Across Scotland, a wide range of individuals and agencies are playing their part in taking biodiversity forward, and the Scottish Biodiversity Group encourages and supports these initiatives.

Individuals are making a difference by choosing to consume environmentally friendly, organic and recycled products, influencing manufacturers by their choices. Some people create wildlife corners in their gardens, or plant nectar-rich flowers in window boxes to help local species survive. Others offer their time as volunteers to record the distribution of species in their local area, or seek to influence their Council's local plans. Even in the heart of Scotland's capital city, individuals have made a difference. Kingfishers again fly over the Water of Leith, cleared and cleaned up by local volunteers.

At local level, companies are seeking advice about energy saving and waste disposal. Planners are saving time and money by bringing in expert advice on biodiversity when drafting proposals. Recommended changes are often minimal from the planning perspective, but highly significant to wildlife. Across Scotland, connections are being developed between agencies. Local Biodiversity Action Plans are starting to provide a context for planning future developments.

This process is reflected at national level, where the Government's commitment to biodiversity has clear strategic implications for the work of all its departments and agencies. The implications for agriculture, fisheries and forestry are obvious, but the impacts on other industries are equally important. Plans to develop transport systems, housing and waste disposal must take account of environmental consequences, and consultation and expert advice during the early stages of planning can often pay huge dividends in terms of the environmental impacts and the public profile of developments. Education at all levels draws on the natural world for its source materials, and contributes to informing our thinking about the future of biodiversity.

Conservation sometimes seems to be at odds with economic and social development. There is a risk of environmentalists and developers finding themselves locked into mutually critical conflict. With a greater understanding of the need for a balanced and integrated approach, and of the potential for economic opportunities arising from the natural environment, the two interests can be brought into a more productive dialogue. Biodiversity places conservation in the context of sustainable economic and social development, and requires developers to take account of their impact on the environment. Local communities across Scotland are identifying new opportunities for economic development which make use of their local natural resources in ways that can be sustained. Developments in wildlife and green tourism, and opportunities for broadening the economic base of existing commercial ventures to take advantage of existing natural resources are helping to stabilise and develop many rural communities.

A number of integrated approaches and existing initiatives in Scotland demonstrate what can be achieved by people working together in partnerships across the normal sectoral divides.

Shell Expro recycling wood waste
at its offshore installations and
onshore locations throughout Scotland

Kingfisher

Local community economic development