NatureScot Biodiversity Duty Report 2021-2023

The Global Biodiversity Framework

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties in December 2022 (CoP15).  It includes four overarching 2050 Global Goals and 23 Targets.  NatureScot staff were part of the UK’s virtual delegation and co-authors of the methodology for the headline indicator and one of the complementary indicators for Goal A.4 Genetic Diversity.  We are now working with Scottish Government colleagues on Scotland’s response to the GBF and supporting them in collaborating with UK Government on reporting on our international commitments.

On behalf of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Scottish Government led a global partnership in the Edinburgh Process to consult with sub-national governments including regional, city and local authorities on their role in the post-2020 GBF.  The Edinburgh Process culminated in agreement on the Edinburgh Declaration, which calls on the Parties to the CBD to recognise the vital role played by sub-national governments, cities and local authorities in delivering for biodiversity and implementing actions to meet the GBF Goals and Targets.

North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy

The OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic was signed in 1992 and throughout this decade will be implemented through the North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy 2030.  The Strategy sets out collective objectives to tackle the triple challenge facing the ocean: biodiversity loss; pollution, including marine litter; and climate change.  Its implementation is part of OSPAR’s contribution to the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and associated Sustainable Development Goals.

Addressing the Indirect Drivers of Biodiversity Loss

In 2019 the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) published its seminal Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services setting out the urgent need to tackle both the direct and the indirect drivers of biodiversity loss.

There is a growing realisation internationally that efforts aimed at tackling the direct drivers of biodiversity loss by themselves, whilst important, will not be anything like sufficient to address biodiversity loss.  Underlying the direct drivers are a range of indirect drivers, which are in turn underpinned by societal values and behaviours – it is these indirect drivers that have driven and continue to drive biodiversity loss and climate change.

In 2023, in collaboration with the James Hutton Institute we published NatureScot Research Report 1309 - Understanding the Indirect Drivers of Biodiversity Loss in Scotland, which aimed to characterise the indirect drivers of biodiversity change as they apply in Scotland and to advise on how they could be further evaluated in terms of their impact on biodiversity.  Actions to address the indirect drivers are set out in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) Delivery Plan discussed in Section 2.10 Developing the Scottish Biodiversity Programme and Strategic Framework for Biodiversity.

The Biodiversity Duty

During 2023 NatureScot worked with Scottish Government to revise the Guidance Note - Biodiversity Duty Explained and associated reporting templates, which are aimed at supporting public bodies.  NatureScot publishes links to published public body Biodiversity Duty reports on its website.

1.6 Administering Scottish Government Funds for Biodiversity

The Nature Restoration Fund

The Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) is a £65 million fund and a key part of the Bute House Agreement (see Section 1.4 National policy context).  This flagship competitive fund is administered by NatureScot with teams across NatureScot contributing to assessing bids.  The fund supports projects to restore wildlife and habitats on land and sea and address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Around 150 projects across Scotland have received support from the NRF since its launch in 2021.  More than £30 million has been invested to date, either directly to projects and community groups, or through local authorities and the National Parks.  Over thirty projects shared £7.6 million in 2023.

All NRF projects are required to demonstrate how they will help to address climate change and/or its impacts, and the priority themes are:

• Habitat and species restoration: management for enhancement and connectivity
• Freshwater restoration, including restoration of natural flows in rural catchments
• Coastal and marine initiatives which promote restoration, recovery, enhancement or resilience
• Control of invasive non-native species impacting on nature
• Enhancing and connecting nature across, and between, towns and cities.

1.7 International reporting

In 2021 NatureScot completed the final report on Scotland's progress towards meeting the Convention on Biological Diversity Aichi 2020 Targets.  We are now working with Scottish Government on reporting against the new Global Biodiversity Framework Targets.

There was no reporting on the EC Habitats and Species Directive or the Birds Directive during this period (the last report was in 2019).  The next reporting in 2025 will be done under the auspices of the Bern Convention and Habitats Regulations Reporting, rather than under the European Directives.

NatureScot fed into aspects of the OSPAR Quality Status Report (QSR) 2023 which presents an assessment of the environmental status of the North East Atlantic Ocean.  QSR 2023 will inform 2024 reporting under the UK Marine Strategy.

1.8 Indicators, trends, and official statistics

Indicators are used to monitor changes in Scotland’s nature and landscape and to provide evidence of progress towards policy objectives.  NatureScot trend notes summarise changes in Scotland’s wildlife and habitats over time, and we also publish additional trends reports with more in-depth information.

We use a set of Indicators and Trends to chart and monitor progress against the aims of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.  The indicators also help towards measuring our National Performance and provide high level information for reporting on the State of Nature.

We publish various biodiversity statistics and indicators, including recent updates on wild birds, moths, and butterflies including details of data sources, trends in species groups, and drivers of change.  The Terrestrial Insect Abundance Butterflies indicator is a multi-species index compiled by Butterfly Conservation and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, using data primarily from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.

National Outcomes

The National Performance Framework (NPF) sets out the purpose for all of Scotland, expressed as 11 National Outcomes with progress measured through a set of 81 National Indicators.

Two National Outcomes align closely with biodiversity and the work of NatureScot:

• people value, enjoy, protect and enhance their environment
• people are healthy and active

National Indicators

NatureScot is responsible for the following National Indicators, classed also as Official Statistics:

• Biodiversity – an indicator based on trends for combinations of Scottish species to reflect the overall status of Scottish biodiversity across marine and terrestrial (including freshwater) habitats.
• The Natural Capital Asset Index – an economic indicator of sustainable development by measuring the environmental resources (plants, animals, air, water, soils) that combine to yield a flow of benefits to people (see below).
• The Proportion of adults making one or more Visits to the Outdoors per week.
• The Condition of Protected Nature Sites.

The UK State of Nature Report 2023

NatureScot was a partner in producing the influential UK State of Nature Report 2023, which uses the latest and best data from biological monitoring and recording schemes to provide a benchmark for the status of biodiversity.  This report is the most comprehensive review of how nature in the UK and overseas territories is faring.

Developing a new experimental biodiversity statistic

NatureScot worked with Scottish Government and a consortium of NGOs and research bodies to produce a new Marine and Terrestrial Species Indicator that includes a wider variety of species than had previously been possible.  This ‘experimental statistic’ is designed to meet international best practice standards and is based almost entirely on data from citizen scientists.  It shows changes in marine and terrestrial biodiversity in Scotland and so helps to track progress towards our biodiversity commitments.  The statistic also contributes to measuring progress towards a wellbeing economy by inclusion in the Wellbeing Economy Monitor.

Scotland's Natural Capital Asset Index

As outlined above Scotland's Natural Capital Asset Index (NCAI) is a National Indicator within the National Performance Framework acting as an economic indicator of sustainable development.  It is a composite index that tracks the potential of Scotland’s terrestrial ecosystems to contribute to people’s well-being and the economy.

1.9 Setting biodiversity priorities

The Species at Risk database

NatureScot has been working with eNGO partners to develop a Species at Risk database.  This lists rare species occurring in Scotland, includes their IUCN threat status, and will form an agreed, single point of reference on the rarity of (and threat to) species in Scotland, and it will help in setting future conservation priorities.

The Scottish Biodiversity List

NatureScot is currently discussing revising the current Scottish Biodiversity List (SBL) with Scottish Government.  The forthcoming Natural Environment Bill is likely to require a revised SBL.  Our proposal is to use the Species at Risk database as the basis for the SBL with the addition of some criteria, such as keystone species, to produce the final SBL.

Priority Marine Features

The list of Priority Marine Features (PMFs) was adopted by Scottish Ministers in 2014 and encompasses marine habitats and species that are considered to be of conservation importance at a Scottish, UK, North-east Atlantic or global scale. The PMF list is currently being updated to include the marine and coastal priorities identified in the revised Scottish Biodiversity List.

IUCN Red Lists

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has produced a Red List of Threatened Species since 1964; this is used in the NatureScot Species at Risk database.  The IUCN Red List of Ecosystems is a global framework for monitoring and documenting the status of freshwater, marine, terrestrial and subterranean ecosystems.  It evaluates whether ecosystems have reached a state of collapse and their threat level.

