Scotland's indicators

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

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

Scottish Natural Heritage developed the indicators with:

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

Related links

UK Biodiversity Indicators: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4233

European Biodiversity Indicators: http://biodiversity.europa.eu/topics/sebi-indicators

S01 Status of UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) priority species – May 2009 (archive) S02 Status of UK Biodiversity

Scotland's Trends and indicators

Attitudes to biodiversity, extent and composition of greenspace, visits to the outdoors, involvement in biodiversity conservation E05 Membership of biodiversity non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – October 2009

Scotland's Trends and indicators

Terrestrial insect abundance: Butterflies and Moths

Scotland's Trends and indicators

Tourism, Land and sea of recognised natural heritage importance, Scotland’s Natural Capital Asset (NCA) Index

Scotland's Trends and indicators

Vascular plant diversity and Woodland diversity

Scotland's Trends and indicators

Estuarine fish, Proportion of commercially exploited fish stocks which are at full reproductive capacity, Marine plankton

Scotland's Trends and indicators

Built development and Visual influence of built development

Scotland's Trends and indicators

Status of UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) priority species, Status of UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) priority habitats, Condition of protected sites – National Indicator, Information provision, Condition of notified species, Condition of notified habitats, Extent and composition of greenspace

Scotland's Trends and indicators

Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity, Status of otters in freshwater habitats, River quality

Scotland's Trends and indicators

The timing of seasonal events

Scotland's Trends and indicators