Biodiversity strategy and delivery plan - SBS: governance, monitoring and evaluation

Introduction and context

Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity includes:

• The Biodiversity Strategy, which sets out our goal to be Nature Positive by 2030 and to have restored and regenerated biodiversity by 2045
• A series of rolling Delivery Plans which includes a comprehensive set of cross sectoral actions needed to deliver the ambition in the strategy.
• Statutory nature restoration targets that will drive action and increase accountability to achieving the vision and outcomes in the strategy

The Strategic Framework for Biodiversity in Scotland has been designed to provide a comprehensive system which will ensure appropriate action is taken to achieve a reversal in biodiversity loss which we have, so far, failed to do at sufficient scale. The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy sets out a vision which is underpinned by 22 long-term outcomes. Actions to achieve the SBS outcomes are captured in a series of rolling Delivery Plans. Making these delivery plans a fluid and dynamic response to the condition of biodiversity in Scotland is the logical approach to ensuring that we base actions on the most up-to-date evidence available, and we can be agile and learn from previous interventions to ensure we are making progress in restoring nature.

The first delivery plan has been developed working with the input of experts, scientists and key stakeholders, using a logic modelling process over 200 actions have been identified to ensure we are on track to halting biodiversity loss by 2030. These actions were refined through discussion with policy experts, delivery partners and stakeholders and brigaded under 6 high-level objectives.

• Accelerate restoration and regeneration;
• Protect nature on land and at sea, across and beyond protected areas;
• Embed nature positive farming, fishing and forestry;
• Protect and support the recovery of vulnerable and important species and habitats;
• Invest in Nature; and,
• Take action on the indirect drivers of biodiversity loss.