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The National Library web archive is currently down due to IT issues. This means some of our older publications and reports will be unavailable during this temporary outage.

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

Published: 2023 Soil sealing creates an impervious layer, which damages the natural soil structure and compromises its ability to function

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

Statistics & Data

This report monitors Scotland's butterfly populations - August 2023.

Statistics & Data | butterflies

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

Statistics & Data | birds

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

News & Blogs

A new study reveals frogs that breed in SuDS ponds have the same genetic variation as those in rural ponds.

News - 11 April

How peatland restoration is helping prevent the spread of wild fires.

Blog - 19 April

An invasive species project is appealing for volunteers to help tackle invasive American mink in northern Scotland.

From drones to AI, new technologies are changing the face of wildlife management.

Blog - 16 April

Funding for Projects from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund.

Snow, wind, rain, wind, hail, frost...Scottish weather makes creating case study films interesting!

Blog - 12 April