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Best Value and Biodiversity in Scotland: A HANDBOOK OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR PUBLIC BODIES
CHAPTER 4 Benefits of Incorporating Biodiversity into Service Delivery
The best value process needs to identify the benefits of service delivery for local communities. A local authority that takes action to "further the conservation of biodiversity" can make significant contributions to the local quality of life for its inhabitants, visitors, and workforce. This action will form a major part of the local authorities' contribution to the implementation of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS), and in meeting its obligations under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. Some broad benefits (but by no means all) are given below.
BENEFITS FOR BIODIVERSITY
Improves the understanding of the occurrence, distribution, importance, characteristics, and needs of local biodiversity.
Improves the protection, enhancement and management of key habitats and species within the land use planning system.
Gives greater opportunities to enhance and extend the quality and quantity of natural habitats, and the range and numbers of wild fauna and flora.
Improves management of local authority land holding for biodiversity conservation.
Gives a higher profile for biodiversity and the issues that affect it.
BENEFITS FOR LOCAL PEOPLE
Enables the public to see whether best value is being delivered.
Improves the physical environment for people to visit, live and work in.
Improves the understanding and appreciation of biodiversity amongst local communities.
Improves the opportunities for local people to access, enjoy and study their local biodiversity.
Improves the opportunities for local people to participate in the management of local sites and biodiversity.
Improves political and democratic accountability for actions taken to protect the local natural environment.
Improves advice for individuals and landowners on how to conserve and enhance local biodiversity.
BENEFITS FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Improves the delivery of services for a major component of sustainable development and consequently enhances well-being for local communities.
Improves political understanding of biodiversity issues and sense of achievement, and contribution towards targets for implementation of the SBS, Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, LA21, and sustainable development.
Improves the understanding of the occurrence, distribution, importance, characteristics, and needs of local biodiversity.
Improves the integration of biodiversity initiatives between departments within each local authority, allowing for more co-ordinated and cost-effective delivery of action.
Improves management of local authority land holding for biodiversity conservation.
Improves liaison and co-ordination on biodiversity initiatives between different local authorities, leading to a greater collective (and more effective) delivery of action.
Improves compliance with statutory duties and increased effectiveness in the exercise of statutory powers.
Improves the implementation of national policy guidance, and biodiversity objectives and targets.
BENEFITS FOR OTHER LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS
Enables other stakeholders to see whether best value is being delivered.
Improves multi-agency working with stronger local and community partnerships, and co-ordination of funding.
Improves the understanding of opportunities and constraints for all local stakeholders whose actions can either benefit or harm biodiversity resources.
In delivering best value, all local authorities, communities, and stakeholders can benefit from measures taken for biodiversity conservation.
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