Scotland Director’s Blog

As the Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill starts its journey through the Scottish Parliament, Anne McCall offers some thoughts about where agricultural policy needs to go.

In this blog, Anne explains why the launch of a government consultation may not sound like major news, but is in fact an incredibly significant milestone. It is the start of a process that is a chance to deliver a step change from just protecting the nature we have left, to promoting the renewal of nature across Scotland. It’s also an important moment for each and every person in Scotland.

This autumn we expect the Scottish Government to present its long-awaited Agriculture Bill, which will set the framework for how hundreds of millions of pounds of public funds support farming. In this blog Anne looks more closely at the situation, considers the solutions, and assesses whether the Scottish Government is on the right track.

We have been campaigning for improvements to the next Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to ensure that Scotland’s amazing species are on the road to recovery. Thanks to everyone that has made their voices heard. This blog looks what your action has achieved so far, and what needs to happen next.

Throughout the recent SNP leadership campaign, the nature and climate crisis was barely mentioned. As Humza Yousaf settles into his new role as First Minister, Anne McCall outlines some of the actions that must be taken to ensure Scotland has a nature-positive future.

From bacteria to blue whales, species are the fundamental units of biodiversity. That's why it's essential they form a core part of any strategy to tackle the nature crisis.

A new RSPB scientific conservation paper published in Bird Study and written by Ron Summers and co-authors, has investigated the association between capercaillie distribution and road and track densities in the Cairngorms National Park. In this blog we take a look at the issue of human disturbance on these birds.

The Biodiversity Strategy should help deliver the transformative action that is so desperately needed to halt and reverse nature loss, but the current draft falls far short of being the Nature Emergency Strategy we need at this critical moment. Read on to find out what is missing and how you can help try to make it better.

Nature is being lost around the world faster than ever. This nature crisis in combination with…

The LIFE100% for Nature project is helping nature thrive alongside livestock on our Oronsay nature reserve. Threatened chough are benefiting from careful management of our sheep and their dung.

Anne McCall is calling for urgent action from the Scottish Government to introduce licensing for driven grouse moor shooting and a ban on burning deep, peatland soils.

NatureScot recently published the Review of Capercaillie Conservation and Management. In this blog, we’ll be taking a look in more detail at the report’s findings, our response to them, and the work that we at RSPB Scotland have been doing to help these majestic birds to try to ensure a long term future for the species here.

Anne talks about why the recently published 'next step in delivering our vision for Scotland as a leader in sustainable and regenerative farming' by the Scottish Government is making her optimistic for the future of nature and farming in Scotland.

A healthy and functioning natural world is key to our food system. As the Good Food Nation Bill makes its way through the Scottish Parliament, it’s vital that MSPs grab this opportunity to make our food system better not only for people, but our environment as well.

Anne calls for reassurance from Scottish Government that nature won't be forgotten in the new offshore wind developments.

Later this week, the Scottish Government will be publishing their 2022-23 Budget and has a chance to give nature some of the funding it needs. So, what will we be looking for in the budget?

Thoughts and lessons learned from COP26, from Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland

Anne discusses our new report, which looks at how Nature-based Solutions can help us adapt to climate change.

In today's blog, Anne highlights the need for nature to join greenhouse gas emissions in the discussion around agriculture in Scotland.

Anne responds to the 2021 Programme for Government, and what it means for nature.

Anne talks about the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), currently being drafted by Scottish government officials, which will address the nature and climate emergency. Anne looks ahead to Scotland’s net-zero, nature-rich future.

MSPs recently voted to increase funding for nature. In this blog Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland gives us the run-down of what happened and our assessment of how well the green recovery is going in Scotland.

Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland, responds to the publication of the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind.

Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland, and Duncan Orr-Ewing, RSPB Scotland Head of Species and Land Management, share the outcomes of the RSPB gamebird shooting and associated land management policy review and what it means in Scotland.

RSPB Scotland Director Anne McCall responds to the Committee on Climate Change report released today.

Today is the first day of Mental Health Awareness Week 2019, which aims to help people understand, protect and sustain their mental health. Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland, discusses some of the work we are doing both within the organisation and for the wider community to contribute to this goal.