Biodiversity duty reporting: guidance
This guidance has been superseded by guidance at https://www.nature.scot/guidance-note-biodiversity-duty-explained.
2 Support with the template
2.1 Template section 1: introductory information
Section 1 covers introductory information and can be kept reasonably brief as you will have the opportunity to provide further details on initiatives and actions in later sections. You may want to divide your report into annual summaries. That way you can record your activities each year rather than waiting for three years. Such an approach could also reduce the risk that you lose information on activities undertaken earlier in the reporting period should, for example, the person responsible leave.
Section 1: introductory information |
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Information to include |
Type of information likely to be relevant by level of opportunity |
a) Give an overview of your organisation's regulatory role |
Smaller set of opportunities: |
a) Moderate range of opportunities: Regulatory role |
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a) Wide range of opportunities: Regulatory role |
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b) Outline how biodiversity feeds into your organisation's decision-making structure, including any initiatives or groups in which your organisation and its staff, board members, etc. are active. You may also wish to show how your organisation's responsibilities and role link to biodiversity conservation ( e.g. through direct management of green spaces, or through consideration of biodiversity in office policies) You may wish to include an organogram indicating specific roles and/or team members responsible for biodiversity |
Smaller set of opportunities: Location and HQ, including any environmental or biodiversity staff (including voluntary teams) |
a) Moderate range of opportunities: Departments, members of staff or board responsible for biodiversity or wider environment/sustainability |
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a) Wide range of opportunities: Departments, members of staff or board responsible for biodiversity Information on the direct links between your organisation and biodiversity |
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c) Include examples where staff and/or board members have promoted biodiversity initiatives. For example, where a staff member has set up a group to help deliver and/or promote the biodiversity duty ( e.g. green champions or a cross service working group) |
Smaller set of opportunities: Activities undertaken by staff |
a) Moderate range of opportunities: Activities undertaken by staff |
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a) Wide range of opportunities: Activities undertaken by staff |
Example reports that may help you identify what type of information and what level of detail to include
Smaller set of opportunities:
Scottish Children's Reporter Administration
http://www.scra.mtcserver3.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/SCRA-Sustainability-Report-2014-15.pdf
Moderate range of opportunities:
Scottish Canals
Wide range of opportunities:
Highland Council
http://www.highland.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/12147/2014_biodiversity_duty_report.pdf
2.2 Template section 2: mainstreaming
Section 2 looks at how biodiversity is taken into account in your work, even where this is not directly related to biodiversity. Do you think about biodiversity in your strategies and plans, or do you take account of wider sustainability in the work that you do and how that work is managed? If so, you can consider this to be mainstreaming of biodiversity in your activities and you can describe it here.
Section 2: mainstreaming |
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Information to include |
Type of information likely to be relevant by level of opportunities |
a) Identify the steps your organisation has taken to incorporate biodiversity measures into other areas of policy, strategy or initiatives. This could include:
Demonstrate continuous improvement through providing information on when these plans, strategies and initiatives are being updated |
Smaller set of opportunities: Extent to which biodiversity is embedded in sustainability policy and wider policies |
Moderate range of opportunities: Extent to which biodiversity is embedded in sustainability policy and wider policies and activities, including delivery of services |
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Wide range of opportunities: Corporate plan Organisational activities Biodiversity checklists How biodiversity feeds into internal management Reporting arrangements Extent to which biodiversity is embedded in delivery of services |
Example reports that may help you identify what type of information and what level of detail to include
Smaller set of opportunities:
Risk Management Authority
http://www.rmascotland.gov.uk/files/6214/2183/5798/RMA_Report_on_Biodiversity_2011-14.pdf
Moderate range of opportunities:
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Wide range of opportunities:
Argyll and Bute Council
2.3 Template section 3: actions taken to improve biodiversity conservation
Section 3 is where you can discuss the actions you have taken to improve biodiversity. Where these opportunities are limited, you can also identify actions to improve sustainability. Although these may not directly benefit biodiversity, there may be indirect benefits. Biodiversity Scotland has some examples of quick wins [5] that you could use even if you just occupy an office, in addition to those set out in the following table.
