gaps inour knowledge. The challenge is to identifythe most critical gaps in our knowledge, and

to then undertake appropriate research andsurvey in the most efficient and effectivemanner. To this end, the Scottish BiodiversityForum has developed a research strategy, andthis will need to be updated as part of thestrategy review process. There is also anopportunity to foster increased participation ofresource users and social scientists indeveloping research objectives, programmesand projects, and to engage users as much aspossible in the research and survey itself.

We have an opportunity to supplement theessential baseline with much more information,and in the process engage a far wider range ofpeople. Initiatives such as Garden Watch, andinternet-based reporting offer a challengingnew area for education, engagement andmonitoring. We can draw on the knowledge,skills and resources of fishermen and fishfarmers, land managers and outdoor workersin general. We can exploit the interest andenthusiasm of special interest groups – divers,sailors, walkers. We can facilitate learning andrecording by school children and students.

But raw data is not enough. We need toimprove access to appropriate and stimulatingadvice on how to enhance biodiversity. Muchinformation is already available through the UKBiodiversity Action Plan web site, but we needto go further and develop a single gateway topractical advice and best practice. This wouldalso help to reveal the gaps in our existingpractical knowledge and contribute to theprioritisation, promotion and rationalisation ofresearch.

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Green Shield Moss Moniack Gorge, Inverness

We also need to continue to produce targetedguidance materials for all those whose activitieshave a significant impact on biodiversity and weneed to ensure that guidance is truly relevantand practical. Partnership initiatives to producesuch materials represent a major opportunityfor sharing knowledge; reducing conflict; andgenerating consistent advice and incentives.

We also need to ensure that specialist advisorsare readily available to inform major decisions.At local level, the Local Biodiversity Actionplanning officers have a key role to play,alongside sustainable development officersand ecologists, where they are employed, allsupported by Scottish Natural Heritage, theScottish Environment Protection Agency andother national organisations. Localgovernment and government departmentswill need to examine their procedures foraccessing appropriate advice in relation to thestrategy objectives.

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Lichen on hazel tree, Barnluasgan Wood

An Agendafor Action

4

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4. An Agenda for ActionIn this section we arrive at our agenda for biodiversity conservation. We explorewhere we hope to be in 25 years time – the desired outcomes in relation to each offive stated objectives. We then present an agenda for action for each objective.

Setting out our aim and objectivesThe overall aim of this strategy is:

to conserve biodiversity for the health,enjoyment and wellbeing of the peopleof Scotland now and in the future

The foregoing analysis suggests the need forbalanced action across a range of areas to meetthis broad aim. The required actions can begrouped under five major strategic objectives:

Species & Habitats: To halt the loss ofbiodiversity and continue to reverse previouslosses through targeted action for speciesand habitats

People: To increase awareness,understanding and enjoyment ofbiodiversity, and engage many more peoplein conservation and enhancement

Landscapes & Ecosystems: To restore andenhance biodiversity in all our urban, ruraland marine environments through betterplanning, design and practice

Integration & Co-ordination: To develop aneffective management framework thatensures biodiversity is taken into account inall decision making

Knowledge: To ensure that the best newand existing knowledge on biodiversity isavailable to all policy makers andpractitioners

On the following pages, we take each of theseobjectives in turn, and explore where we hopeto be in 25 years time – the desired outcome –in relation to that objective. This leads us to anagenda for action for each objective. Since thisis a 25 year strategy it cannot be detailed andprescriptive, nor can it designate responsibilityfor implementation. It summarises the mainkinds of action that will need be taken forwardthrough the implementation plans over thecoming years.

This agenda for action has been developed onthe basis of wide consultation and review ofsupporting documents, and has drawn inparticular on the higher level actions andobjectives identified by working groupsengaged in the development of theimplementation plans, and on the agenda foraction identified in “Biodiversity Matters!”.

It is important not to consider each objectiveand agenda for action in isolation. They areclosely linked and mutually supporting. Inparticular, many of the strategic actions underthe people, integration and knowledgeobjectives support the species and habitatsand landscapes and ecosystems objectives,and actions under landscapes and ecosystemssupport those under the species and habitatsobjective and vice-versa.

Opencast mine to nature parkGreenhead Moss in North Lanarkshire lies onthe site of former opencast coal and landfilloperations. In 1997, North LanarkshireCouncil resisted further applications foropencast and related developments,compulsorily purchased the site, and beganthe task of reinstating the landscape. Arestoration plan was established to reversethe decline in a remnant of raised bog onthe site; encourage more local use of thesite; increase biodiversity; and providetraining for local unemployed people.

Local people have always had close ties withthe site, and had campaigned againstproposed extensions to mining and landfilloperations in the mid-1990s. A CommunityTrust was established, with nominations forcommunity directors being received from allthe distinct communities around the site.Today, the Greenhead Moss nature park isrun by the Trust – a partnership of the publicsector and local people. 35

4.1 Species & Habitats

Protecting and restoring our assets forfuture generationsWe now have in place in Scotland a network ofdesignated sites, as well as the UK BiodiversityAction Plan and the Local Biodiversity ActionPlan network. Great progress has been madeand there are signs that some of the speciesand habitats declines are now slowing orbeing reversed. But if we are to come close toour commitments under the Convention onBiological Diversity, or to European or UKtargets, we need to strengthen this process.