1.10 Managing our land

NatureScot manages about 0.5% of Scotland’s land to protect and enhance nature; this includes 41 nature reserves, including all or part of 29 National Nature Reserves (NNRs).  Much of the land we manage is designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and / or as European Natura sites, while some of our NNRs are part of landscape-scale nature restoration projects.  We use and promote our NNRs to provide opportunities for people to experience nature through visiting the outdoors, and to learn, volunteer and participate in outdoor recreation.  The number of people visiting NNRs has increased in recent years with nearly a million visitors a year.  We also use our NNRs to host demonstration and training events.

2. Actions to protect biodiversity

2.1 NatureScot Peatland ACTION

Peatland ACTION is the Scottish Government Programme run by NatureScot that has been established to support the delivery of peatland restoration in Scotland.  It is working to deliver a target of 250,000 hectares of peatland put on the road to recovery by 2030, with a budget of £250 million.  Other delivery partners are Forestry and Land Scotland, the two National Park Authorities, and Scottish Water.

Since 2012 we have set over 65,000 ha of degraded peatland on the road to recovery, with NatureScot delivering the vast majority of this.  We are on track to deliver 6,100ha in FY 23/24, with a target of restoring a further 7,900 ha in FY 24/25.

NatureScot have led on the development of several tools and initiatives to help increase delivery at scale and pace, including:

• Technical Compendium to provide advice and guidance on appropriate restoration techniques.
• Bird Breeding Guidance to allow restoration works to be undertaken during the bird breeding seasons.
• Peat Slide Risk Assessment, to provide confidence to contractors and land managers, and reduce the risk of project failure.
• Multi-year funding offers, to give land managers the confidence to develop and deliver large-scale projects over a number of years.
• Better alignment between the Peatland ACTION, Peatland Code, and Permitted Development Rights (PDR) application processes.

In addition, NatureScot has invested in skills development to provide green job opportunities to meet the increased demand.  We have also stimulated demand from land managers by promoting and articulating the wide range of benefits provided by restored peatlands – including biodiversity benefits.

2.2 Woodlands

Mapping riparian woodland

In 2023 we published a map of the extent existing riparian woodland, which, in conjunction with Marine Scotland’s River Temperature Monitoring Network Riparian Woodland Prioritisation Scores, will help prioritise action.  We are also actively involved in developing the Woodland Water Code for markets, which is anticipated in March 2025.

The Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest

NatureScot is a member of the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest, a group of over twenty NGOs, statutory bodies and other organisations that are working together to help make Scotland’s rainforest thrive again.  In November 2021 Environment Minister Mairi McAllan announced that Scotland’s rainforest will be restored and expanded as a natural solution to the climate emergency.

2.3 Freshwater

Restoring freshwater ecosystems

Following on from the Biodiversity Challenge Fund, in 2018 – 2020 the Nature Restoration Fund saw a strong uptake of freshwater restoration projects.  Through this fund we have facilitated a wide range of diverse restoration projects across Scotland.

Projects include work with the Crail Community Partnership to re-wild part of a former airfield at South Kilminning in Fife by turning tarmac into a wet wildflower meadow and pond.  We have also worked with the Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust to re-establish wildlife corridors and improve riverbanks in the Endrick Water catchment, which drains into Loch Lomond.  We have also supported a network of neighbouring farmers in the West Loch Ness area, who have restored a previously drained marshland and created a network of scrapes and ponds that have now been colonised by the rare Great Crested Newt.

We are partners in the EC-funded research and innovation project (MERLIN) to mainstream ecological restoration of freshwater ecosystems in a ‘landscape context’.

Publishing the Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy

Following our contribution to the development of the S Gvt Wild Salmon Strategy, published in January 2022, we are committed delivering actions outlined in the implementation plan.  Actions include improved fish monitoring, control of invasive species, reviewing interactions with beavers, peatland restoration, and increasing the extent of riparian woodlands.

2.4 Controlling Invasive Species at the Landscape-scale

The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative began in October 2017 with funding of over £2 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and NatureScot.  From April 2023 until 2026 the second phase of the project is supported through Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund.  The project is led by NatureScot and tackles Invasive Non Native Species at landscape scale with a small project team working alongside local delivery partners from the Tay northwards to the remote catchments of northwest Sutherland.

Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels was launched in 2009.  Between 2017 and 2022 the project was supported by over £2 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and NatureScot has provided interim funding from April 2022.  The project prevents grey squirrels from invading red squirrel strongholds in the Highlands and South of Scotland.

The Hebridean Mink Project was started in 2001 with the aim of protecting ground nesting birds from predation by eradicating American mink.  With mink numbers now very low, the removal has helped restore biodiversity on the islands and improve populations of seabirds, waders and waterfowl.  NatureScot employs a small team of trappers who maintain a trap network covering more than 3,000 square kilometres.

The Orkney Native Wildlife Project began in 2018 with over £6 million of funding from the EU Life Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund with match funding from NatureScot.  The project is led by RSPB and aims to safeguard the unique and internationally important native wildlife of Orkney by addressing the threat it faces from stoats, which are not native to Orkney but were introduced in 2010.

2.5 Actions to Conserve Species

The Species on the Edge programme

Species on the Edge is a new innovative 4.5-year programme that has been active since early 2023.  It is led by NatureScot and delivered in partnership with seven nature conservation charities.  It aims to secure a future for 37 priority species found along Scotland's coast and islands.  The partners are Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Bat Conservation Trust, Buglife, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife, and RSPB Scotland.

Species on the Edge has 17 Project Officers and People Engagement Officers employed by partner organisations spread across the seven project areas; a central team of four NatureScot employees coordinate the programme.

2.9 Developing the Scottish Biodiversity Programme and Strategic Framework for Biodiversity

The Scottish Biodiversity Programme is co-owned by Scottish Government and NatureScot.  It oversees and coordinates current and planned activity on biodiversity by securing a common understanding of priorities and ways to deliver them.

Scotland’s Biodiversity: A Route Map to 2020

NatureScot led on co-ordinating and delivering the Scotland’s Biodiversity: A Route Map to 2020, which set out large scale collaborative actions to address a range of targets drawn from the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.  Twelve ‘Priority Projects’ and ‘Supporting Work’ were associated with 14 targets underpinned by 79 actions.  In late 2022 we published the Biodiversity Route Map to 2020 - Final Report, which covers the whole period of the Route Map from 2015 – 2020 plus a number of updates from 2021 and 2022.

The Biodiversity Statement of Intent 2020

NatureScot worked closely with Scottish Government to develop the Scottish biodiversity strategy post-2020: statement of intent published by The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform on 14 December 2020.  This set out Scotland’s broad ambitions for the new strategy and confirmed continuity, and enhancement where possible, of delivery under the existing Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and Route Map until replaced by the new strategy and delivery plan.

Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity 2023

The ‘Tackling the nature emergency. Consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity’ was launched in September 2023; it includes sections on:

• The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
• The Strategy's first five-year Delivery Plan
• 30x30
• Nature Networks
• National Parks
• Statutory nature targets.

The Draft Scottish Biodiversity Strategy

The Draft Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) was published in December 2022.  It sets our goal: to halt biodiversity loss and be Nature Positive by 2030 and to have restored and regenerated biodiversity across the country by 2045.  It includes a commitment (through Policy Frameworks) to protect 30% of land and seas for nature by 2030 and ensure that every local authority area has a nature network to improve ecological connectivity across Scotland.