Section 3: actions taken to improve biodiversity conservation |
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Information to include |
Type of information likely to be relevant by level of opportunities |
a) Identify any actions that your organisation has undertaken on the ground, on your own land or elsewhere as part of a contribution to a wider project and how these benefit biodiversity |
Smaller set of opportunities: Include any biodiversity actions taken around your offices (bird boxes/feeders, wildflower areas, etc.) or procurement/buying decisions Include any wider sustainability actions that could have indirect benefits for biodiversity |
a) Moderate range of opportunities: Include any maintenance projects as well as new actions with quantitative measures ( e.g. ha of habitat maintained/managed, number of bird boxes put up) where appropriate |
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a) Wide range of opportunities: Include habitat creation, enhancement and protection with quantitative measures ( e.g. ha of raised bog restored, ha of new woodland planted, areas managed to enhance biodiversity) where available |
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b) Include any partnership initiatives on biodiversity that you have been involved in: what these aimed to do, what actions have happened, what you believe the successes were and any plans for future or follow-up work |
Smaller set of opportunities: Work with other organisations, including charities for knowledge sharing, staff volunteering on initiatives |
a) Moderate range of opportunities: Work with other organisations, including charities for knowledge sharing and/or shared management/maintenance, and including assisting with new initiatives |
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a) Wide range of opportunities: Work with other organisations, including leading or assisting with new initiatives Public engagement events to encourage others to take account of biodiversity Facilitation of volunteer projects, including setting up of groups ( e.g. Friends groups) |
Example reports that may help you identify what type of information and what level of detail to include
Smaller set of opportunities:
Scottish Funding Council
http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/ReportsandPublications/SFC_annual_report_and_accounts_2013-14.pdf
Moderate range of opportunities:
Student Awards Agency for Scotland
http://www.saas.gov.uk/_forms/AnnualReport/HTML/index.html#16
Wide range of opportunities:
Inverclyde Council
https://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/assets/attach/1556/Biodiversity-Report-2011-14.pdf
2.4 Template section 4: partnership working and biodiversity communications
Promotion of a positive biodiversity message can be used to encourage others outside the public body to also think about biodiversity conservation and take their own actions. Promotion of the work that you are doing with others and the communication activities you are undertaking, including raising awareness amongst your staff or wider communication through a website, for example, can be included in Section 4 of your report.
Section 4: partnership working and biodiversity communications |
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Information to include |
Type of information likely to be relevant by level of opportunities |
a) Describe and illustrate your organisation's involvement in partnership working on biodiversity. Explain if these were private sector, public sector, community or other sectors, or if they are multi-sector partnerships. Include web-links where available. For example, any partnership work on biodiversity, e.g. Local Biodiversity Action Partnership (LBAP) or Community Planning Partnership |
Smaller set of opportunities: Registration with biodiversity partnerships Links with sustainability projects |
a) Moderate range of opportunities: Describe biodiversity and conservation partners |
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a) Wide range of opportunities: Describe biodiversity and conservation partners |
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b) Describe any biodiversity communication that your organisation has undertaken to help raise awareness of and communicate about biodiversity conservation, including any partners that you worked with on communication and awareness raising activities |
Smaller set of opportunities: Working with others who have more formal communication programmes and events Internal awareness raising with staff |
a) Moderate range of opportunities: Activities and events Internal awareness raising with staff |
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a) Wide range of opportunities: Research papers, surveys and reports Blogs, press releases Exhibitions, events and interpretations Information on website Ranger services |
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c) Describe any training or learning activities that have been carried out internally or externally relating to biodiversity, for example, CPD seminars or attendance at external events ( SNH sharing good practice) |
Smaller set of opportunities: Induction training for staff |
a) Moderate range of opportunities: Staff training |
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a) Wide range of opportunities: Training , education and capacity building Hosting conferences, exhibitions and events Staff training Ranger services and volunteer days Link-ups with other organisations and professionals Sharing good practice |
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d) Identify any opportunities that your staff are given to take part in practical action such as volunteering, e.g. with John Muir Trust, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, RSPB |
Smaller set of opportunities: Option to join green team, litter picks Volunteer days |
a) Moderate range of opportunities: Volunteer days Voluntary projects within organisation |
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a) Wide range of opportunities: Staff job covers biodiversity |
Example reports that may help you identify what type of information and what level of detail to include
Smaller set of opportunities:
Scottish Enterprise
http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/knowledge-hub/articles/publication/biodiversity-report
Moderate range of opportunities:
National Museums of Scotland
http://www.nms.ac.uk/media/772310/biodiversity-report-2011-14-for-website.pdf
Wide range of opportunities:
Renfrewshire Council
2.5 Template section 5: biodiversity highlights and challenges
Section 5 provides you with an opportunity to showcase what you believe to be the highlights and your main achievements over the reporting period. You can include highlights for each year if you like, or overall highlights across the three years. Section 5 is also used to record the main challenges your organisation is likely to face over the next reporting period.
