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3 Implementing the Strategy
Reef Loch Creran, Argyll:
Image courtesy of Graham Saunders
Planning for implementation
The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy's 25-year time span recognises that improving the condition and conservation of biodiversity is a long-term agenda, where changes will take time to take effect. A lot of vital work to safeguard Scotland's natural environment has been happening across the public, private and non-governmental sectors for many years. To ensure that the Strategy acted as a focus for what was already happening, and to stimulate new action, a three-year biodiversity implementation plan was published in 2005 by the Scottish Biodiversity Forum, covering the period 2005 to 2007. The plan identified specific actions intended to bring the Strategy's vision to life.
A review of the first three years of implementation of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy showed that the majority of the actions were successful, though a small proportion were not completed successfully. Actions were most successful where there was clear responsibility for leading and delivering them, either through a single organisation or a robustly-based partnership. A key feature of most successful actions was that they were integrated into the operational planning of the organisations involved in delivery and were allocated specific and adequate resources. Where actions were clearly linked to existing national targets (Scottish or UK) they were also more likely to be successful.
Conversely, some intended actions failed to deliver results, particularly where the aspirations were over-ambitious and reached beyond the sole influence of the lead organisation. Some actions also failed to achieve clear results when they were not sufficiently specific, or where they depended on other actions or activity beyond their control. Changes in the organisation that originally committed itself to the action, particularly where the lead person moved to new duties, also made it less likely that the intended actions would be successful.
Taken as a whole, the first set of implementation plans stimulated and focussed a wide range and variety of activity which helped to protect biodiversity in Scotland. The successes and challenges of the first three years have been used to improve the development of the next implementation plan, which will cover the period 2008-2010. Actions in the new implementation plan will be linked more clearly to the objectives of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, and will be expressed as specifically as possible. The new implementation plan will be subject to Strategic Environmental Assessment and public consultation before it is finalised and published early in 2008.
Clean-up at Brockburn, Glasgow:
Image courtesy of SNH
Who is involved?
Biodiversity is a responsibility we all share, and making the Strategy happen inevitably involves many people. The Scottish Biodiversity Committee co-ordinated development of the implementation plan through its working groups on Rural, Marine, Urban, Local, Science, and Interpretation/ Communication/Education issues. These working groups are made up of members from government, non-governmental organisations, business and local authorities. The working groups identified appropriate targets and actions to take forward the objectives in the implementation plan, and the final plan was endorsed by the Scottish Biodiversity Committee.
The Biodiversity Implementation Team, funded by the Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, supports the working groups and facilitates delivery of the actions in the plans.
Machair, Isle of Coll:
Image courtesy of SNH
Local action
The goal of safeguarding and protecting biodiversity and our natural environment is driven by the need to look after the health of our planet as a whole, and its ability to carry on supporting our lives. But most of the work and projects that contribute towards these goals start at a very local level, involving people in recognising the importance, beauty and value of their natural environment and protecting and enhancing it. Biodiversity is literally all around us and vital to all our lives.
It is by getting involved in local projects and activities - in communities, workplaces or special wild places - that the greatest differences can and must be achieved. Local authorities play a key role in this. Nearly every local authority in Scotland is a member of a Local Biodiversity Action Partnership ( LBAP), which brings together a wide range of people and organisations round the shared goal of appreciating and protecting their natural environment. LBAPs provide the inspiration and resources to get a huge range of practical projects off the ground and in making a difference locally. Examples of the work of local authorities and LBAPs are highlighted throughout the rest of this report, and demonstrate how public bodies across Scotland are making a reality of their statutory biodiversity duty.
Frogs:
Image courtesy of SNH
Progress to date
The following sections report on progress over the past three years towards the five objectives of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy. They highlight achievements by a wide variety of bodies and individuals, across a range of different sectors. In tune with the overarching approach of the Strategy, they include action that was directly stimulated by the Strategy, as well as other actions and initiatives delivering benefits for Scotland's biodiversity, that have been encouraged or given clearer focus through the Strategy.
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