The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Delivery Plan

NatureScot convened various stakeholder workshops with a wide range of partners, and held one-to-one meetings, to develop the detail on Delivery Plan actions.  These address the six Objectives of the Delivery Plan:

• Objective 1: Accelerate Restoration and Regeneration
• Objective 2: Protect Nature on Land and at Sea across and beyond Protected Areas
• Objective 3: Embed Nature Positive Farming, Fishing and Forestry
• Objective 4: Protect and Support the Recovery of Vulnerable and Important Species and Habitats
• Objective 5: Invest in Nature
• Objective 6: Take Action on the Indirect Drivers of Biodiversity Loss

Statutory nature restoration targets

The proposed Natural Environment Bill will be key to delivering the Strategic Framework for Biodiversity.  It will do this in part by setting statutory nature conservation targets.  Seven target topics have been identified by the Biodiversity Programme Advisory Group, with support from a sub-group of NatureScot’s Scientific Advisory Committee:

1. Ecosystem integrity/health
2. Habitat condition and extent
3. Threatened species status
4. Civil society understanding, benefitting from and contributing to nature
5. Investment in nature
6. Enhancing environmental conditions for nature
7. Positive outcomes for biodiversity in public sector and government policy

Local Biodiversity Action Plan Partnerships

Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) Partnerships were established across Scotland in response to the first UK Biodiversity Action Plan in 1994 and continue to play a critical role in bringing together local stakeholders including local authorities, environmental NGOs, communities and volunteers.  NatureScot provides support to coordinate the national LBAP network, to share knowledge and experience, and to support implementation at the local authority level.

LBAP partnerships continue to operate at a local level to raise awareness and manage projects and actions to conserve and enhance biodiversity.  This role has been given fresh impetus through the Edinburgh Declaration, with LBAP Officers also playing a key role in co-producing the Frameworks for Nature Networks and 30x30, and developing the SBS Delivery Plan.

3. Mainstreaming biodiversity

3.1 Achieving Biodiversity Outcomes through the Planning System

NatureScot provides planning-related standing advice and guidance on our website including much to help ensure how biodiversity is to be taken into account in and around developments of all types, and we report on performance in our Planning Performance Annual Reports.

The National Planning Framework

National Planning Framework 4 came into force on 13 February 2023.  It has an enhanced status in determining planning applications as it is now part of the development plan along with the Local Development Plan.  It places the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss at the heart of decision-making and introduces a new requirement for all developments to contribute to the ‘enhancement of biodiversity’.

Policy 3c requires that proposals for local development will include appropriate measures to conserve, restore and enhance biodiversity.  To support this NatureScot published Developing with Nature guidance to support developers in enhancing biodiversity by following practical steps to select and incorporate ‘Appropriate Measures’ in new developments.  This has been promoted through webinars and events.

The Scottish Government NPF4 Delivery Programme v.2 (2023) included a commitment for a Technical Advisory Group (CIEEM, RTPI, Improvement Service, NatureScot and Heads of Planning Scotland) to publish Scottish Government Draft Planning Guidance: Biodiversity to support Policy 3.  Work is underway to develop guidance on other parts of NPF4 Policy 3, including options for developing a biodiversity metric or other tool for use in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has published independent research undertaken by SRUC into Approaches to Measuring Biodiversity in Scotland.  This sets out pragmatic next steps to ensure a consistent and cross-government approach to measuring biodiversity at site level.  With regards to the planning sector specifically, NatureScot will shortly commence work to develop an adapted biodiversity metric suitable for use in supporting delivery of NPF4 policy 3b, engaging closely with all relevant stakeholders.

Further information is available on Implementing NPF4 and on the Scottish Government Transforming Planning website.

NaturePlanner / InformedDecision

NatureScot has been trialling the use of an AI platform to help streamline our advice to regulators and owners of designated sites and to maintain good customer service.  The platform helps to deal with cases of lower priority quickly in order to ensure that our staff resource is targeted at those cases most in need of their bespoke advice.  Results are promising but no decisions have been made on rollout and use of the platform beyond the pilot.

3.2 Agriculture

The Agriculture & Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill (the Agriculture Bill) is currently making its way through the Scottish Parliament.

Supporting Sustainable Food Production, Climate and Nature

NatureScot is conducting Farming with Nature pilots to help inform what future rural support outside of the Common Agricultural Policy might work to enhance nature and biodiversity.  The pilots respond to the urgent need for transformative land use change to reduce carbon emissions by 75% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2045.  Refocusing future rural support on natural capital will help to make land-based businesses more resilient, support jobs, and strengthen Scotland’s green brand.

NatureScot is working with the Scottish Government to develop a simple Biodiversity Audit to be used by farmers and crofters to allow them to manage their land to promote biodiversity.  A biodiversity audit is one of the elements of the Governments ‘whole farm plan’ that farmers will be required to adopt after 2025.  The audit tool will first help farmers to get a baseline of the biodiversity on their land, then make informed decisions to maintain or improve the biodiversity through sustainable farming methods.  The tool is currently being tested by the farmers and crofters who have taken part in the Piloting an Outcomes Based Approach in Scotland (POBAS) pilot.

Protecting Scotland’s Soils

The Scottish Soil Framework (2009) continues to provide the main underpinning of actions to protect our soils by supporting stakeholders in working together to achieve better soil protection.  The Second Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme 2019-2024 recognised that soils are an important component of provisioning ecosystem services and a cornerstone of sustainable and productive agricultural, but that soils are severely impacted by climate change and that we require improved data and metrics to assess their vulnerability to climate change and their role in carbon sequestration  The Programme highlighted the need for leadership and direction in managing this vital natural asset, and the need to identify opportunities for enhancing soil health and integrating soils with other policies to ensure that:

• Valued soils are protected and restored.
• Soils, including carbon-rich soils, sequester and store carbon.
• Soils are healthy and provide essential ecosystem services for nature, people, and our economy.

3.3 Natural Capital

Developing a Natural Capital Approach

A natural capital approach is when the full range of benefits that we receive from nature are taken into consideration within the decision-making process.  Adopting a natural capital approach enables us to understand the role of our natural environment, alongside its intrinsic value, as an asset that underpins both our economy and society.  We can identify the scenarios that provide the most benefits for people and nature by mapping and modelling how land use changes impact ecosystem services.

The Natural Capital Asset Index

The Natural Capital Asset Index (NCAI) is a composite index that tracks the potential of Scotland’s terrestrial ecosystems to contribute to people’s well-being and the economy.

The NCAI is based on assessments of habitat characteristics and quantity.  Habitat quantity is tracked using data on land cover in Scotland while habitat characteristics are tracked using 38 separate indicators which rely on datasets gathered by a range of public organisations and citizen science schemes.  The NCAI uses these data to understand how well nature in Scotland can provide well-being to people through different types of ecosystem services.  The 2023 update noted that the potential of Scotland’s natural capital to deliver ecosystem services is in a ‘maintaining state’.

Work continues to improve the data underpinning the NCAI.  For example, we’ve investigated using a new set of habitat maps for Scotland published in April 2021, their production used satellite data and is repeatable, so they can be used to track land use change (see Section 6.5 Innovative approaches to biodiversity monitoring).  We have also been undergoing a ‘refresh’ of the indicators included in the NCAI to help fill data gaps.

The Scottish Forum on Natural Capital

The Scottish Forum on Natural Capital (SFNC) was launched in 2013 and now has a membership of over 100 organisations including many businesses.  In 2021, an annual roundtable of public sector leaders convened by the SFNC and NatureScot agreed a set of principles for natural capital accounting on public land and launched the 100 Business Actions for Nature project to encourage businesses to contribute to the transformational changes needed to meet the twin climate and nature crises.

NatureScot co-leads the Scottish Nature Finance Pioneers (SNFP), hosted by the SFNC.  This is an online community of practice bringing together anyone with an interest in nature finance, with the aim of developing new avenues for directing investment into nature projects and creating a high-integrity nature finance market in Scotland.

Developing a Landscape-Scale Natural Capital Tool for Scotland

NatureScot is leading on Developing a Landscape Scale Natural Capital Tool which will help decision makers to take a natural capital approach to managing land at the landscape-scale in Scotland.

The tool will be the first of its kind in Scotland and is being developed in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University.  The 'bones' of the tool will be based on EcoServR, an existing tool in the coding language R for mapping natural capital assets and ecosystem services.

3.4 New Approaches to Nature Finance

Responsible Investment in Natural Capital

NatureScot works with partners across the UK to help realise the opportunity and maximise the benefits for nature from investment in natural capital.  In this work we adhere to the Scottish Government Interim Principles for Responsible Investment in Natural Capital, established in 2022.