ObjectiveTo halt the loss ofbiodiversity and continue toreverse previous lossesthrough targeted action forspecies and habitats.

Outcome 2030The loss of priority species and habitats hasbeen halted, and many priority species andhabitats are increasing in both numbers andrange. The overall balance is positive.Comprehensive monitoring systems are inplace to enable accurate assessment of thestate of our biodiversity. Where declinecontinues, the reasons are understood, andmeasures are in place to minimise losses. Thegenetic diversity within species is betterunderstood and actions to conserve thisdiversity for priority species are in place. Thespread of invasive non-native species has beenslowed or halted, and specific areas, regions orislands are designated as free from someinvasive and non-native species. Rare andspecifically ‘Scottish’ varieties of domesticplants and animals have been catalogued andmore effectively conserved.

Wider countryside measures ensure thatfurther species are not joining the priority list,although there is recognition that somechanges due to climate change are inevitableand irreversible.

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Sphagnum moss and stems of cotton grass,Braehead Moss

A cowrie on a serpulid worm in Loch Creran

Agenda for action1. Deliver the actions and outcomes identified

in the UK species and habitat action plansrelevant to Scotland

2. Strengthen and further develop monitoringof habitats and species to ensure thatprogress against UK Biodiversity ActionPlan (UKBAP) targets and other indicatorscan be measured

3. Encourage the Local Biodiversity ActionPlan network and ensure it has adequateresources to support the delivery ofnational objectives and to facilitate actionby local people

4. Improve the co-ordination andmanagement of the Local BiodiversityAction Plan network – between LocalBiodiversity Action Plans and with nationallevel Biodiversity Action Plans

5. Develop at local level further actions forbiodiversity conservation and enhancementthat take full account of climatic, economicand land-use change

6. Manage the Natura 2000, Ramsar, SSSI,and National Nature Reserve site networkto protect and where appropriate enhanceconservation interests

7. Manage National Parks to protect andwhere appropriate enhance conservationinterests

8. Manage existing and develop new localnature reserves and wildlife sites to protectand where appropriate enhanceconservation interests

9. Facilitate action by local people to identifyand protect important species and habitats

10. Implement our commitments to marineprotected areas under internationalcommitments

11. Minimise the detrimental impacts of non-native invasive species

The corncrake and crofting practiceThe corncrake is threatened throughoutWestern Europe. In Britain, it declinedrapidly throughout the 20th century as aresult of changing agricultural practices, andis now confined mainly to the island croftingareas of Scotland’s west coast where itbreeds in the summer. it spends the winterin East Africa, south of the Sahara.

The Corncrake Species Action Plan is beingimplemented with funding from The RoyalSociety for the Protection of Birds andScottish Natural Heritage assisted by theScottish Crofting Foundation, to supportcrofters and farmers in providing securehabitat for bredding corncrakes throughoutthe season. This involves early cover, latecutting and corncrake “friendly mowing” ofmeadows to protect nests and late cover forchicks. The species has now made anencouraging recovery to late 1970s numbersand the corncake’s rasping call is once againbecoming more common on Hebrideanislands such as Coll and Tiree where manytourists come to hear and see thesecharismatic birds.

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Corncrake calling in hay meadow at dusk, Tiree

4.2 People

Putting people at the heart of ourbiodiversity strategyDespite widespread concern for wildlife,relatively few people, organisations orbusinesses actually engage in biodiversityconservation, or enjoy the benefits it brings ineconomic, health and quality of life terms.There is a tremendous opportunity here tomake biodiversity a core value in Scottishculture, and to ensure that everyone inScotland recognises and enjoys the complexityand beauty of the environment, and takessteps through actions in their work and dailylives to conserve and enhance it.

ObjectiveTo increase awareness,understanding andenjoyment of biodiversity,and engage many morepeople in conservation andenhancement.

Outcome 2030A sense of responsibility for and stewardship ofbiodiversity is a core value in Scottish culture,and particularly for all users and managers ofland and water. Corporate responsibilityreporting is widespread among businesses andincludes reporting on environmental andbiodiversity issues and appropriate bestpractice.

More people understand and enjoy the social,economic and environmental benefits ofbiodiversity. All those who work directly withnature and natural resources – farmers,foresters, gamekeepers, fishermen, fishfarmers, gardeners, civil engineers, architects,land, park and open space managers anddesigners – have increased awareness andunderstanding of biodiversity issues, are betterable to identify and motivated to developopportunities for biodiversity enhancement,and have become more engaged in advisingon the best ways forward.

Children and adults experience more firsthandlearning about biodiversity in the open spacesaround them, and reinforce the demand foraction at all levels to enrich biodiversity inparks and golf courses, sports fields, transportcorridors, green and brown-field sites. Manymore people recognise and enjoy thecomplexity and beauty of their environmentand take steps, through actions small andgreat in their daily lives, to conserve andenhance it.

