Biodiversity - strategic framework: consultation analysis

Introduction

On 7^th September 2023, the Scottish Government launched a 14-week public consultation to seek views on Tackling the nature emergency: Consultation on Scotland's Strategic Framework for Biodiversity. The consultation document will be henceforth referred to as 'the framework'. This report provides an independent analysis of responses to the framework. It sets out the views and perspectives offered by respondents on a range of topics and proposals related to biodiversity and tackling the nature emergency in Scotland.

Consultation

The consultation covered three parts of the Strategic Framework for Biodiversity:

The consultation document was set out in two parts:

• Part A consulted on the final draft of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, the first five-year Delivery Plan, and policy frameworks for Nature Networks as well as protecting at least 30 per cent of our lands and seas by 2030 (30 by 30).
• Part B of the consultation sought views on proposals related to tackling the nature emergency that will require legislation, specifically statutory targets for nature restoration as well as changes to National Park legislation.

The consultation document included eight sections and asked 73 questions, including both closed-response and open-response questions. These sections are laid out below alongside the number of questions relating to each section. For closed-response questions, all sections sought 'Yes', 'No' and 'Unsure' responses with an open-text-response option, whilst Section Seven used 'Agree', 'Partially Agree', 'Partially Disagree', 'Disagree' and 'Don't Know' options.