The Woodland Carbon Code

The Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) is a UK government scheme administered by Scottish Forestry.  It allows the owners of new woodland planting schemes to calculate the total carbon sequestration their woodland will achieve over the lifetime of the trees.  Pending Issuance Units (PIUs) have a value and may be sold but may not be used in an offsetting calculation until the trees have grown and the carbon sequestration verified.  At 31 March 2023 there were over 57,000 ha of woodland projects registered under the code in Scotland, projected to sequester nearly 18 million tonnes CO2e.  This includes nearly 4,000 ha of verified woodland sequestering over 1.5 million tonnes CO2e.  In 2020 the UK Land Carbon Registry was launched as a joint platform with The Peatland Code to ensure the transparency of all UK Land Carbon Projects.

The Peatland Code

The Peatland Code was developed in 2015 and is managed by the IUCN Peatland Programme.  The Code allows the reduction in carbon emissions through peatland restoration to be quantified, validated, and verified in a similar way to the Woodland Carbon Code.  At October 2023 there were nearly 27,000 ha of peatland restoration projects registered under the code in Scotland, projected to sequester over 6 million tonnes CO2e.

The Investment Ready Nature Scotland (IRNS) Grant Scheme

In 2022 NatureScot, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the National Lottery Heritage Fund launched The Investment Ready Nature Scotland (IRNS) Grant Scheme to help organisations and partnerships develop projects in Scotland that use private investment and market-based mechanisms to help finance the restoration of the natural environment in Scotland.

Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (FIRNS)

Building on IRNS, the Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (FIRNS) is a joint initiative between Scottish Government, NatureScot, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund that offers grants to organisations and partnerships to help develop a viable business case and financial model to attract investment in natural capital restoration projects, specifically to projects that:

• Support the restoration of nature and growth of natural capital backed by robust science-based methodologies.
• Enable or generate revenue and /or cost savings from ecosystem services in order to attract and repay private sector investment.
• Generate social and economic benefits in line with Scottish Government’s Just Transition principles and provide increased access for people to enjoy nature.
• Achieve or enable the outcomes of Scottish government’s Interim Principles for Responsible Investment in Natural Capital.
• Develop a model that will attract and repay investment or can be scaled up and duplicated.

Commencing in 2023, 27 diverse projects spread across Scotland: from the Solway Firth to Shetland, Fife, across central Scotland, and the Hebrides will share just over £1.8 million of funding from NatureScot (£3.6 million in total when including partnership funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund).  Round 2 is underway from November 2023.

CivTech Challenge 8.6 - Biodiversity credits

NatureScot funded this Challenge and continues to support CreditNature Ltd to develop an option for a new voluntary biodiversity market in Scotland that we believe has strong potential to help scale responsible private investment into nature restoration in Scotland.  CreditNature’s solution is designed to channel investment into the restoration of ecosystem integrity to create ecosystem infrastructure and land assets able support nature-based enterprises, thereby delivering nature-based solutions to societal challenges including rural regeneration and climate adaptation.  It comprises a platform system comprising Nature Impact Tokens, an ecosystem integrity metric framework, data collection apps and associated standards powered by a data engine.

Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs)

NatureScot continues to support the development of Landscape Enterprise Networks in Scotland to attract new forms of investment into biodiversity and nature restoration.  During 2023 we: 1) secured resource for a LENS coordinator, hosted by SRUC; 2) supported a LENS pilot project through FIRNS in the Leven catchment in Fife / Perth and Kinross; 3) supported a second pilot in the Spey catchment and 4) continued to convene and lead the national LENS coordination group.  We anticipate the first LENS ‘trades’ by October 2024, which are likely to be in the scale of a few hundred thousand pounds.  Thereafter we anticipate a rapid scaling up of LENS investment to several £million per annum with multiple business partners.

The Blue Economy

NatureScot contributed to the formation of the Blue Economy Vision (BEV), and the subsequent publication on Delivering Scotland's Blue Economy approach, through a public-bodies roundtable and associated workshop series.  One of the BEV Outcomes relates to 'natural capital approaches', for which we have helped shape and run a marine forum/hub under the umbrella of the Scottish Forum on Natural Capital (See Section 3.3 Natural capital).  Events have included co-design and delivery of a 'Business in the Blue Economy' engagement and knowledge exchange event.

The Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund

The Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) is hosted by NatureScot with support from Scottish Government and Crown Estate Scotland to leverage private investment towards projects that recover, restore or enhance the health of marine and coastal habitats and species across Scotland.  Since 2021, SMEEF has distributed £3.3 million to 50 projects around our coasts and seas.  Many of these projects are new or in early stages of development, demonstrating that the Fund acts as a key pipeline investor for this emerging sector.  Alongside grant funding, SMEEF also provides guidance, and has recently published a new toolkit to help communities and groups wishing to undertake marine restoration projects understand best practice as well as regulatory requirements.

4. Nature-based solutions for people and planet

4.1 Climate change and biodiversity - the Twin Crises

Climate change presents the single greatest threat to Scotland’s nature.  The NatureScot Corporate Plan 2022-2026 - A nature-rich future for all sets out the need to address the climate and nature emergency as a twin crisis and that actions to address these are interlinked.

The NatureScot Climate Change Commitments - towards a nature-rich future presents our 2019 response to the climate emergency declared by Scottish Government, providing a focus on some key areas:

• changing use of land
• changing use of seas and coasts
• tackling climate change effects on native habitats and species
• Supporting climate-resilient communities
• Enabling new development that helps address climate change
• Managing NatureScot’s own emissions and sequestration

The Scottish National Adaptation Plan

Development of a new National Adaptation Plan as successor to the Climate Ready Scotland: climate change adaptation programme 2019-2024 is underway, NatureScot is contributing.

NatureScot’s Adaptation Plan

During 2023 NatureScot has been developing an adaptation plan to ensure that we as an organisation are adapting to the risks posed by climate change to all aspects of our work - ranging from the principles of nature conservation to how we maintain our assets.  There is much adaptation work already underway and the plan will bring this together with newly proposed actions to ensure we address the risks and actions needed.

The Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership

We work with and provide support the work of the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP).  The MCCIP brings together scientists, government, its agencies and NGOs to provide co-ordinated advice on climate change impacts, mitigation and adaptation around our coast and in our seas.  The outputs provided by MCCIP include rolling evidence updates for physical and ecosystem effects of climate change.  NatureScot utilises MCCIP outputs to keep our evidence-base current and robust and to inform our advice for management of our coasts and seas, taking account of both climate and biodiversity crises.

4.2 Nature-based Solutions

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature defines nature-based solutions as ‘actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits’.

Nearly all the biodiversity restoration we have supported and promoted provides multiple benefits, largely because healthy habitats enhance carbon retention and/or help society and economy adapt to increasing weather extremes. For example, our peatland restoration work is driven by the very significant carbon benefits and can also reduce flood risks downstream.

Some other key strands of our work that develop a Nature-Based Solutions approach are reported below.  We are striving to further implement this approach, including better quantification of benefits – which will support an increase in nature finance – and more involvement of local people as part of a Just Transition.

4.3 Urban Nature-based Solutions

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are about considering the contribution that nature can make whenever we make decisions.  With 83% of Scotland’s people living in towns and cities we must consider how nature helps to address a broad range of outcomes within settlements; these include public health, education and learning, community development and safety, sustainability, the local economy, and regeneration.

In 2021 NatureScot worked with COSLA, the Improvement Service and the Sustainable Scotland Network to publish a briefing for Elected Members on Nature-based Solutions to illustrate ways in which nature can help to deliver wider socio-economic outcomes at the local level.

4.4 The Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention

Access to nature-rich greenspace is not equitably distributed, and our most disadvantaged communities are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

The Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention was a programme led by NatureScot and funded through the 2014-2020 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme that aimed to address this by funding green infrastructure projects in Scotland’s most deprived urban areas.  Projects involved public and third sector organisations in improving habitats and biodiversity, transforming derelict land, addressing flood risk and improving health and wellbeing.  These were all in line with NatureScot’s ambition for ‘Nature-rich Towns and Cities’:

1. Nature, biodiversity and ecosystems.
2. Environmental quality, flooding and climate change.
3. Involving communities and increasing participation.
4. Increasing place attractiveness and competitiveness.
5. Improving health and well-being.