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Sowing wild bird cover

Thrift growing on the harbour wall at Kinloch, Isle ofRum NNR

Agenda for action1. Strengthen the role of the Local Biodiversity

Action Plan network in engaging a widerrange of people in biodiversityconservation, and in exploring innovativeways of promoting interest in biodiversity

2. Ensure that people, enterprises, andgovernment at all levels understand thevalues of biodiversity, and how their actionsaffect biodiversity

3. Review and where necessary enhance theplace of biodiversity in formal education

4. Encourage and facilitate first hand learningabout biodiversity in the naturalenvironment

5. Encourage ownership, responsibility andbest practice in relation to biodiversity onthe part of individual, enterprises andgovernment

6. Facilitate incorporation of biodiversity incorporate responsibility initiatives, codes ofconduct and other market-led mechanisms

7. Promote sustainable tourism andsustainable use of biodiversity resources

8. Facilitate enjoyment and appreciation ofbiodiversity, and its links to healthy living

9. Coordinate and support the provision ofaccess to, and understanding of, naturalhabitats in deprived communities

10. Encourage active community involvementin biodiversity conservation andenhancement through volunteering andenjoyment of wildlife and green space

11. Encourage biodiversity conservation as akey element in community planning

12. Facilitate identification and recognition oflocal wildlife sites and local nature reservesand their use to stimulate local awareness,engagement in conservation and education

People make the linksThe tree planting and woodland developmentat Garmouth in Moray provides a livinggreen space linking the village with the SpeyViaduct Walk, as well as a craft centre. Thecommunity has been involved since the outsetin the planning, and later in tree plantingand path creation – freely contributing theirlabour, energies, ideas, and enthusiasms.Within the wood a pond has been created,providing a rich focus for wildlife, with plentyto keep the interest of walkers. By workingtogether, the owners and community haveadded value from the creation of acommunity woodland to give futuregenerations in the village great pleasure.

People do careAffection and care for the natural environmentand biodiversity is widespread, shown by thelevel of support for organisations, thepopularity of television wildlife programmesand the increasing numbers taking part inbiodiversity related activities. The RSPB’s “BigGarden Birdwatch”, encourages people torecord birds for an hour in their garden,school or a local park and send theirobservations in for analysis. From modestbeginnings in the 1970s, the Big GardenBirdwatch has gone from strength tostrength, and by 2004 over 22,000 peopleacross Scotland were getting involved. 39

Inverpolly NNR Interpretation Sign, Inverpolly

4.3 Landscapes & Ecosystems

Shaping the bigger biodiversity pictureWe need an enhanced appreciation of therelationship between different elements inlandscapes and ecosystems, and the degree towhich they are mutually dependent andsupporting. We need to recognise and takeaccount of the value of ecosystems and theservices they provide. We need to ‘reconnect’fragmented habitats and populations, andensure that as climate change takes effect,wildlife can move and adapt as far as possible.This will require better planning, forwardthinking and more coordinated action bydifferent departments, agencies and business.

ObjectiveTo restore and enhancebiodiversity in all our urban,rural and marineenvironments throughbetter planning, design andpractice.

Outcome 2030Scotland’s landscapes are attractive anddiverse; and terrestrial and marine ecosystemsare healthy, productive, and rich inbiodiversity. Planning is more strategic andmore integrated, taking full account of thecomplex relationships between differentelements and activities in landscapes,seascapes and ecosystems, in both time andspace.

The overall pattern of land and water use, inboth rural and urban environments, supportsa rich and varied array of wildlife. Organismscan move, feed, reproduce and disperseeffectively, and are better able to adapt tochanging circumstances of land use andclimate change. Farmland, urban green-space,transport corridors, gardens – and indeed all‘managed’ environments including coastal andmarine – have become richer in wildlifethrough widespread improvements in designand practice.

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Upland landscape in the Glenshee Hills

Common Starfish and sea anemones, St Kilda

Agenda for action1. Adjust and apply measures under the

Common Agricultural Policy and theCommon Fisheries Policy to reinforcelandscape and ecosystem level planningand support appropriate conservationmanagement

2. Provide incentives to create and link habitatsand conserve/create important underpinninglandscape features in all open spaces

3. Co-ordinate policies and actions relating toforestry, farming, transport andinfrastructure, and urban spatial planningto maximise habitat linkage and minimisefurther fragmentation

4. Enhance biodiversity in all transport corridors,and public and private greenspace throughpublic and private sector initiatives

5. Develop guidance in relation to maximisingbiodiversity in all open spaces, and in relationto landscape and ecosystem level planningand management by responsible authorities

6. Improve the management of marineresources, seascapes and ecosystems to takefull account of the interactions betweenspecies – commercial and non-commercial

7. Further reduce chemical pollution from allactivities on land and sea

8. Minimise the risk of farmed organismsadversely affecting wild organisms, directlyor indirectly, through conditions andprotocols, and through spatial zoningwhere appropriate

9. Develop cost effective indicators relating tolandscape scale biodiversity and habitatlinkage, ecosystem health, genetic diversityand structural diversity

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Water lillies and reeds, lochan, Achmelvich, Sutherland

4.4 Integration and Co-ordination

Improving the management frameworkWe need to improve the management ofbiodiversity in all its dimensions. At the presenttime the scope of management for biodiversityis limited; incentives to conserve and enhancebiodiversity are relatively few and sometimesuncoordinated or contradictory; decisionmaking processes at all levels often fail to takeaccount of biodiversity. Biodiversitymanagement is seen as something forspecialists, rather than something whicheveryone should address as a routine part oftheir decision making.

ObjectiveTo develop an effectivemanagement frameworkthat ensures biodiversity istaken into account in alldecision making.