Section 5: biodiversity highlights and challenges |
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Information to include |
Type of information likely to be relevant by level of opportunities |
a) Describe you organisation's main achievements for biodiversity over the reporting period and what you are most proud of (this can include processes, plans, projects, partnerships, events and actions). Consider the requirements of the Biodiversity Route Map to 2020 and the 6 Big Steps for Nature |
Smaller set of opportunities: Development of biodiversity team or plan Biodiversity and/or sustainability achievements |
a) Moderate range of opportunities: Enabling mainstreaming of biodiversity |
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a) Wide range of opportunities: Notable species present or recorded Occupation of bird boxes Meeting of strategic aims Completion of key projects Improvement in habitat/ecological status Funding achieved, volunteer days/time invested |
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b) Looking ahead, what do you think will be the main challenges over the next three years? |
Smaller set of opportunities: Operational issues Need to set and meet targets Economic and resource pressures |
a) Moderate range of opportunities: Pressures for space Need to meet targets Economic and resource pressures |
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a) Wide range of opportunities: Preventing further loss of habitats and species Managing invasive and non-native species Encouraging joined-up working Economic and resource pressures Delivery of cross-cutting actions |
Example reports that may help you identify what type of information and what level of detail to include
Smaller set of opportunities:
Scottish Legal Complaints Commission
https://www.scottishlegalcomplaints.org.uk/media/57375/slcc_biodiversity_report.pdf
Moderate range of opportunities:
Care Inspectorate
Wide range of opportunities:
The Highland Council
http://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/12147/2014_biodiversity_duty_report
2.6 Template section 6: monitoring
As well as undertaking actions and promoting initiatives, it is also important to know how those actions are performing and whether biodiversity benefits are being delivered. This is not always easy to demonstrate, especially over the short-term, but in this section you can describe any monitoring or measuring that you undertake to try to assess whether benefits are being delivered.
Section 6: monitoring |
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Information to include |
Type of information likely to be relevant by level of opportunities |
a) What follow-up actions or monitoring have you undertaken to assess the impacts of the actions you have taken? How have you measured this? If you do not carry out any monitoring activities, please explain why. |
Smaller set of opportunities: Monitoring of biodiversity and/or sustainability Reason for any monitoring ( e.g. for sustainability reporting) Or explanation why monitoring is not carried out |
a) Moderate range of opportunities: Recording of biodiversity on your land (where appropriate) Reason for any monitoring (to meet biodiversity objectives, e.g. in plans) Or explanation why monitoring is not carried out |
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a) Wide range of opportunities: Recording of biodiversity on your land (where appropriate), any other monitoring ( e.g. physical conditions of soil, water) and reason for monitoring (development or to meet biodiversity objectives, e.g. in plans) Or explanation why monitoring is not carried out |
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b) Does your monitoring show any significant trends or highlight any areas of concern? |
Smaller set of opportunities: Sustainability trends, e.g. carbon footprint |
a) Moderate range of opportunities: Overview of findings of any monitoring or survey results |
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a) Wide range of opportunities: Overview of findings of any monitoring, e.g. related to conservation status of habitats, water quality, ecological status ( WFD) New species or those not seen |
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c) Have you added your data to the National Biodiversity Network ( NBN) Gateway or Biodiversity Action Reporting System ( BARS)? |
Smaller set of opportunities: Provide links that staff familiar with databases can use to record wildlife sightings (such as iRecord, or BeeWatch) |
a) Moderate range of opportunities: Describe any links or partnership working with organisations that do add data to these sites |
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a) Wide range of opportunities: Uploading available to specific staff or departments, as appropriate Data uploaded to other monitoring websites |
Example reports that may help you identify what type of information and what level of detail to include
Smaller set of opportunities:
Skills Development Scotland
https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/36827/sustainability_report1_2013_14.pdf
Moderate range of opportunities:
Scottish Canals
Wide range of opportunities:
Glasgow City Council
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=32784&p=0
2.7 Template section 7: contribution to targets
It is useful to link your activities to the various biodiversity targets relevant to Scotland. These include the key steps in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, the Six Big Steps for Nature and the Aichi targets.
The Biodiversity Strategy has six chapters which include key steps for biodiversity. These chapters are [6] :
- Chapter 1: Healthy ecosystems;
- Chapter 2: Natural capital;
- Chapter 3: Biodiversity, health and quality of life;
- Chapter 4: Wildlife, habitats and protected places;
- Chapter 5: Land and freshwater management; and
- Chapter 6: Marine and coastal.