In 2019 a second tranche of funding from the ERDF was allocated to projects to be completed by November 2023.

4.5 Scotland’s Natural Health Service

With the publication of the NHS Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy 2022-26, good progress is being been made in mainstreaming nature-based solutions in health policy and practice.  This strategy includes a range of actions to increase the nature richness and benefit of the NHS estate and the development of Green Health Partnerships.  It builds on the work led by NatureScot with Scottish Forestry, Public Health Scotland and NHS Assure on developing Scotland’s Natural Health Service, including the NHS Greenspace Demonstration Project and the successful piloting of four Greenhealth Partnerships in Dundee, Highland, Lanarkshire and North Ayrshire.

In the last three years over £1 million has been spent by Scottish Government on supporting Areas boards to deliver a range of greenspace projects across Scotland.   The evaluation report of the first three years of the Green Health Partnerships found that these Partnerships had facilitated or promoted over 550 opportunities for green health activities; engaged with 11,500 health and social care staff, and with nearly 8,000 green health delivery staff; and had established or supported 63 referral pathways, with Dundee winning awards for its green prescribing programmes.

4.6 Coastal Nature-based Solutions

Coastal habitats, such as saltmarsh, can provide Nature-based Solutions because as well as helping to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration and storage, they play a significant role in coastal defence, supporting adaptation to an increased risk of flooding from sea-level rise.  These services are enhanced through interventions that optimise natural processes.

In 2022, NatureScot supported coastal restoration project proposals through Nature Restoration Fund, including Green Shores, a project that aims to create 3ha of new fringe saltmarsh habitat at sites on the Eden estuary and the Dornoch Firth by 2025.  We have been engaged with ongoing stakeholder discussions on potential beach replenishment schemes and on dune restoration opportunities from forestry at a number of sites.  We have strengthened our coastal network through enhanced engagement with the wider community via conference participation, active engagement on UK and European networks (e.g. European Network of Heads of Nature Conservation Agencies, Sand Dune and Shingle Network, UK Saltmarsh Specialist Forum) and work with the academic community to improve understanding of coastal processes.

As an example of Nature-based Solutions through reducing human pressures, we are currently working with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to understand the impact on coastal dune resilience of using marram grass as a traditional thatching material. This could guide sustainable practice in the future.

4.7 Marine enhancement and restoration

We have supported and advised on the development of various projects aimed at restoring marine and coastal habitats and species in particular sand dunes, saltmarsh, seagrass beds and native oysters.  These include the DEEP, Restoration Forth and Seawilding but also many of the projects funded by SMEEF (see section 3.4).  We have been responsive to the increasing interest in restoration work from local community groups right through to large corporations.  We have achieved this by employing two specialist advisors, developing guidance including the Marine & Coastal Enhancement Framework and Seagrass Restoration handbook, supporting baseline surveys and research and working closely with the Coastal Communities Network, eNGOs, academia, Marine Directorate, other regulators and our colleagues in SMEEF.  We’ve also been building our international connections to learn from work in other countries like Sweden, Germany and Denmark, e.g. through the Native Oyster Restoration Alliance and engagement in OSPAR working groups.

4.8 Carbon sequestration by natural habitats

Large amounts of carbon are held in Scottish soils (3,000 MtC) and to a lesser extent in vegetation, although some natural habitats are in a degraded condition and are either net emitters, or they are not meeting their carbon sequestration potential.  Woodlands, peatlands and other habitats, such as montane scrub, hedgerows in farmland, saltmarsh and seagrass, can provide an enhanced level of carbon sequestration through expansion, improvement in their condition and reduction in disturbance.

NatureScot is synthesising evidence of carbon in natural habitats to help inform our advice.  For our coasts and seas this includes work to improve the evidence base for blue carbon in conjunction with relevant groups including the Scottish and UK Blue Carbon Forums and the UK Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership.  We are working with key partners to explore the potential for saltmarsh to be added to the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory and to publish a report summarising current evidence on blue carbon.

The Carbon and Peatland Map of Scotland

The Carbon and Peatland 2016 Map of Scotland provides information on carbon rich soil, deep peat and priority peatland habitats in Scotland.  The map was based on phase 4 of the National Soil of Scotland (partial) map from JHI and continues to be updated to provide responsive support and advice to users.  The map is available to view on Scotland’s soils as part of Scotland’s Environment Web alongside guidance aimed at different user groups.  A consolidated spatial dataset of ‘carbon rich soil, deep peat and priority peatland habitats’ in Scotland can be downloaded from NatureScot.  The information provided by the map is used at as baseline information to assess the likely presence of peatlands for range of activities from planning, restoration, and licensing works.

5. Public Engagement and Workforce Development

To win the ‘hearts and minds’ for protecting and restoring nature, we need to see more people from across society connected to nature and regularly enjoying, learning and caring for it.

5.1 Evidence base

Through the Scottish People and Nature Survey, the Nature Omnibus Survey and other bespoke surveys, we track long terms trends in public attitudes and behaviours towards the natural environment, including awareness and action for nature, the impact of Covid-19 on visits to the outdoors and nature connectedness.  This work informs a range of our activities to inspire people to connect to and benefit from nature and to take action to protect and enhance it. (See also Section 6.2 Social Surveys).

5.2 Public Communications

We have increased the range and reach of our communications through a broad range of public information products aimed at increasing enjoyment and understanding of the natural heritage.  Alongside the nature.scot website, we also maintain websites for our National Nature Reserves (see Section 5.8) and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) (see Section 5.12).

Our websites and blogs attract almost 1.7 million unique users annually and our media activity achieves a weekly average of around 37 million opportunities to see NatureScot in print, broadcast and online.  Social media channels including Facebook; Twitter; Instagram; and YouTube have become increasingly important tools for engagement.  We reach around 5 million people a year through these channels organically, while our paid-for campaigns extend our voice further.  In 2023 our Scottish Outdoor Access Code campaign reached a radio audience of almost 1.5 million, with nearly 6 million impressions on social media, while our Make Space for Nature Campaign (see below) achieved over 8 million impressions and more than 750k video plays.

5.3 Make Space for Nature Campaign

Make Space for Nature (MSFN) is our major public-facing behavioural campaign encouraging ‘warmer’ audiences to act through simple practical tasks to help nature.  Along with these specific tasks the campaign promotes volunteering and citizen science, funding opportunities, outdoor learning activities for all the family and stresses the health and wellbeing benefits of connecting with nature.  Social media have been the main tool for engaging with the target audience, including using a social media influencer and a podcast series.

The three main desired behavioural changes that MSFN is targeting are: to encourage nature into our lives, to give our time for nature, and to reduce our impact on nature.  To date, the campaign has encouraged an estimated 2.5 million people (over 45% of the Scottish population) to follow our ‘10 ways to help wildlife’ guidance during the year.

5.4 Nature for All

During 2021 - 23 we continued to focus our efforts on engaging young people, ethnic minority and other under-represented groups through our work on the following initiatives and projects:

• Future Routes Fund – a fund for projects run by and for 11-26 year olds aimed at helping young people to improve their local environment, increase their knowledge and understanding of Scottish biodiversity, and to provide more opportunities for them to engage with nature.
• Scotland’s Junior Rangers – supporting the development of Scotland’s Junior Rangers Co-ordinators toolkit developed by the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association.
• Engaging young people and ethnic minorities in the Consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity through running workshops and information sessions with YoungScot and CEMVO.
• Developing our own ethnic minority engagement action plan aimed at increasing the number of ethnic minority people employed in our organisation, in the environmental sector and in visiting the outdoors.
• Through our funding of the John Muir Award scheme where there is a target of 25% of awards achieved by disadvantaged individuals.
• Supporting the start-up and development of Scotland’s Young People’s Forest initiative in partnership with YoungScot and Youthlink Scotland.
• Undertaking research to evaluate nature connection in young people and their connection to nature.
• Guest blogs from young people and ethnic minority groups on our ‘Scotland’s Nature’ blog series.