Outcome 2030Biodiversity – and Local Biodiversity ActionPlans – are taken into account in all significantdevelopment programmes and grant schemes;and in policy, planning, design anddevelopment decisions taken by governmentand business. Local Biodiversity Action Plansare better co-ordinated with each other andwith national biodiversity objectives, and theyare more effectively communicated to relevantdecision makers and practitioners.

Incentives are in place at all levels toencourage biodiversity conservation andenhancement and to include biodiversity as aroutine component in best practice.Environmental assessment proceduresspecifically address biodiversity issues,including cumulative impact. This strategy andits associated implementation plans havebecome a major force for the successfulintegration, facilitation, co-ordination andpromotion of biodiversity action.

Analysis of monitoring data reveals trends andissues requiring action across different arms ofgovernment. Mechanisms are in place toinitiate and co-ordinate such action.

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View of field pattern, Oronsay

Orkney Mainland, Aerial View

Agenda for action1. All public bodies should take account of,

and further biodiversity conservation andenhancement in all their functions andactivities

2. Increase integration between policies,programmes, actions and incentives acrossgovernment to deliver coherent policyand incentives which enhance biodiversity

3. Improve decision making procedures ingovernment and business planning toaddress multiple sustainable developmentobjectives (e.g. through strategicenvironmental assessment); to assess andcommunicate the implications of alternativeactions/objectives; and to ensure thatbiodiversity values and opportunities aretaken fully and efficiently into account

4. Establish the organisations and partnershipsneeded to co-ordinate and drive thecomplex processes needed to achieve allthe strategy objectives

5. Strengthen existing incentives and developnew ones to extend the range and scopeof environment friendly agriculture andland management, forestry, fishing andtourism

6. Further develop cross-compliance – makingbiodiversity protection and enhancementa condition for grant or subsidy – andexplore its use to effect best practice inother publicly funded activities

7. Include standards relating to biodiversity inthe development of river catchment plansunder the Water Framework Directive(Water Environment and Water Services(Scotland) Act 2003) and in otherenvironmental management plans

8. Establish clear priorities and milestones inthe implementation plans to guide progressand achievement

9. Develop reporting protocols and guidelineswhich include reference to biodiversity forgovernment departments, agencies, localgovernment, and business

10. Develop existing biological indicators aspart of a comprehensive and cost-effectivesuite of indicators for social engagement;effective biodiversity management;landscape scale biodiversity; ecosystemhealth; and genetic diversity

11. Use the strategy itself as a managementtool to ensure effective delivery ofbiodiversity gains

Working together brings resultsCorn bunting and tree sparrow, along withother finches, larks and buntings, have beenthe subject of management agreements inAberdeenshire, Fife and Dumfries andGalloway.This has led to areas of wild birdcover being established on set-aside groundto the benefit of these species.

Managing the complex andcontroversialThe interactions between farmed and wildsalmon are complex. The potential, but stillpoorly understood effects include disease,genetic mixing and competition. We need toestablish decision making mechanisms whichare better able to deal with controversial anduncertain issues – mechanisms which assessthe costs, benefits and risks of alternativeapproaches to the management of thefishery and fish farming; and which deliver asustainable future for both industries.

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Corn bunting eating grain

4.5 Knowledge

Gathering, sharing and using the bestbiodiversity researchOur understanding of biodiversity remainsvery limited. Despite recent advances, we stillhave very little idea of what is out there andwhat is happening to it. Equally, where moreis known, much of the existing informationand advice is not available in the right form inthe right place to help the right people makeinformed decisions. We need better qualityinformation, more effectively channelled.

ObjectiveTo ensure that the best newand existing knowledge onbiodiversity is available to all policy makers andpractitioners.

Outcome 2030Anyone who wishes to learn more aboutScotland’s biodiversity in general, or in relationto specific issues or opportunities, has readyaccess to stimulating and appropriateinformation.

School children, students, researchers and thegeneral public are able to draw on a growingand accessible resource of information on thevalue and state of Scotland’s biodiversity, andpractical ways to enhance biodiversity at alllevels from gardens to landscapes. Morespecific, high quality information and adviceon best practice are available, tailored to theneeds of different sectors and levels ofdecision makers. Simple access gateways andsearch systems have been developed to bringtogether the numerous sources of biodiversityinformation.

Biodiversity advice is consistent, realistic andaccessible. We understand better thecontribution of biodiversity to health andquality of life, and the social and economicvalues of biodiversity more generally. Criticalgaps in our knowledge are reviewed regularlyby a wide range of stakeholders. Cost-effectiveand co-ordinated research is undertaken asrequired.

Agenda for action1. Further develop the UK Biodiversity Action

Plan and the National Biodiversity Networkgateways and associated resources

2. Develop an effective gateway, linked to theabove, for practical sectoral guidance forbiodiversity conservation and enhancementin relation to all major human activitiesand associated environments

3. Increase accessibility, attractiveness,relevance, and utility of existinginformation, knowledge, and guidance,e.g. through establishing a network ofScottish Local Records Centres

4. Link, co-ordinate, and rationalise wherepossible existing sources of information

5. Develop and refine the biodiversityresearch strategy, and strengthenmechanisms to identify and fill criticalgaps in knowledge and understanding

6. Strengthen mechanisms to identify and fillcritical gaps in skills and capacity

7. Ensure coherence and consistency ofdifferent forms and sources of biodiversityadvice from both government and non-government organisations

8. Engage a far wider range of people, andresource users in particular, in gatheringinformation about the state and quality oftheir environment and associated biodiversity