In total, 20 of the 32 key steps are likely to be relevant to a majority, or at least some, of the existing public bodies. These 20 key steps are presented in the tables below, with each table providing the relevant steps from a particular chapter (note that there is no table for chapter 2 because the steps listed are only relevant to a small number of public bodies).
The tables also include example biodiversity actions that could contribute towards each step. These actions are based on the activities reported in the first round of biodiversity duty reports. There are many other activities that are expected to contribute towards these key steps. The template (Annex 1) includes tables for you to tick the key steps to which your activities contribute. The justification column can be used to give a project title or reference so a reader of your report can quickly see which projects and activities feed into which targets.
Your organisation may be able to contribute to other key steps from the Biodiversity Strategy. You may also be interested in linking your activities to the Six Big Steps for Nature, or the Aichi targets. These can be added to the table in your report if you wish.
Section 7: Relevant key steps from Chapter 1 (Healthy ecosystems) with example activities |
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Key steps from the "2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity" (the biodiversity strategy) |
Example actions that could contribute towards the key steps |
(1.1) Encourage and support ecosystem restoration and management, especially in catchments that have experienced the greatest degradation |
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(1.2) Use assessments of ecosystem health at a catchment level to determine what needs to be done |
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(1.3) Government and public bodies, including SNH, SEPA and FCS, will work together towards a shared agenda for action to restore ecosystem health at a catchment-scale across Scotland |
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(1.4) Establish plans and decisions about land use based on an understanding of ecosystems. Take full account of land use impacts on the ecosystem services that underpin social, economic and environmental health |
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Section 7: Relevant key steps from Chapter 3 (Biodiversity, health and quality of life) with example activities |
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Key steps from the "2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity" (the biodiversity strategy) |
Example actions that could contribute towards the key steps |
(3.1) Provide opportunities for everyone to experience and enjoy nature regularly, with a particular focus on disadvantaged groups |
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(3.2) Support local authorities and communities to improve local environments and enhance biodiversity using green space and green networks, allowing nature to flourish and so enhancing the quality of life for people who live there |
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(3.3) Build on good practice being developed by the National Health Service ( NHS) and others to help encourage greenspace, green exercise and social prescribing initiatives that will improve health and wellbeing through connecting people with nature |
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(3.4) Increase access to nature within and close to schools, and support teachers in developing the role of outdoor learning across the Curriculum for Excellence |
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(3.5) Encourage public organisations and businesses to review their responsibilities and action for biodiversity, and recognise that increasing their positive contribution to nature and landscapes can help meet their corporate priorities and performance |
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Section 7: Relevant key steps from Chapter 4 (Wildlife, habitats and protected places) with example activities |
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Key steps from the "2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity" (the biodiversity strategy) |
Example actions that could contribute towards the key steps |
(4.1) Ensure that the management of protected places for nature also provides wider public benefits |
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(4.3) Integrate protected areas policy with action for wider habitats to combat fragmentation and restore key habitats |
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(4.5) Involve many more people than at present in this work [ i.e. work relating to wildlife, habitats and protected places] and improve our understanding of the poorly known elements of nature |
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Section 7: Relevant key steps from Chapter 5 (land and freshwater management) with example activities |
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Key steps from the "2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity" (the biodiversity strategy) |
Example actions that could contribute towards the key steps |
(5.1) Promote an ecosystem approach to land management that fosters sustainable use of natural resources and puts biodiversity at the heart of land-use planning and decision-making |
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(5.2) Ensure that measures taken forward under the Common Agricultural Policy encourage land managers to develop and retain the diversity of wildlife habitats and landscape features |
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(5.3) Support 'High Nature Value' farming and forestry |
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(5.4) Put in place the management necessary to bring Scotland's protected areas into favourable condition and improve the ecological status of water bodies |
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(5.5) Ensure that biodiversity and ecosystem objectives are fully integrated into flood risk management plans, and restore wetland habitats and woodlands to provide sustainable flood management |
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(5.6) Restore and extend natural habitats as a means of building reserves of carbon and to help mitigate climate change |
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(5.7) Provide clear advice to land and water managers on best practice |
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Section 7: Relevant key steps from Chapter 6 (Marine and coastal) with example activities |
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Key steps from the "2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity" (the biodiversity strategy) |
Example actions that could contribute towards the key steps |
(6.4) Achieve good environmental status for Scottish seas |
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Contact
Email: Land Use and Biodiversity Team, biodiversity@gov.scot
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