Volunteering Matters

We funded Volunteering Matters Action Earth, a small grant scheme supporting low Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation  communities in urban areas to enrich nature and carry out improvements for biodiversity.

The John Muir Trust

We funded the John Muir Trust to deliver the John Muir Award scheme, which enables people to connect with, enjoy and care for wild places.

The Conservation Volunteers (TCV Scotland)

We funded TCV Scotland to deliver for people and nature through volunteering and skills development.  TCV support and empower people to take action to improve biodiversity and their local greenspaces.

5.5 Volunteering and citizen science

We make a broad range of online resources available to support community involvement in biodiversity projects and citizen science, while much additional work is undertaken by our partners including by NGOs such as the John Muir Trust and TCV Scotland and by local partners, including Local Biodiversity Partnerships.  We support several NGOs to engage volunteers and members by managing surveys and running citizen science projects.

Citizen science makes an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the state of nature, with records from volunteers underpinning much of our biodiversity monitoring and reporting.  The State of Nature Scotland Report (see Section 6.3 The State of Nature Scotland Report) relies on millions of records collected by citizen scientists and the Natural Capital Asset Index relies on data collected by citizen scientists.  Many biodiversity indicators also depend on data submitted by volunteer recorders.

We have established the Community-led Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Project in partnership with the William Grant Foundation and Flora & Fauna International.  This Project aims to establish expertise and pathways through which community groups can get involved in monitoring the state of their marine environment.  In addition, we support the Marine Conservation Society to deliver their Seasearch programme for scuba divers and snorkelers in Scotland, and we support the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust Whale Track project monitor cetaceans through citizen science projects.

5.6 Connecting with nature through landscapes

Scotland, as a signatory to the European Landscape Convention, set out a vision and action plan, with Historic Environment Scotland, called People, Place and Landscape.  The NatureScot community engagement in landscape change initiative delivers several actions within the action plan.  It is supporting five communities across Scotland, as pilots for the initiative, delivered through existing landscape-scale organisations: Inner Forth Futures, Bioregioning Tayside, North West 2045, the Pairc Trust with the University of the Highlands and Islands, and Glenkens with the Galloway Community and Arts Trust.

We want to learn from, and share that learning, on how the communities have gone about understanding landscapes, valuing what is important to them, engaging in the planning and management of landscape change, and finally in developing community-led local landscape monitoring programmes that align with our national landscape monitoring programme.  The initiative is planned to be completed by 2026.

5.7​​​​​​​ Supporting Education and Outdoor Learning

NatureScot works closely with Education Scotland and environment and heritage bodies across the public sector to promote the importance of outdoor learning and play in nature to deliver a range of educational, health and biodiversity outcomes.  With these partners, we manage the Outdoor Learning Directory.  This provides a shared partner web resource to signpost regularly updated outdoor learning news, resources, and events, including biodiversity information, for educators.

During 2023 we ran a programme of volunteer days on our NNRs for staff in Education Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) which supported over 25 staff.  With Queen Margaret University and Edinburgh and the Lothians Greenspace Trust, a further volunteer day was organised at the Wee Forest on the University campus.  This is one of a network of nearly 30 Wee Forests across urban Scotland that NatureScot has helped to establish with funding from Scottish Government.  Wee Forests are part of tiny forests programme ran by Earth Watch International to help increase local biodiversity, capture carbon, and encourage volunteering and citizen science.  Of the Wee Forests so far established, most have been within educational settings or close to schools and are valued as resources for outdoor learning.

NatureScot is an active participant a number of education networks in Scotland, including the STEM partners network facilitated by Education Scotland.  NatureScot is seeking to build staff capacity within the STEM Ambassadors programme, with a view to better engaging with and supporting nature-based STEM events for learners and develop in-house skills.

We are interested in how we can more effectively connect and measure our education and nature interventions.  NatureScot participates in the UK Nature Connection Network and its Education subgroup, facilitated by the Nature Connectedness Research Group, which aims to improve and measure relationships between people and nature, for the benefit of people and nature.

Learning in Local Greenspace

NatureScot completed its ground-breaking Learning in Local greenspace demonstration project in 2021, successfully working to increase outdoor learning provision in 115 schools serving some of the most disadvantaged communities in Scotland.  Evaluation completed in 2022 showed that the impact of increased outdoor learning with learners more connected to nature and more engaged in learning and local greenspaces improved for the schools and wider community, with regular litter picks and some enhancements to benefit biodiversity.  A next phase of work has been undertaken in Lanarkshire and Dundee schools – the former looking to build the use of 16 Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) that had been created as an outdoor learning resource for schools; the latter looking at the role of outdoor learning in STEM subjects.

A key legacy of this project are a number of digitally accessible resources including ‘Beyond Your Boundary – easy steps to learning in local greenspace’ to support and inspire educators to use their local greenspace for learning.  The Greenspace Map for Outdoor Learning is designed to help educators find their local greenspace.  Case studies and films share the experiences of schools in taking learning outdoors into local greenspaces.  Funded NatureScot education projects aim to facilitate connection to nature through a place-based approach to learning outdoors and action to restore biodiversity in and around schools.  These projects are included under our Young People - Learning Outdoors and Developing Skills education webpage, which includes links to information about Scotland’s biodiversity.

The Nature Discovery Map Scotland

As part of the National Education Nature Parks initiative announced by the UK Government at COP26, in 2022 NatureScot oversaw the development of an interactive map-based learning toolkit for schools.  This was co-designed by teachers to allow pupils to discover and map biodiversity in their school grounds, and to motivate schools to enhance their school grounds for nature and for climate adaptation benefits.

Rolling out this tool-kit is one of the actions in Target 2030: Sustainable Learning Settings, Scotland’s Learning for Sustainability Action Plan 2023 to 2030, published in June 2023.  NatureScot actively contributed to the refresh of this plan and is a member of the Learning for Sustainability partner network group, facilitated by Education Scotland.  The refreshed plan includes a strengthened ‘Target 2030’ vision for all educational settings to be sustainable learning places by 2030, including a renewed ambition for all learners to have regular opportunities to experience, learn about, and benefit from nature on their educational estate.

5.8​​​​​​​ Promoting National Nature Reserves

We maintain Scotland’s NNR Website featuring all 43 Scottish NNRs.  We provide engaging and informative content for the public through our social media accounts, on our website and on 3rd party platforms such as Google Maps and YouTube.  We share information on recent nature sightings and how we manage reserves on the Scotland’s NNR Facebook page.

On our NNRs themselves we provide trails, waymarking and wildlife hides to help visitors to explore.  Our visitor centres and shelters provide on-site information and interpretation about nature, history and local culture.  During 2021-2023, although restricted by Covid-19, we hosted:

• Learning – 2,830 outdoor learning visits on 14 reserves.
• Volunteering – 2,224 days of volunteering across 12 reserves.
• Events – 5,867 people attended events at 19 reserves.
• Demonstration events and training – 1,220 people at 6 reserves.

5.9 Outdoor Access and Scotland’s Great Trails

We supported the improvement of Scotland’s Great Trails and other strategic routes to remove barriers such as stiles and eroded path-lines to increase accessibility and enable the public to enjoy the natural environment through which these routes pass.  We lead the Long Distance Routes Forum which shares information and good practice between route managers from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

5.10​​​​​​​ AECS Improving Public Access

Paths are an important tool for encouraging more people to access the natural environment and to control the impacts that visitors may have on nature and land management.  We supported farmers, community groups and other organisations through the Improving Public Access fund for paths and infrastructure.  The projects were delivered in 2022 and 2023 providing opportunities for the public to connect with nature across a variety of settings in rural Scotland.

5.11 Visitor management

NatureScot leads the national visitor management co-ordination group, visitor management action plan and monitoring activity.  By delivering the Better Places Fund we supported the provision of seasonal rangers across Scotland’s hotspot areas to ensure the natural environment that visitors come to enjoy is looked after and that pressures and impacts are managed effectively.