9. Scientists and resource users cooperate toenhance our practical understanding ofnatural resource and biodiversitymanagement issues

10. Understand better the social and economicvalue of biodiversity in all its dimensions,and communicate this knowledge moreeffectively to key decision makers

11. Improve understanding of ecosystem‘health’ and ‘resilience’ and communicatethis to key policy developers, planners,and decision makers

12. Monitor and report on the state of ourbiodiversity through time and analyse theinformation effectively to better understandthe trends, the causes of change, theimpact of interventions, and theopportunities for action to conserve and44

Research and innovation do helpNorway lobster, Nephrops (more usuallyknown as scampi or ‘prawns’), has longbeen a key catch for the Scottish fisheries.Seafish and Fisheries Research Services(Aberdeen) have developed new net designsfor this fishery which exploit behaviouraldifferences between species to reduce theby-catch of whitefish. Trials suggest a majorreduction in whitefish and only a very smallreduction in Nephrops catch. The benefits toother fisheries and the wider ecosystem areclear. However, we still need more researchto develop these designs and moreincentives to use them.

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Diver on Zostera bed, Eynhallow Sound, Orkney

Fungus growing on tree

Delivery

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5. DeliveryIn this section we set down the broad mechanisms for delivery of the strategy, theroles and responsibilities of different agents and stakeholders, and the ways in whichthe implementation of the strategy will be steered and co-ordinated.

5.1 Everybody has a roleThis document presents a vision, aim, strategicobjectives, and an agenda for action to guideand stimulate biodiversity action in Scotland.Many different organisations have a role toplay in meeting the objectives and achievingthe vision. But it is not just the responsibilityof the Scottish Executive, public bodies andenvironmental non-government organisations;at the heart of the strategy is a desire to seeevery individual, business and organisationtake responsibility for and take account ofbiodiversity in all their actions.

Involvement of all Stakeholders

A little more awareness, thoughtfulness, careand creativity will deliver the many smallchanges which together will help conserveand enhance Scotland’s biodiversity. Specialistagencies and non-government organisationswill play an important role in facilitating thisprocess, as well as ensuring that existingcommitments to biodiversity conservation aremet, but the fundamental responsibility is ourown, as individuals, not someone else’s.

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5.2 Individual responsibilityOur individual actions may seem insignificantand unimportant when set against the greatenvironmental issues of our time, and manypeople feel unable to help. This is wrong. Theissues we face today are precisely the result ofmillions of small actions. What we buy, whatwe eat, our use of fuel, the way we deal withwaste, how we manage our gardens – all ofthese actions ultimately have an effect onbiodiversity and the physical environment. Weshould not shrug off our personal responsibility,simply because progress will depend uponmany of us acting responsibly together. Ratherthe reverse.

There are many things that we can do.Thinking about what we buy, where it comesfrom, and how its production and distributionmight affect wildlife and biodiversity, directlyand indirectly, will lead to more responsibleconsumer choices. This applies particularly tofood whose production involves land or watermanagement, but also to other productsderived from natural sources – timber, naturalfibres, oils, cosmetics. People often blame bigcompanies or farmers for negative effects onthe environment. But it is consumer choice thatultimately determines what is produced, andincreasingly how it is produced and packaged.

We can also engage more directly – by joininga local group to take action to manage localamenity space, by joining a voluntaryenvironmental organisation, or by participatingin surveys and monitoring programmes.

5.3 The public sectorUnder the anticipated Nature Conservation(Scotland) Act 2004 all public bodies andindividual office holders have a statutory dutyto further biodiversity in exercising theirfunctions. This applies to the ScottishExecutive itself, to all government agencies,and to local government.

Government departments and agenciesAll policy makers must consider the implicationsof any policy or associated instrument onbiodiversity in general, and in relation to theobjectives of this strategy in particular. Thisextends beyond the traditional concerns ofthe Scottish Executive to all departments andagencies and to any policy which mightdirectly or indirectly impact on biodiversity.

This should not be interpreted in a negativeway. There are specific opportunities for theScottish Executive to strengthen incentiveslinked to practices and patterns of land andmarine resource use that benefit biodiversity, aspart of on-going developments related to theCommon Agricultural and Fisheries policies,Rural Development, the Scottish ForestryStrategy, the Water Framework Directive, andthe Integrated Coastal Zone Managementrecommendation. But significantly, there arealso exciting opportunities for the ScottishExecutive to promote biodiversity through itsdealings with business, education, health,transport, and development in the many waysdetailed in the agenda for action48 Puffin sitting on a rock, beak full of fish, Isle of May

Mosses and lichens growing on the woodland floor, lochLubnaig, Argyll and Bute

Clearly government bodies and agencies suchas Scottish Environment Protection Agency,Scottish Natural Heritage and ForestryCommission Scotland have a major role inbiodiversity conservation. But as privateenterprise takes on more responsibility, and localgovernment strengthens its co-ordinating role,they will need more technical help, guidanceand advice from these specialist bodies.

Government agencies are also key players inenvironment-related decision making processes,particularly environmental assessment (bothStrategic Environmental Assessment, andEnvironmental Impact Assessments) andplanning consents. As addressed in the Agendafor Action, there are opportunities to strengthendecision making in both these areas.

