Biodiversity - strategic framework: consultation analysis

Part A – Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and Delivery Plan

Executive Summary

Delivery Plan

• There was general support for the ambitious approach of the Delivery Plan mirroring the perceived ambition of the Biodiversity Strategy.
• Respondents were positive about the overall objectives of the Delivery Plan, particularly relating to the addition of the sixth objective of tackling the indirect drivers of biodiversity loss.
• Not all respondents were confident that the Delivery Plan captured the key actions needed to deliver the objectives. Furthermore, they did not agree that the actions were sufficient to put Scotland on track to ending the loss of biodiversity by 2030. However, this was driven by several factors including the range of stakeholders with firmly held views on the prioritisation of land use, which meant that there was no consensus on whether the proposals are too ambitious or not ambitious enough.
• There was considerable feedback from organisations seeking clarity as to the implementation of the Delivery Plan, including with regard to action holders, timescales, monitoring approaches, resources, and the prioritisation of actions.

Nature Networks Policy Framework

• Whilst the aspiration of the policy was commended, a considerable volume of responses provided comments related to its implementation.
• The resourcing of the delivery of the policy was widely considered to need further clarification, with several organisational and individual respondents raising concerns regarding the limited budgets of local authorities.
• Many responses provided perspectives relating to data collection and usage, with a few commenting on the role of local environmental records centres (LERC) as well as the reliance on volunteers for the collection of biodiversity data.
• Several responses sought guidance on how the policy aligns with other plans, networks and policy areas.

30 by 30 Policy Framework

• There was a general positive sentiment from individuals regarding the policy framework, agreeing with the guiding principles with which to deliver the policy. Implementation was the main challenge raised by respondents. This included the desire for detail on funding, monitoring and accountability.
• One of the key principles of the 30 by 30 framework is adaptive, dynamic and responsive land management. Several respondents stated that many habitat types need to be managed on a long-term basis, and that adaptive, dynamic and responsive land management is not feasible in these cases.
• Industry organisations often emphasised sustainable or dual use of sites, whilst land ownership was raised by several respondents as being key to the success of the 30 by 30 goals.
• Some respondents supported promotion of the protection of specific qualities within targets over perceived arbitrary measures of areas, with others noting the contribution of linear features such as grass and arable margins, hedgerows, and riparian catchments.