5.12 ​​​​​​​Promoting Responsible Outdoor Access

NatureScot has an ongoing duty to publicise and promote understanding of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) and to encourage people to enjoy Scotland’s outdoors responsibly, with respect for other users, and with an awareness of the Code.

We have has responded to issues for people and nature arising from the significant increase in visitors to the outdoors in Scotland since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 with concerted, proactive, and widely visible campaigns, revamping the education pack and posters, training events and development of guidance.  The campaigns are designed to promote the Code and assist in lowering the number of incidents of antisocial behaviour in Scotland’s greenspaces and nature spots.  They promote desired behaviours through positive messaging, encouraging personal involvement, and providing useful content.

NatureScot also runs SOAC activity workshops aimed at teachers / outdoor educators utilising the newly designed SOAC on-line Activity Education Resource pack to help participants learn about the Code and its links to the curriculum, while a variety of activities help pupils understand more about their rights and responsibilities.  This approach continues and, it is hoped, will broaden to include induction / training of visitor information staff at key sites across Scotland.

The National Access Forum has developed guidance on wildlife disturbance which was published in Feb 2023 and will be reviewed in Feb 2024.

5.13  Workforce skills and training

Evidence shows that the workforce required to support nature recovery and implement the Nature-based Solutions we need to support net zero by 2045 is currently insufficient in terms of numbers and skills.  To begin to address this, we published an initial Nature-based jobs and skills Action Plan in July 2021 and updated this in 2023/4.  An important element of this work is attracting young people into nature-based careers and increasing the diversity of the workforce.  We have signed the Force of Nature campaign which is championing the development more accessible pathways for young people from all backgrounds to view jobs in nature as a viable career path.

Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan

NatureScot convened a land-based sector sub-group to advise on the current review of the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP).  Recommendations from the group have been shared with Scottish Government.  The sub-group comprises the Chief Forester and CEOs from Lantra, Scottish Land and Estates and the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society.

We are working with a range of partners include the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, and Skills Development Scotland to raise the profile and benefits of nature-based jobs through a media campaign ‘Working for Nature’ and by collaborating on developing the content of ‘Green Jobs for Nature’, a one-stop-shop for advice on Nature-based Jobs.

We contributed to Skills Development Scotland’s review of land-based apprenticeships by sitting on both the Technical Experts Group and the Qualifications Group.  We are also working closely with SRUC on their offer with respect to courses related to nature restoration.

Peatland Action Skills Plan

Increasing the workforce with skills in peatland restoration is the focus of the Peatland Skills Plan, led by NatureScot Peatland ACTION.  In order to meet the ambitious targets set for peatland restoration in Scotland, we have concentrated on increasing the supply of skilled designers and ensuring growth and upskilling in the contracting sector to ensure delivery of restoration plans.

Training events developed by NatureScot and our partners in Peatland ACTION have been attended by more than 440 people since April.  In person events, stretching from Shetland to Galloway have been complemented by a range of online technically focused CPD training.  A short course on restoration design at SRUC – supported by NatureScot - is providing entry-level training for 45 new designers in 23/24, to add to the 30 people trained over the winter 22/33.

For contractors, we have run a range of training including technical site visits, training on the theory and principles of peatland restoration and sessions focused on successfully tendering for Peatland ACTION contracts.  This work is further supported by the New Entrants Machine Operator Training Scheme which was introduced to support training and mentoring of operators new to peatland restoration.  Ten training placements have been offered to existing, experienced contractors to mentor a trainee over the course of 6 weeks.

The Working with Rivers Training Placement Scheme

The Working with Rivers Training Placement Scheme (Net Zero Skills New Entrants Training) was delivered by NatureScot to provide 20 individuals with a short-term placement to provide net zero work experience.  Funded by the National Transition Training Fund, it offered access to high-quality on-the-job experience across a range of employers engaged in natural flood management, riparian woodland creation, and river restoration.  The project helped increase capacity to deliver river restoration projects, with benefits for climate change and the resilience of nature and people.  Eleven of the participants have taken up employment in the sector, eight of these remaining with the employer who hosted the training placement.

Training placements on our National Nature Reserves

NatureScot employed 8 people on 2-year training placements on our National Nature Reserves.  Placements were given experience of all aspects of managing reserves for nature with a focus on developing their skills in either wildlife management or nature conservation.  All trainees worked alongside experienced NatureScot staff on a range of conservation and estate management tasks, and all gained experience in working with the public and in best practice in visitor management.  Practical aspects included managing INNS such as Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed, training in ATV driving and using chainsaws and brushcutters.  Some trainees made progress towards professional Deer Management Qualifications DSC 1 and DSC 2.  We were pleased to be able to offer contracts with NatureScot to three trainees.

The NatureScot Science and Evidence Leadership Programme

Our Science and Evidence Leadership Programme is seeking to develop science-based skills in the organisation by improving internal knowledge exchange, increasing social science capacity and engaging better in UK and Scottish research programmes and projects. The aim of this four-year programme is to increase the impact and influence of our science and evidence and build on our role as trusted advisor on nature to Scottish Government and others.

Graduate placements

Since 2021, NatureScot has supported ten Graduate Placements, sixteen Modern Apprentices and six Practical Placements.  The Graduate Placements were for one year and their roles have included:

• Facilitating NatureScot's use of Genetic Technologies
• Developing marine natural capital approaches to underpin Scotland's Blue Economy Strategy
• Defining Ecosystem Health and Developing Indicators and Measures
• New Technology: Digital Content Development & Measurement
• Developing a regional approach to biodiversity offsetting
• The Flow Country Landscape Green Finance Initiative
• Embedding behavioural change and co-design approaches
• Developing marine natural capital approaches to underpin Scotland's Blue Economy Strategy
• Streamlining Geospatial Data
• Natural Capital Accounting for urban Nature-based Solutions

6. Research and Monitoring

6.1 The NatureScot Research Programme

NatureScot funds a range of research each year, to provide robust evidence that underpins our advice to Scottish Government in support of our work to halt biodiversity loss and restore nature.  NatureScot commissions research, funds Collaborative Awards in Science and Engineering (CASE) PhD Studentships and offers Masters student projects that are all tied into the delivery of our Corporate Priorities.  Research outputs are published and made available on our Research website.

Topics covered in Research Reports during this period have included: wildlife management, agricultural reform, climate change, peatland restoration, nature finance, seabird ecology, species reintroductions, outdoor recreation and learning, and monitoring public attitudes and behaviour.

6.2​​​​​​​ Social surveys

Scotland’s People and Nature Survey

NatureScot operates several population surveys that monitor aspects of the public’s attitude and behaviour towards biodiversity/

Scotland’s People and Nature Survey (SPANS) is a large-scale triennial survey, with four waves scheduled between 2023 and 2032.  Fieldwork for the first wave is scheduled to complete in March 2024.  The survey primarily focuses on outdoor recreation behaviour but it includes the Nature Connectedness Index as one of its core questions, as well as covering pro-nature behaviour in the context of gardening (such as maintaining habitats for wildlife and avoiding the use of insecticides and weed killer) and more broadly (including pro-nature volunteering and political action).

The NatureScot Opinion Survey

The annual NatureScot Opinion Survey (NOS) focuses on corporate issues and public attitudes relating to topics within our organisational remit.  In 2022 and 2023 the NOS included questions on people’s awareness and understanding of biodiversity loss, with a further set of mirrored questions covering climate change.  While the data from the 2023 survey has not yet been compiled (NOS fieldwork takes place in late-autumn), results from the 2022 NOS indicate that the majority of people agree that biodiversity loss is an immediate urgent problem and that taking action on biodiversity loss will help us to tackle climate change.

However, fewer than half of respondents indicated that they worried about loss of biodiversity in everyday life, that they felt optimistic about our collective ability to stop biodiversity loss, or that they knew what actions their household could take to stop biodiversity loss.  A larger majority of people agreed that climate change is an immediate and urgent problem, and that climate change and biodiversity loss are linked and can be tackled together.

