Nature Networks explained

Background on Nature Networks to help inform the co-design of Scotland's Nature Network framework

A Nature Network connects nature-rich sites, restoration areas, and other environmental projects through a series of areas of suitable habitat, habitat corridors and stepping-stones. As well as supporting regional and national approaches to protect and restore nature, they provide local benefits to wildlife and people.

Connectivity is an essential part of nature. It is necessary for functioning and healthy ecosystems, key for the survival of animal and plant species, and is crucial to ensuring genetic diversity and adaptation to pressures such as climate change.  

To ensure Scotland's nature can thrive, nature-rich areas must be connected through a series of networks linking them all together. 

The image shows a simplified landscape with discrete core areas, important for biodiversity, that are isolated from one another.   It shows various ways in which the health of these core areas, and so their positive contribution to biodiversity, can be increased. This can be achieved through two main means; improvement of the broader landscape within which they sit so it is more hospitable towards biodiversity and also, through strategic connections between these core areas for biodiversity. These come in t
Figure 1. The typical component of a terrestrial ecological network. Source: Lawton et al., 2010
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The image shows a simplified landscape with discrete core areas, important for biodiversity, that are isolated from one another. 

It shows various ways in which the health of these core areas, and so their positive contribution to biodiversity, can be increased. This can be achieved through two main means; improvement of the broader landscape within which they sit so it is more hospitable towards biodiversity and also, through strategic connections between these core areas for biodiversity. These come in two main forms, stepping stones of habitat that are important for biodiversity and allow the movement between sites or, corridors between the core areas that directly connect them. Corridors can take the form of linear corridors of similar habitat to those areas they wish to connect or, landscape corridors that are broader areas with a mosaic of different biodiverse habitats.

These strategic corridors or stepping stones form the backbone of Nature Networks.   

The challenge

Nature Networks are a Programme for Government commitment and key delivery mechanism of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS). They also contribute to Scotland’s Environmental Strategy and align with international targets in the Global Biodiversity Framework, and efforts such as the EU Trans-European Nature Network

Nature Networks are embedded throughout the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) as a key means of ensuring positive effects for biodiversity from development.

Current state 

Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. One of the key drivers for biodiversity loss is land-use change where, over time, habitats have been lost and increasingly fragmented. This fragmentation means that the remaining habitats are often isolated and unconnected and as a result they are less resilient, often in poor health, and struggle to support healthy populations of the species that normally rely on them. If we are to reverse declines in biodiversity, it is vital to address this by developing a robust network for nature.  

The multiple benefits of Nature Networks 

While the primary purpose of a Nature Network is ecological connectivity, they also provide a plethora of additional services and benefits to people and nature.  

Well-designed nature networks, based on well-functioning ecosystems, store and capture carbon, provide flood mitigation, help pollinators, improve soil health, clean air and water, mitigate high temperatures, all supporting our commitments to mitigate and adapt to climate change. They also provide co-benefits to communities and public health and wellbeing including provision of high quality green and blue spaces for health and recreation, active travel networks and sustainable local food production and deliver multiple additional benefits to society. 

The Nature Networks Framework outlines that by 2030, Nature Networks are seen as a public good, providing ecosystem services such as clear air and water, as well as health and wellbeing benefits, and highlight the importance of Scotland's nature to people and the economy. They act as a vital tool to mainstream biodiversity not only in policy but throughout society and people's connection with nature. Nature Networks deliver the benefits of biodiversity for people to people's doorsteps. 

These benefits will be felt most by those in built up and urban areas. There is great scope for helping to bring nature into centres of population, bringing with it great benefits for health and well-being, as well as to also engender interest in wildlife and form connections between local areas of greenspace with nearby National Nature Reserves and other 30x30 sites. 

Not only do people benefit from having access to nature networks, but they also benefit from participating in the design, delivery and care of a nature network, so plans should engage and be created with the community. 

Having a voice in the community and feeling a sense of empowerment gives citizens a stronger commitment to their local area, a sense of community, and boost mental health and wellbeing. When done well, community engagement can bring a wide range of additional benefits, including social learning and producing behavioural change. It can build trust in, and improve the reputation of, the conservation sector and deliver improvements to landscapes, habitats and ecosystem services.

Leveraging multiple benefits for delivery of Nature Networks 

Given the far-reaching co-benefits nature networks provide, these can be used to make policy linkages and leverage funding and resources to support delivery of Nature Networks. They can also help deliver targets contained in plans, policies and strategies such as LBAPs.  

Nature Networks can provide a delivery mechanism for; 

  • Climate mitigation and adaptation with linkages to the Climate Change Plan and Climate Change Adaptation Programme  
  • Health and wellbeing benefits through access to green spaces through green space strategies, Green Health Partnerships, and contributing to the Just Transition 

Working with local communities to identify Nature Networks and deliver projects which contribute to them will help address local needs and objectives in support of national outcomes for nature and people.

Ambitions 

Nature Networks will support the 30x30 target to help improve Scotland’s biodiversity and defend against the climate crisis.

Through a co-design approach, and a number of Nature Network workshops, a draft framework has been designed and developed to deliver Nature Networks across Scotland. The framework includes the vision, key principles, criteria, and approaches for protection, designation, governance, monitoring and management as well as policy linkages. It will be put for public consultation later this year before final publication.

This will be supported by a toolbox to support and enable those on the ground to implement local networks. Contribute local priorities and initiatives whilst ensuring that they contribute to a strategic, national nature network and principles. This will include protected areas, other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) and strategic landscape-scale projects.

Find out more:

Ecological networks (Protected Areas Review think piece)

Habitat networks

Contact

NatureNetworks

[email protected]

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