Scottish Biodiversity Strategy

Scottish Biodiversity Strategy 

In 2024 Scottish Government launched Scotland Biodiversity Strategic framework which consists of;

• The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy which sets out our vision to halt and reverse biodiversity loss;
• The first six-year Delivery Plan which contains the actions to deliver the vision; and
• The Natural Environment Act which provides a framework and targets

The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy outlines Scotland’s commitment to a nature rich future; that by 2045 Scotland will have restored and regeneration biodiversity across our land, freshwater and seas.

It outlines the strategic vision and outcomes in which all of government and all of society need to work towards to ensure a nature positive and net zero Scotland for all. It is the mechanism in which Scotland contributes to the global efforts to halt biodiversity loss.

Under the Strategy sit Scotland’s 6 yearly rolling delivery plans. These delivery plans set out the key actions that need to be taken to ensure we reach our collective vision. 

The Natural Environment Act (2026) outlines the statutory targets to enhance nature and protect biodiversity in Scotland.

Progress on the Strategy it’s delivery plans is monitored and reported on by Scottish Government and NatureScot.

The history of the Biodiversity Strategy

The original strategy – Scotland’s Biodiversity: It’s in Your Hands – was published in 2004. In 2013, it was supplemented by the 2020 Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity. The two documents together constituted the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.  In 2015, the Scotland’s Biodiversity: A Route Map to 2020 was launched to help direct and focus on key priorities for action.

In December 2020 the Scottish Government published the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Post-2020: A Statement of Intent. This bridged the gap until the current Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 was published in 2022 during the landmark Biodiversity COP15.

Ecosystem approach

Throughout the Scottish Biodiversity Strategies it has become clear that to meet the scale of change needed we must use an ecosystem approach. This approach recognises that nature is a system of many functioning parts that work in balance with each other. Nature provides us with many benefits, called ecosystem services, though they’re not always obvious to us, such as air, food, water, stable living conditions, beauty and inspiration. Adopting an ecosystem approach can help to secure these benefits for us now, and for future generations. Adopting an ecosystem approach involves identifying an ecosystem’s parts, and interacting with them in a way that keeps them healthy. This involves collaboration between a wide range of organisations, government departments and businesses.