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Scotland's Indicators

Indicators let us monitor changes in Scotland’s species, habitats and landscapes, and reflect wider changes in the natural environment.

Many of Scotland's indicators are available on our archived publications and documents page.

Scotland’s biodiversity strategy indicators

We use a set of indicators that chart changes in Scotland’s biodiversity to see how well we’re progressing the aims of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS). The original set was updated in 2013/14 to bring it into line with the SBS update, the 2020 Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity

There are two groups of indicators:

state indicators measure changes in biodiversity for species, habitats and ecosystems selected as typical of Scotland
engagement indicators monitor how Scotland’s people interact with biodiversity through awareness, engagement or activity

NatureScot developed the indicators with:

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
Marine Scotland
Forestry Commission Scotland

Find out more

Official Statistics

Related links

UK Biodiversity Indicators

European Biodiversity Indicators

Natural heritage and local landscape area indicators from 2010-2022.

Statistics & Data

Scotland’s breeding seabirds are of international importance. Seabirds are useful and important indicators for assessing the state of the marine environment.

Statistics & Data

This report updates the indicators and trends for moths in Scotland - March 2021.

Statistics & Data | moths

This report monitors Scotland's wintering waterbirds - February 2022.

Statistics & Data | birds

This report monitors Scotland's butterfly populations - August 2022.

Statistics & Data | butterflies

News & Blogs

A trailblazing marine fund has helped 45 projects in it's first two years.

BBC wildlife broadcaster Iolo Williams will be keynote speaker at Moffat Eagle Festival.

Species on the Edge, tackling the decline of vulnerable coastal species in Scotland.

Roddy MacLean asks why we rarely highlight the Gaelic heritage in Scotland’s botanic gardens.

Gnèithean air an Oir a’ dèiligeadh ri crìonadh gnèithean so-leònte cladaich ann an Alba.

News - 3 Ògmhios

Tha Ruairidh MacIlleathain ag ràdh gum bu chòir barrachd aire a thoirt do dh’eòlas nan Gàidheal air lusan ann an gàrraidhean poblach na h-Alba.

Blog - 1 Ògmhios