Local governmentLocal government has an increasingly importantrole to play in the promotion of sustainabledevelopment and biodiversity conservation.Integration is always easier at a more locallevel, and more comprehensible in relation toreal, practical issues. Local authorities shouldtherefore fully support the Local BiodiversityAction Plans, and take account of them in alltheir decision making, as well as in their rolein education, training and business support.

Local authorities can play a key role indelivering the landscape objective. This ischallenging and will require much more forwardthinking, strategic planning, and engagementwith all those who influence the shape andpattern of land and water use. Integratingnational policy with local needs will be a corepart of this. Co-ordination of spatial planning,transport corridors and green spacemanagement with rural development andfarm support mechanisms offers excitingpossibilities for linking rural habitats to eachother and to urban greenspace.

Local authorities can also have a major influenceon the quality of biodiversity within urbangreenspace. Good design, more imaginativeplanting and improved management orguidelines will all help. There is an importantopportunity to promote biodiversity as a keycomponent in community planning. Localauthorities can also make sure they think aboutsafeguarding biodiversity when they decide onlocal planning proposals.

Education is a core function of localgovernment. The biodiversity content ofmainstream education can be strengthened.More outdoor learning should be encouraged,without prejudicing safety and accessrequirements. Innovative schemes, such asschools involvement in biodiversity reportingand monitoring could be developed.

Local authorities can also support widercampaigns to promote healthy outdoor living,increase biodiversity in gardens and onbusiness premises, and support and facilitatecorporate social responsibility initiatives. Theycan play an active role in assessment andmonitoring of the state of biodiversity withintheir areas, and also promote more effectiverecording and exchange of informationrelating to biodiversity.

The Local Biodiversity Action Plan networkEvery part of Scotland has some specialbiodiversity, and bringing together andpresenting information about that diversity,raising awareness locally, and developing plansfor its conservation and enhancement will allbe vital if the objectives of this strategy are tobe achieved. These are key tasks for the LocalBiodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) officers.

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Tide swept Kelp, North Sanday, Orkney

LBAP officers can also serve a crucial linkfunction – between national agencies and localinterests; between theoretical perspectives onbiodiversity and practical everyday humanperspectives, between different departmentswhose coordinated actions can sometimesyield significant biodiversity benefits; andbetween public and private sectors.

More specifically, the local biodiversity officerscan raise the profile of, and support, the manyopportunities for increased engagement inbiodiversity by local government identifiedabove.

The scope of this work is broad, and will onlybe possible if the network of officers is able todraw efficiently on the skills and advice ofspecialist agencies and organisations – ScottishNatural Heritage, Scottish EnvironmentProtection Agency, Forestry CommissionScotland, the many specialist non-governmentorganisations and individual experts, as well asthe various bodies associated with the ScottishBiodiversity Forum. Equally, it is essential thatthe roles of the various agents operating atlocal level are clearly defined – to maximisesynergy and minimise overlap between LBAPofficers and, for example, environmentalplanners or local SNH officers.

To deliver effectively is not just a matter ofresources. LBAP officers need to be skilledcommunicators, negotiators and managers, aswell as having solid understanding of localbiodiversity, if they are to be effective intheir roles.

Higher education and researchinstitutionsIncreasing the biodiversity content in trainingand higher education is central to raisingawareness and understanding, and puttingbiodiversity at the heart of our culture. Thebiodiversity content of agriculture, fisheriesand forestry courses can be strengthened inaddition to that in more general land, naturalresource, and environmental managementcourses. But we should also look beyond thisfor opportunities in other courses to raise thecapacity of architects, economists, businessmanagers and public service officers toidentify opportunities to enhance biodiversityat the same time as enhancing reputation andservice/product provision.

Organisations such as the Royal Botanic Garden,Edinburgh are already doing a tremendouseducational job through their many activitiesand initiatives such as Flora Celtica. Researchersat other applied research institutions shouldcontinue to come forward with innovativeresearch proposals relating to biodiversityconservation and enhancement.

Local enterprise companiesThe local enterprise company network inScotland can play a key role in facilitating thekinds of action suggested for the private sector– by helping to raise awareness, through theidentification of biodiversity related business ormarket opportunities, through direct support,and by including biodiversity criteria in theirassessment of, or conditions for, grant support.

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5.4 The private sector

Land and marine-based businessesFarmers, foresters, fish farmers, fishermen,sporting estates, tourism operators – all of thesegroups depend for their livelihood on someaspect of biodiversity, and it is in their longterm interests to manage and harvest resourcesin a sustainable way.

There is an increasing resource of best practiceguidance and initiatives, and this should befollowed wherever possible. Where guidancedoes not exist there is an opportunity for usersto work together to develop it, and to link itto business benefits. Best practice should beseen as a normal business responsibility andmarketing opportunity, rather than as aproduction constraint.

Where there are significant short term costsassociated with best practice and sustainablemanagement, then mechanisms to capturefuture benefits arising from improvedmanagement need to be identified. Resourceusers and managers need to engage withrelevant authorities to examine the nature ofthe constraints to better practice, and agreeon how these constraints will be addressed.The drivers which previously resulted indamaging or unsustainable practices must beidentified and corrected.

At a more practical level, those businessesdirectly involved in land and watermanagement in urban, rural and marineenvironments have the opportunity to acquaintthemselves with the various guidance materials

relating to management for biodiversity. Manyof the practices are cost neutral, and in somecases offer cost savings and should be appliedwherever possible.

