« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
Why Biodiversity?
'Biodiversity' means 'biological diversity', the range and variety of all living organisms, and the places they live and of which they are a part (habitats and ecosystems).
People and societies depend on biodiversity - plants, animals, micro-organisms, fungi and almost every other part of the living environment - for their existence and livelihoods. Biodiversity is used for purposes as diverse as food, clothing, medicine, fuel, construction, recreation and manufacture. Biodiversity also provides essential functions or 'ecosystem services' such as soil formation, nutrient cycling, climate and disease regulation, carbon recycling, pollination, and purifying water supplies. Biodiversity is a highly complex web of interconnections between all life, including humans. We cannot hope to understand how all parts of the web depend on each other, or what the impact would be if species or habitats are lost. When species or habitats disappear locally the loss may be difficult to reverse; it is impossible if they disappear globally.
Biodiversity is not simply of utilitarian value, however. Many people value and appreciate the natural world and its species and habitats as a key element of their quality of life. This may be because of the pleasure, meaning, or sense of well-being they derive from the natural world, or because of its cultural significance.
In Scotland, many of the plants and animals around us, their diversity of species and the natural groupings they live in, and some of their genetic characteristics, are distinctive. In many cases they are internationally significant and important. The natural world and wildlife are highly valued both by the people of Scotland, and by visitors to Scotland. A sustainable Scotland has to be founded on a clean and healthy environment, in order to support a vibrant and sustainable economy. We all depend on and benefit from Scotland's biodiversity, and in turn we have a duty to help to safeguard it for ourselves and for the generations to follow.
Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy "It's In Your Hands"i was published by the Scottish Executive in 2004. The Strategy sets out a 25-year vision and framework for action for Scotland's biodiversity, strongly focused round the relationship between biodiversity and people. The aim of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy is "to conserve biodiversity for the health, enjoyment and well being of the people of Scotland now and in the future". The Strategy provides a foundation for Scotland's contribution to the United Kingdom's obligations under the international Convention on Biological Diversity ( CBD), ii as well as the Scottish Executive's commitment to sustainable development, and the statutory duty on public bodies in Scotland to conserve biodiversity under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. iii
The Scottish biodiversity indicators in this report will provide information to assess progress towards the achievement of the objectives of Scotland's Biodiversity Strategy.
Biodiversity indicators
Biodiversity indicators describe change over time in the variety, quantity or distribution of aspects of the natural world. Indicators provide insights into the general state and trends of biodiversity. They provide evidence of progress towards policy objectives and a reality-check on what is actually happening in the world around us.
This report presents for the first time a suite or set of indicators ( Table 1) describing trends in the state of Scotland's biodiversity, and in the engagement of Scotland's people with its conservation and enhancement. Indicators of pressures on biodiversity and responses to those pressures are summarised in other documents, including in Sustainable Development Strategy Indicator Setiv and Key Scottish Environmental Statistics.v
The indicators in this report have been developed in consultation with a wide range of partner agencies and other stakeholders in response to consultation documents issued by the Scottish Biodiversity Forum Developing Candidate Indicators of the State of Scotland's Biodiversityvi and Developing an Indicator Set.vii They have been peer-reviewed as an independent check on their clarity and rigour.
Many of the Scottish biodiversity indicators have close counterparts in other indicator sets reported at Scotland, UK and European scales. However, variations in the data on which the indicators are based mean that are not necessarily presented identically with comparable indicators, over the same time periods, or with exactly the same source data. The UK biodiversity indicators set viii will provide a basis for assessing progress towards the European and international targets of halting the loss of biodiversity by the year 2010. ix
What do the indicators tell us?
Of the 22 indicators, five show improvement (green), three show deterioration (red), and five show no change, fluctuation or divergent component trends (amber). Nine present baseline data for a new measure (grey). In particular:
- Four indicators reveal biodiversity responses to climate change across terrestrial, coastal and marine environments. Declines in some nesting seabirds are of particular concern.
- Recovery of otters, estuarine fish, and increase of some breeding and wintering birds shows positive responses to environmental management and legislation. However, the effects of nitrogen pollution on Scotland's flora continue, many of Scotland's commercial fish stocks remain outside safe limits, and there are continuing declines of some priority species and habitats, and in some protected areas.
- Increases of generalist species and declines of those specialising in particular habitats (e.g. amongst butterflies) and the spread of some non-native species are reducing the distinctiveness of Scotland's biodiversity.
- Most people care about the natural world. An increasing majority participate in outdoor activities, and a small but increasing minority are more actively involved in conservation through volunteering or membership of environmental and conservation organisations.
- The green space of urban settlements provides a key opportunity for increased engagement with the natural world.
This indicator set is far from exhaustive, and there is potential to improve both the scope and quality of monitoring both trends in both Scotland's biodiversity, and in the contribution of people to its conservation and enhancement. Additional indicators may be needed to address fully the range of objectives in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.
« Previous | Contents | Next »