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6 Setting Context for 2007-10
Northern Emerald Dragonfly:
Image courtesy of SNH
This report illustrates a wide range of successes that have been achieved for Scotland's biodiversity during the last three years. It also highlights issues and policies that will be important as we move forward to the next three years of action for biodiversity. The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Implementation Plan for 2008-2010 has identified significant challenges from climate change, invasive non-native species, habitat loss and fragmentation, and pressure from development.
Climate change
Climate change poses the most serious threat to biodiversity and our natural environment as a whole. In addition to seeking to minimise the impact of our activities on the environment, it will be a priority for us to increase our understanding of the impact of likely climate change scenarios on biodiversity through research and evaluation. We need to increase our knowledge of how species and habitats are likely to be affected by climate change, and to develop strategies and approaches to maximise the opportunities for wildlife to adapt to changes. We also need to re-evaluate future priorities for conservation action in the light of climate change, to ensure effort and resources are focussed on those species and areas where the need is most acute and there is a realistic chance to make a difference. In 2008 the Scottish Government will publish an adaptation strategy for Scotland, to emphasise these priorities.
Invasive non-native species
Invasive non-native species remain a major threat to our native biodiversity, and pose a continuing challenge as increasing global trade and travel makes the pathways along which they spread ever more available. The priority remains to prevent the arrival and spread of invasive non-native species, although we need to continue to devote efforts to mitigate their negative impacts or to control species where this is possible. Effective information and communication is indispensable, as the spread of invasive species is frequently the result of a failure to appreciate the risks, and to ensure public support for control and eradication programmes.
River basin management
River basin management plans will be developed by the end of 2009. These plans will set objectives for water bodies and identify actions to manage the main threats to them. We need to ensure that delivery mechanisms are co-ordinated with other initiatives, including Local Biodiversity Action Plans, management of protected areas, management of invasive non-native species, and the Scotland Rural Development Programme and the relevant development plan. The river basin planning process may also generate new activity which may enhance or protect biodiversity. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency will play a leading role in driving forward this work to protect substantial areas of Scotland's natural environment.
Sustainable management of the natural world
Our land management and fishing industries are key sectors of our rural economy, and vital guardians of our natural environment, depending on it for their very survival. Through a range of mechanisms, including the Scotland Rural Development Programme, there is a need to build awareness among all land managers in Scotland of the importance of a healthy natural environment, and to deliver effective incentives to achieve and safeguard that environment. It will also be important to develop the support arrangements for other managers of the land or water environment, including the fishing industry, to ensure that they give suitable incentives and signals to manage these resources sustainably.
Wildlife crime
In addition to encouraging land managers to look after their land for the benefit of the environment overall, we need to continue to seek out and crack down on the isolated cases where wildlife is deliberately and illegally harmed or destroyed, because it is seen as threatening economic interests. The police are already extremely vigilant for any illegal damage to wildlife, and they are developing their expertise and capability further, in close partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Government, local authorities and stakeholders from the rural sector. It is vital that the police and the courts make use of the stronger provisions to control wildlife crime in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. Again, this is a key area for effective and coordinated communication by a range of partners, to build public understanding of the issues.
Policy developments
In several areas there are significant policy developments in view that will deliver benefits for our efforts to safeguard biodiversity. A crucial area is Scotland's marine environment, which is home to most of our biodiversity although much of it is still not discovered or understood. The Scottish Government is determined to clarify and strengthen legislation and policy affecting Scotland's seas, and a key ingredient of this will be the need to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
As our understanding of the impact of climate change continues to develop, and our knowledge of the natural environment widens and helps us identify more species and habitats that need protection, we will need to review approaches to conservation policy and delivery across the UK. The Scottish Government, drawing on expert advice from Scottish Natural Heritage, is playing an active part in the development of ideas for an ecosystem approach to conservation, action for expanding the traditional approach to conserving biodiversity through individual species and habitats, and producing a more holistic and more effective way of addressing the needs of our natural environment as a whole.
Communication
It is vital to involve as many people as possible in appreciating, enjoying and looking after the natural environment as part of the way they live, rather than as a specialist activity. Effective communication about biodiversity is at the heart of this goal, coupled with clearly signposted and widely available opportunities for all of us to be involved with the natural world. There is a key challenge for public bodies and all organisations involved in communicating about the natural environment to harness and share resources and ideas, so that their communications have the greatest possible impact, and individual communication campaigns reinforce and complement each other.
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Herring:
Image courtesy of Fisheries Research Services
Marine Laboratory | Red Squirrel:
Image courtesy of SNH |
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