Question reference: S6W-02765
- Date lodged: 16 September 2021
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Current status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 September 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported low score Scotland has in relation to the Biodiversity Intactness Index, and the ongoing wildlife losses reported in the State of Nature Report 2019, what plans it has to put in place mechanisms and structures for the (a) funding, (b) delivery and (c) evaluation of nature restoration, at scale, over the long-term.
Answer
The Biodiversity Intactness Index focuses on nature in the past, reflecting the many pressures in the past over which we now have no control. I am pleased to say that of the four UK nations, Scotland is highest in the list. However, our Statement of Intent on biodiversity published in December 2020 acknowledges that more needs to be done and sets out our ambition and our commitment to tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
We have made a commitment to produce a new Scottish biodiversity strategy within a year of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of Parties (COP15), to be held in October 2021 in Kunming, China. A delivery plan will follow, to be developed in conjunction with NatureScot. These will set out our proposals for delivering the step change in our action to address biodiversity loss which is required.
Through the ground-breaking agreement between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party, we have committed to introduce a new Environment Bill which will include targets for nature restoration that cover land and sea based on an overarching goal of preventing any further extinctions of wildlife and halting declines by 2030, and making significant progress in restoring Scotland’s natural environment by 2045.
The Statement of Intent has already made several other key announcements, including:
- an ambitious commitment to protect 30% of our land for nature by 2030 (this has now been further strengthened with a commitment for 10% of land to be highly protected).
- endorsement of the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature, launched at the UN General Assembly in September 2020.
- our work on National Planning Framework 4 will develop new proposals to secure positive effects for biodiversity through development.
We have made significant funding commitments to protect and restore biodiversity.
- We will invest at least £500 million in the natural economy over the course of this Parliament, including: £100 million to increase forestry planting, £30 million to expand Scotland’s national forests and land, and £20 million to increase nursery stocks.
- We have committed £250 million for peatland restoration over 10 years as part of our climate change plan.
- We have committed £214 million through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) since 2015.
- In July 2021 we launched the Nature Restoration Fund, which provides an additional £10 million capital funding for projects that will restore nature, safeguard wildlife and tackle the causes of biodiversity loss and climate change. We have now committed to extending that Fund throughout this Parliament and allowing multiyear funding.
- The Nature Restoration Fund adds to almost £7 million already committed this year through the Biodiversity Challenge Fund.