Where costs are likely to increase thendiscussions can be opened with the client, whomay be willing to pay – especially if savingshave been identified in relation to otherpractices. Best practice may include, forexample, reduced use of herbicides andpesticides, sensitive mowing regimes, leavingfield margins, and more positive measuressuch as mixed planting, and habitat creation.

The wider business communityBusiness in all its shapes and forms is adominant cultural and political force, and assuch has a responsibility – just as much asgovernment – to promote sustainabledevelopment and improved environmentalmanagement in all its dimensions, includingbiodiversity. Of course, the primary objectiveof any business is to make money: to ensurethat it stays in business for the benefit ofshareholders, employees and society at large.But many businesses, both large and small,naturally consider corporate social responsibilityas an integral part of their values, so fosteringresponsible business behaviours is notnecessarily about imposing new burdens, butrather about building on this existingcommitment.

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Highland cows being fed outdoors, Kilchiarian, Islay

Oyster farmer on the strand between Oronsay andColonsay

For the vast majority of businesses, it is thepressure to keep costs down which cansometimes bring them into conflict with theirwider social objectives. However, in developedsocieties such as ours, consumers areincreasingly prepared to pay for responsiblyproduced products and services. But businessesshould not wait for consumer demand todictate best practice. They know theirproduction practices (or those of their suppliers)and they can see where improvements can bemade. So the challenge is to identify eithercost saving or cost neutral improvements or,where increased costs result, to persuadeconsumers to pay for better practice.

Many companies already involved in formalEnvironment Management Systems, such asISO14001 which seek continuous improvement,are finding that they can do things to helpbiodiversity once the relatively quick wins onenergy and waste have been achieved.

Environmental non-governmentorganisations (NGOs)Environmental NGOs and voluntary bodies havethe energy, commitment and flexibility topromote and facilitate the implementation ofthe strategy in all its dimensions. NGOs supportthe implementation of Habitat and SpeciesAction Plans, and in many cases are the leadpartner for Species Plans, helping coordinatetheir delivery and monitoring progress. Theyalso play an important role in collectingvaluable information, carrying out research,raising awareness, campaigning for action andproviding guidance and advice togovernment, businesses and individuals.

Membership of environmental organisations isincreasing steadily, showing the importance ofenvironmental issues for many people, andtheir readiness to get involved. NGOs provideclear and accessible ways for individuals tounderstand and enjoy biodiversity, and to playtheir part as volunteers in conserving orrestoring it. These organisations play animportant part in raising awareness andcampaigning for action.

A number of NGOs own and manage land forthe benefit of biodiversity, and are activelyinvolved in trying out biodiversity conservationapproaches and advising government,businesses and individuals on solutions. Thework of environmental NGOs complementsmany dimensions of the strategy – and theirinvolvement and their potential to focus theinterest and efforts of individuals should beencouraged.

The mediaThe national and local media throughoutScotland – newspaper, TV, radio, internet – canall make a huge difference to the success ofthe strategy, and indeed their co-operation isessential in support of the people andknowledge objectives.

52Yellow flag growing by lochan, Orkney

5.5 Guidance, co-ordination andimplementation

The Scottish Biodiversity Forum will continueits current role as an influential and inclusivegrouping of bodies and individuals activelyengaged in biodiversity. To ensure the effectiveimplementation of the strategy, and to reviewprogress, a small implementation team will beformed, which may be located either in oroutside the Scottish Executive. This team willbe overseen by and report to a steering groupwhich will include representatives of centraland local government, and non-governmentalorganisations. The steering group will takeaccount of advice from the Scottish BiodiversityForum on strategy implementation and review.

Strategy implementation plansDetailed implementation plans will be producedon a three yearly cycle which together willunderpin delivery of the strategy vision, aimand objectives. These will initially cover thefollowing themes:• cross-cutting issues• interpretation, communication and education• urban biodiversity• rural biodiversity• marine biodiversity• local delivery

The cross-cutting issues implementation planwill address over-arching issues and issuescommon to the three themes, including localbiodiversity, information and research, andinterpretation, communication and education.

The plans will be drawn up by working groupsset up by the Scottish Biodiversity Forum. Theplans will include actions relating to each of thestrategy objectives, and will take account ofthe corresponding agenda for action, bearingin mind that these are to be implemented asrequired to achieve the aim and objectivesover a 25 year time frame. The detail andprioritisation of actions will vary betweenplans and from cycle to cycle as decided bythe working groups. Each plan will include atleast the following:• Review of on-going actions which

contribute to the strategy objectives and theUK Biodiversity Action Plan

• The specific new actions required to achievethe strategy objectives and the resourcesrequired

• Who will be responsible for those actions(stakeholders)

• Time scales on which they will be completed• How progress on these actions will be

measured (milestones and where possibleindicators)

The plans will be reviewed by the ScottishBiodiversity Forum, but it will be up to theworking groups to finalise their plans, identifyresources and mechanisms for delivery, andwhere appropriate to take actions to ensure orco-ordinate delivery. Proposed actions maysubsequently be refined or prioritised, with theForum’s agreement, to ensure they deliver theobjectives of the strategy most effectively.

The Scottish Biodiversity Forum will also identifya list of species and habitats of particularimportance for biodiversity conservation inScotland – and which public bodies shouldmake particular efforts to conserve.

