Scottish Primrose

Strategic Framework for Biodiversity in Scotland published

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The long-awaited final version of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy sets out a clear ambition for Scotland to be Nature Positive by 2030, and to have restored and regenerated biodiversity across the country by 2045. The Strategy forms one part of a Strategic Framework for Biodiversity alongside the Delivery Plan 2024-2030 which highlights the priority actions needed to deliver on the strategy and Statutory Targets for nature restoration to be put in place through a Natural Environment Bill. These are expected to include outcome targets that accommodate species abundance, distribution and extinction risk and habitat quality and extent.

The Delivery Plan priority actions are described under the six objectives set out in the strategy. These objectives are aligned to, and consider, the IPBES drivers of biodiversity loss, within the Scottish context. Below is a selection of the key actions under each of the six objectives

1. Accelerate restoration and regeneration

  • Introduce a programme of Ecosystem restoration including:
    • Identify and facilitate six exemplar large scale landscape restoration partnership projects with significant woodland components by 2025 and establish management structures, with restoration work progressing by 2030.
    • Implement Scotland’s strategic approach for Scotland’s rainforest.
    • Continue Peatland ACTION programme investing £250 million over 10 years to restore 250,000 hectares of degraded peat by 2030.
  • Develop and implement the Scottish Plan for Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS)
  • Substantially reduce deer densities across landscapes in parallel with ensuring sustainable management of grazing by sheep to improve overall ecosystem health.
    • Work with the deer management sector, to secure average densities of 2 deer per km² in priority woodland, 5-8 deer per km² in each of the Deer Management Groups (DMGs) in the Cairngorms National Park, and more widely a maximum of 10 deer per km² nationally by 2030. This will require a minimum increase of 25-30% on current cull levels sustained over several years.

2. Protect nature on land and at sea, across and beyond protected areas;

  • Ensure that at least 30% of land and sea is protected and effectively managed to support nature in good health by 2030 (30 by 30). On land, currently 18.2% is formally designated, meaning we need to protect approximately 990,000 additional hectares for nature, through a combination of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) and formal designations. Strengthen the role of National Parks and ensure they act as exemplars of biodiversity protection and recovery whilst continuing to support local communities.
  • Fulfil the potential of National Nature Reserves (NNRs) for nature recovery.
  • Expand and enhance Nature Networks and ecological connectivity.
    • By 2030 each Local Authority in Scotland will have a spatially defined Nature Network. SSSIs and Local Nature Reserves) – as well as areas being restored for nature – will contribute to Nature Networks. An implementation toolbox is being developed to build guidance, expertise and advice to aid in the delivery of projects that contribute to a Nature Network.
  • Champion new planning and development measures for protecting and enhancing biodiversity.
  • Enhance biodiversity in Scotland’s green and blue spaces.

 3. Embed nature-positive farming, fishing and forestry

  • Ensure increased uptake of high diversity, nature-rich, high-soil carbon, low-intensity farming methods while sustaining high-quality food production.
  • Introduce an agricultural support framework which delivers for nature restoration and biodiversity alongside climate and food production outcomes.
  • Ensure that forests and woodlands deliver increased biodiversity and habitat connectivity alongside timber and carbon outcomes.
  • Implement further fisheries measures in vulnerable marine ecosystems and Priority Marine Features outside of MPAs.

4. Protect and support the recovery of vulnerable and important species and habitats

  • Revise the Scottish Biodiversity List of species and habitats that Ministers consider to be of principal importance for biodiversity conservation in Scotland.
  • Develop effective species recovery, reintroduction and reinforcement programmes.The Species at Risk database will support an evaluation of actions to deliver biodiversity recovery through ecosystem management or targeted species action.
  • Manage existing and emerging pressures to improve the conservation status of seabirds, marine mammals, elasmobranchs and wild salmon.

5. Invest in nature

  • Promote natural capital market framework
  • Publish a Biodiversity Investment Plan for Scotland by the end of 2024 that contains actions to: support a range of finance mechanisms; promote value for money; and develop biodiversity markets in Scotland.
  • Public funding streams that contribute to nature restoration will be designed in a way that they can be matched or blended with private finance or investment.
  • Build on the experience of CivTech Challenge 8.6 with Credit Nature to explore development of new voluntary codes for nature restoration.
  • Explore options for attracting private finance to support the restoration of Scotland’s iconic Rainforest.
  • Increase investment in Scotland’s coastal and marine environments.
  • Provide direction on, and investment in, green skills and local economic opportunities supporting nature-based education, nature restoration skills and volunteering.

 6. Take action on the indirect drivers of biodiversity loss

  • Engage and strengthen the connection between people and communities and nature.
  • Embed biodiversity and nature in curriculum development.
  • Mainstream and integrate biodiversity policy across government and address unsustainable supply and demand to reduce biodiversity impacts.
  • Address unsustainable supply and demand to reduce biodiversity impacts.

There is real ambition across the Strategy. We are pleased to see that compared to previous iterations of the Strategy efforts have been made to make some of the actions outlined in the Delivery Plan SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound). In particular, there are clearly defined targets to reduce deer numbers to allow ecosystems recovery. There are, however, multiple areas that are less developed in terms of SMART targets and we look forward to seeing these developed.

Many of the commitments are existing strategies and pledges and it should be made clear what the delivery actions are within the delivery plan time frame in addition to what is already being delivered.

In our consultation response on the Biodiversity Framework, we called for SMART Targets and for lead responsible organisations to be identified alongside delivery partners which we are pleased to see in Annex 1. However, at present it is quite a narrow selection of delivery partners, and these should be expanded.  Especially as in the Strategy itself there is clear recognition that delivering a nature positive future for Scotland requires a multi-sectoral, whole of society approach.  It also states that Delivery plans will set out and reflect the need for a participatory and inclusive, whole-of-society approach that engages a wide range of delivery partners including local authorities, NGOs; local communities; business, especially land- and water-based businesses; and the scientific and research community.  We would therefore like to see the list of lead and delivery support partners expanded.

The Scottish Budget is due to be published on the 4th of December. We look forward to seeing an ambitious Biodiversity Investment Plan with appropriately blended public and private finance to underpin the scale of ambition in the Biodiversity Strategy.  And we look forward next year to seeing the introduction of a Natural Environment Bill with statutory targets for nature’s recovery.