The Scottish Government

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CHAPTER FIVE CONCLUSION

5.1 This report concludes by returning to the three main elements of the Biodiversity Process in Scotland: LBAPs, the SBG, and most importantly the biodiversity results achieved. It then considers the future for the Biodiversity Process in Scotland.

LBAP success

5.2 LBAPs are successful. There is now someone co-ordinating biodiversity in every local authority area in Scotland. The challenge was to change attitudes and to create a wider awareness of the value of biodiversity and its relationship to our social and economic life as part of a wider strategy for sustainable development. The LBAP process rises to that challenge, although it is still early days, and there is much work to be done in retaining momentum and in turning the plans into action.

BG success

5.3 Since its establishment in 1996, the SBG has co-ordinated the UKBAP in Scotland. From the beginning, and especially since devolution, it developed into a strong group operating at a strategic level, linking the key nature-related organisations in Scotland.

5.4 The SBG's original remit was to start the Biodiversity Process in Scotland.

Table 8: Summary of the Scottish Biodiversity Group's remit and achievements

5.5 The table above shows that SBG has achieved and expanded its original objectives. Indeed, it appears to have made more progress than the other country groups, having:

• Co-ordinated the development of plans (with the UKBG) for 184 species and 41 habitats which occur in Scotland: a total of 225 plans
• Overseen and encouraged the development of LBAPs for all the Scottish local authorities and for one potential National Park.
• Produced practical leaflets for farmers and land managers promoting 'low cost/no cost' practices to promote biodiversity (2 produced, 2 in production).
• Produced educational and awareness materials as a teaching resource.
• Developed a communications strategy for business, targeting construction and development, utilities, and finance sectors.
• Produced a BAP for trunk roads - one of the first plans to be produced for a specific development type.
• Publicised its activities in a number of accessible publications.
• Created and maintained a useful website ( www.scotland.gov.uk/biodiversity ) and designed a biodiversity information system for use with the NBN.

5.6 The SBG is now redirecting its efforts towards helping partners achieve their biodiversity targets, and helping integrate biodiversity into all aspects of Scottish civic life, and across all areas of national policy. Only in so doing can it answer its obligations under the Rio Convention - 'to integrate, as far as possible and as appropriate, the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity into relevant sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies', as a part of sustainable development.

5.7 The SBG, by seeding the biodiversity agenda across Scotland and by providing advice, has encouraged biodiversity action by people across Scotland. The first results are apparent, but many more species and habitats are in a precarious situation, or are still in decline. Some of the successful action is being carried out at key sites by key players; other action is happening in a scattering of local initiatives all across Scotland, each partnership playing its part to raise awareness and protect wildlife. Some of the local enthusiasm and skills have been tapped into by national policy, for example incorporating local biodiversity priorities into the agri-environment schemes.

5.8 The SBG is a broad group including some strong voices, and, as noted in the discussion on Targets 3 and 20, it has been variously criticised, yet it is doing a difficult job, balancing different interests (policy advisors, scientists, lobbyists and practitioners) and sectors (public, private and voluntary). It is a non-statutory group chaired and with its secretariat provided by SEERAD, which gives it both strategic advantages and disadvantages.

5.9 Ministerial support for the Biodiversity Process has been ongoing, and public support has increased so fast, via the LBAPs, that the organisation of the Biodiversity Process in Scotland, including the SBG, needs to evolve in response. Evolution involves both cultural and structural change.

Biodiversity success

5.10 Scotland has had some limited success in meeting the UKBAP targets, which is good news considering there has been so little time in which to act. Native pinewoods and New Forest burnet moths, both important to the UK but only found in Scotland, are on the road to recovery and ten other species and habitats are showing positive signs.

5.11 There is continuing concern over capercaillie, red-necked phalarope and twin flower, all only found in Scotland in the UK, all still declining. These species are critically important because they do not occur in other parts of the UK, so Scotland is entirely responsible for their survival in the UK. Ten other habitats and species are declining, three of which are Scotland's principal responsibility because they are more common in Scotland than in England: red squirrels, the great yellow bumblebee, and marsh clubmoss.

5.12 Scotland therefore still has much work to do in order to reverse the declines in biodiversity. However, this work has begun.

The future

5.13 This report finds that the Biodiversity Process has begun well, and that the action plans are in a good form. Indeed, Scotland can pride itself in being at the forefront of biodiversity planning, especially through the work of local people - authorities, environmental organisations and volunteers - in the preparation of LBAPs. The Biodiversity Process, despite its confusing bureaucracy and acronyms, is growing in popularity, and is currently the best way of co-ordinating and monitoring wildlife conservation in Scotland.

5.14 However, work remains to be done; the Biodiversity Process is about more than just planning; it requires action and results. Scotland needs to continue working on the biodiversity framework which provides the vital link between planning and action, redefining post-devolution biodiversity responsibilities, improving communication, and simplifying the reporting system. Suggestions for changes to the biodiversity framework need to be discussed and agreed by the SBG, and include possibilities for a new-look SBG: a new Scottish Biodiversity Partnership overseeing Scotland's national and international obligations on nature and environment, reporting to Scottish Ministers, and advising on relevant policy integration and legislation. The Partnership may wish to develop a Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (or a set of guiding principles) related to the SBG's 10 point plan, and could operate as part of Scotland's drive towards sustainability.

5.15 There also needs to be a focus on biodiversity action itself. While biodiversity benefits from the pooling together of limited resources and the refocusing of current activities, it could benefit even more from firmer Government commitment and the integration of biodiversity considerations into all relevant policy areas. This would enable local funding to be better prioritised, partnerships and voluntary effort would become more effective and more biodiversity conservation and monitoring could be carried out.

5.16 In many respects, Scotland has been 'doing biodiversity' for decades, indeed it is central to the work of SNH and the environmental groups, and is increasingly on the remit of other agencies and organisations. What's new is that it is now happening on the ground, in a co-ordinated way, carried out by the people of Scotland. The Biodiversity Process is a way of co-ordinating and measuring what Scotland is achieving: a true measure of sustainable development.

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