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Field of oats, Mersehead

Reviewingprogress

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6. Reviewing progressIn this section we describe how progress towards achieving strategy objectives willbe monitored and reported, the use of indicators, and how reporting procedureswill be used to adjust the direction and emphasis of the implementation plans toensure delivery of the five strategy objectives over the 25 years ahead.

6.1 The Implementation PlansThe Scottish Biodiversity Forum working groups,and any appointed sub-groups, will reportevery three years on the implementationstatus of each implementation plan. They willreport on:1. Progress in implementing specific actions,

in terms of milestones achieved.2. Tangible benefits arising from actions in

terms of progress towards strategyobjectives, described qualitatively, andquantitatively where appropriatemeasurable indicators have been identified.

3. Constraints to implementation of actions,and constraints on the contribution ofactions to the strategy objectives.

4. Rationale for the follow-on implementationplan.

The working groups will take account of adviceand comments from the Scottish BiodiversityForum and the steering group in finalisingtheir report.

6.2 The Biodiversity Strategy

The strategy implementation group, advisedby the Scottish Biodiversity Forum, willprepare a report for Scottish Ministers on theimplementation of the biodiversity strategyevery three years. This report will draw on andsummarise the implementation plan reports,and will also report progress in achievingstrategy objectives at a national level, bothqualitatively, and quantitatively whereappropriate indicators have been identified.This report will be used as the basis for areport by Ministers to the Scottish Parliament.

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Upland wet flush in the Grampian Mountains

6.3 IndicatorsThe Scottish Biodiversity Forum working groupon indicators has identified a set of practicalindicators of the state of Scotland’s biodiversity,for which information is already available, andbeing updated on a regular basis. Theseindicators will allow measurement and reportingof progress in achieving the biological objectivesof the strategy and measure parameters such asspecies populations, priority habitat and speciesstatus and species diversity. These indicatorsare discussed in detail in the report onindicators which accompanies this strategy.

These indicators will be further developed andrefined by the Scottish Biodiversity Forum,working with those responsible for thecollection of underpinning data, and will bereported and reviewed under the three-yearlyreporting protocols described above. Inaddition, the Forum will identify a sub-set ofheadline biodiversity indicators for potentialinclusion in Scotland’s set of indicators ofsustainable development.

The Forum will also work to establish a set ofindicators to measure and report on ourprogress in achieving the social dimensions ofthe aim and objectives. When added to thebiological indicator set, this will give the strategya comprehensive and cost effective set ofindicators to inform reporting strategy progressand achievement. The full set of indicators willthen be used to inform subsequent reportingrounds.

6.4 SteeringThe implementation steering group andimplementation team, advised by the ScottishBiodiversity Forum, will consider all the reportsoutlined above, and the findings of researchand analysis and will make recommendationsas appropriate to Ministers, the ScottishExecutive, and any other relevant body ororganisation as to actions necessary to furtherthe objectives of the strategy, take advantageof opportunities and overcome constraints.The Scottish Biodiversity Forum will also offerguidance to working groups on thedevelopment and review of the three yearimplementation plans.

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AcknowledgementsThe Scottish Executive wishes to thank the Scottish Biodiversity Forum for its

assistance in the preparation of this strategy.

Images courtesy of:

Cover Image Scottish Executive

Jack Fleming/RSPB p 38 (bottom)

Lorne Gill/SNH Inside cover: 1st inset (Species and Habitats key), 2nd inset (People Key), 4th inset (Integration Key), p5, p13, p20, p45 (top)

Mark Hickens/RSPB p29

J MacPherson/SNH p28 (right)

MNCR/SNH p45 (bottom), p49 (bottom)

Steve Moore/SNH p21 (left)

RSPB p2, p42 (top), p4, p7, p10, p11, p15, p18, p19, p25 (left), p46 (right), p30, p31, p37, p42(bottom), p43, p48 (left), p51 (all), p52, p53, p57

RSPB Scotland p22

Sue Scott/SNH p34, p40 (bottom)

SNH Inside cover: 3rd insert (Landscapes & Ecosystems key), 5th insert (Knowledge key), p8, p12, p14, p16 (all),p17, p21 (right), p23, p24, p26 (left), p32, p33, p36 (all), p38 (top), p39, p40 (top), p41, p46, p48 (right), p54, p55

SWT p25 (right), p28 (inside text box)

Robin Wynde/RSPB p6




Our Objectives

Species and HabitatsTo halt the loss of biodiversity andcontinue to reverse previouslosses through targeted action forspecies and habitats

PeopleTo increase awareness, understandingand enjoyment of biodiversity, andengage many more people inconservation and enhancement

Landscapes and EcosystemsTo restore and enhancebiodiversity in all our urban, ruraland marine environmentsthrough better planning, designand practice

Integration and Co-ordinationTo develop an effective managementframework that ensures biodiversity istaken into account in all decisionmaking

KnowledgeTo ensure that the best new andexisting knowledge onbiodiversity is available to allpolicy makers and practitioners

Scotlan

d’s B

iod

iversityIt’s In Your H

ands

w w w . s c o t l a n d . g o v . u k

© Crown copyright 2004ISBN 0-7559-4120-9

This document is also available on the Scottish Executive websitewww.scotland.gov.uk

Astron B34235 05-04

100% of this document is printed on recycled paper and is 100% recyclable.


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