Comparing public responses to each of the crises it is clear that levels of concern, and understanding of actions that can be taken, are higher in relation to climate change than for biodiversity loss.

6.3​​​​​​​ The State of Nature Scotland Report

The State of Nature Scotland 2023 report is the most precise review of how nature in Scotland is faring.  It provides compelling evidence of the twin Biodiversity and climate crises.  NatureScot staff were heavily involved in the design, analysis and writing of the report.  Our staff gathered data used in each of the Scottish and UK reports, and helped to interpret what was found, enabling us collectively to make the 2023 report an agreed evidence base for the status of biodiversity.  Working with professionals from more than 50 nature and conservation organisations, the recent report – which updates and supersedes previous editions in 2013, 2016 and 2019 – uses the latest and best data from monitoring schemes and biological recording centres, collected by thousands of skilled volunteers and professional naturalists, to provide a benchmark for the status of wildlife.

Since systematic monitoring of 407 species began in 1994 their abundance has declined on average by 15%.  While some of these species have seen increases, in the last decade 43% have declined. Plants, lichens and seabirds have been particularly badly affected.

6.4 Managing biodiversity data

NatureScot’s Data Strategy

NatureScot’s Data Strategy is helping to deliver improvements to our data.  It recognises that to protect, restore and value nature and work effectively to deliver a nature-rich future we need high quality, high value data effectively and efficiently captured and managed that are easily accessible to everyone.

The Strategy recognises that our data needs are evolving to meet new demands and we need to understand that need, manage data effectively, make them open and available when this is possible, and explore the use of new and innovative technologies to help access new data and to collect data in more efficient ways.  We have published an Open Data Plan to operationalise data standards that help to make our data open and are developing data metric models so we know what data our metrics use, what trends and impacts the metrics are informing, and that we manage data appropriately.

We are improving access to new data, including Scottish Landcover maps, mountain woodland data on SpatialData.gov.scot, and we are working across the sector to provide signposts to new technology and data for natural capital assessments.

Data standards and data sharing

Our Data Strategy recognises the importance of data standards and management, and we are developing a route map to delivering data to FAIR Principles.  We also have an Open Data Plan that considers the full life cycle of data.  NatureScot publishes spatial data to INSPIRE standards using the GEMINI format for metadata.  We have developed the Dtective tool in collaboration with Scottish Government.  This is a tool that makes public sector open data easier to find using simple search terms.  It also helps data providers to understand what data people are looking for and how they are searching for it.

In the marine environment NatureScot actively engages in the Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) Data Standards Working Group and supports application alignment to MEDIN Data Standards; and generates survey-level Discovery metadata published to the MEDIN portal and data.gov.uk.  As a matter of policy, all species records that we collect, or fund others to collect or mobilise, should be uploaded to NBN Atlas at full capture-level resolution.

The Better Biodiversity Data project

The Better Biodiversity Data project (BBD) is a partnership project led by the NBN Trust in partnership with NatureScot, the Scottish Government and the SBIF Advisory Group that will run from 2023-2025.  It will aim to develop:

• A nationwide partnership providing biodiversity data services on behalf of Scotland.
• A fit-for-purpose Data Management and Digital Services System, providing financially sustainable value-added services to users.
• A connected functional biodiversity data community and infrastructure, following FAIR and Open Data principles, across all sectors.

Improving the Marine Biological Recording Infrastructure in Scotland

NatureScot led a Scottish Marine Biodiversity Data Review complementing earlier terrestrial and freshwater equivalents.  This marine stakeholder analysis identified a series of recommendations to improve the supporting marine species and habitats data infrastructure and management and was published in 2022 as NatureScot Research Report 1304.  The stakeholder group has reconvened to facilitate implementing the recommendations.

NatureScot actively supports the ongoing redevelopment of Marine Recorder as a cloud-based home for benthic data from research and monitoring activities in Scotland's seas.  The application went live as a data management application in spring 2023.  The arrival of the revamped Marine Recorder establishes an automated flow of species data into the Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) Data Archive Centre network and onward to NBN Atlas, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), and the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS).

6.5 Innovative approaches to biodiversity monitoring

Our data strategy recognises the need for selective innovation to deliver new data and to collect data more efficiently.  We have engaged with JNCC to use Earth Observation data to develop a landscape monitoring and change detection tool for protected areas.  This tool provides new data about habitat features over time and could be used to direct ground survey.

New ways to collect data

We are testing new ways of collecting data in the field that are then stored in the cloud and shared via GIS or dashboards.  Digital field mapping improves the accuracy of habitat mapping and we are pioneering the use of aerial photography Interpretation and segmentation software.  Various projects are also using in-situ sensors to monitor change.

Scotland Land Cover Maps

In 2019 NatureScot started to work with satellite data, land cover and biomass mapping experts Space Intelligence on the first complete and repeatable EUNIS level 2 habitat and land cover maps for use in generating the Natural Capital Asset Index (see Section 3 Natural Capital). These data will feed into the NCAI from 2023, and with repeated mapping could be used to measure future changes in land cover and natural capital assets.  The mapping was repeated in 2020 and 2022.  The new maps include additional coastal and forestry classes.  The data are available as Open Data on SpatialData.gov.scot and to view at the Space Intelligence website.  NatureScot is developing ways to improve the algorithms used to classify the satellite data through validating the map with ground data.  This is an opportunity for us to improve the accuracy of the map for certain habitats or areas of Scotland.

The Pollinator Habitat Map

Producing a Pollinator Habitat Map is an action in the Pollinator Strategy for Scotland 2017-2027. This map, which is now nearing completion, will help local authorities, communities, and developers to target biodiversity enhancement and local nature networks by identifying habitats of value for pollinators.

The Habitat Map of Scotland

The Habitat Map of Scotland is based on a pan-European EUNIS and Annex 1 classification and is maintained by NatureScot.  It holds data from national and site based habitat surveys reclassified to match the European Nature Information System (EUNIS).  The Habitat Map consists of around 800 National Vegetation Classification site surveys along with national surveys at a detailed scale of saltmarsh, coastal shingle, sand dune and native woodlands.  The data are available to view on Scotland’s Environment Web and to download from the NatureScot Open Data Hub on the NatureScot website.  New survey data are added to map as they become available, and NatureScot is investigating how to increase the use of remote-sensing to fill gaps and update the data.

Reporting on the Genetic Diversity of wild species

Genetic diversity has been historically under-represented in assessments of biodiversity. Scotland was the first country to publish a national approach for the conservation of genetic diversity in 2020.  Since then, NatureScot has worked with partners around the globe to develop the Global Biodiversity Framework headline indicator for genetic diversity in wild species to support the Global Biodiversity Framework 2050 Goal A, and has led on a developing a complementary indicator.  We also helped to produce guidelines for IUCN on ‘Monitoring of genetic diversity: guidelines focusing on species and population selection’.

6.6 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‘Innovate for Nature’ CivTech Challenges

NatureScot made a commitment to harnessing new technology to benefit nature in our 2019-2024 Technology and Digital Services Strategy and have engaged with CivTech a Scottish Government Technology Accelerator Programme since 2018.

In 2022 we launched Innovate for Nature in partnership with CivTech as a joint initiative to identify and deliver a range of innovation projects which address the biodiversity and climate emergencies.  We are involved in three CivTech challenges.

Challenge 8.3: How can technology help to create a nature network by 2030 across all of the different areas of Scotland?

This aims to develop a visualisation tool identifying potential networks and make it easier for relevant communities, landowners and managers to work collaboratively (see also Section 2.6 Nature Networks and landscape-scale approaches).

Challenge 8.5: How can technology help NatureScot flexibly manage its understanding of the state of protected areas by making best use of available evidence?

This aims to develop a world leading approach to monitoring the health of Protected Areas to support land and sea managers in decisions.

Challenge 8.6: How can biodiversity credits be designed in a way that provides simplicity for projects and buyers, and enables investment in Scotland’s nature?

This aims to build a trusted platform formed around a class of technically viable Biodiversity Credits, for pairing up Investors with Projects to help address the funding gap for Nature Restoration in Scotland (see also Section 3.4 New Approaches to Nature Finance).