Biodiversity strategy and delivery plan: fairer Scotland duty assessment

Summary of aims and expected outcomes of strategy, proposal, programme or policy

The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045: tackling the nature emergency sets out the compelling evidence of long-standing global and Scottish biodiversity loss and our high-level goals for biodiversity: to be Nature Positive, halting biodiversity loss by 2030 and to have restored and regenerated biodiversity across the country by 2045.

This is embodied in the Strategic Vision:

By 2045, Scotland will have restored and regenerated biodiversity across our land, freshwater and seas. Our natural environment, our habitats, ecosystems and species, will be diverse, thriving, resilient and adapting to climate change.

Regenerated biodiversity will drive a sustainable economy and support thriving communities, and people.

The strategy is supported by a series of 6 year rolling delivery plans with over 100 actions brigaded under 6 key objectives:

1. Accelerate restoration and regeneration;

2. Protect nature on land and at sea, across and beyond protected areas;

3. Embed nature positive farming, fishing and forestry;

4. Protect and support the recovery of vulnerable and important species and habitats;

5. Invest in Nature; and,

6. Take action on the indirect drivers of biodiversity loss.

A new Natural Environment Bill to be introduced in year 4 of this Parliament will set out a framework for new statutory nature restoration targets helping to drive action.

The Strategy sets out the opportunities that reversing the loss of biodiversity will generate. Restoring nature will lead to a Greener, Fairer and more prosperous Scotland for all. A just transition lies at the heart of how we will tackle the crisis - our approach will generate opportunities for business, stimulate public and private investment and support thriving rural, urban and island communities.

The actions we take to improve biodiversity will create new green jobs and economic opportunities to supporting thriving communities.