Response for Nature

Yesterday evening, I was pleased to join colleagues from across the conservation movement to launch our Response for Nature: Scotland.  This was one of four reports, launched yesterday, addressing each of the four jurisdictions in the UK.  Each is supported by a diverse range of NGOs, all working with the common purpose of halting the loss of wildlife and protecting the special places on which it depends.

The project that has delivered these Response for Nature reports was established following the publication, in 2013, of the State of Nature report. That was a unique ‘Doomsday book’ style assessment of wildlife in the UK in the early 21^st century.

As an NGO community, our first thoughts on reading the State of Nature was not despair, but to ask: “what must we do about that?”  We did, of course, have some ideas – indeed, many of us have been taking actions for nature for many years.  However, we wanted to develop a more structured, more reasoned response, based on the evidence and a thorough understanding of the experience from the whole conservation community.  The challenge was clearly too big for any one organisation.

The project we devised, therefore, used a structured and systematic method to pull together the views of experts to identify the most robust conclusion or the ‘best’ prediction.  We began by identifying the eight “core needs” of nature – six ecological and two social.  Examples of the ecological needs include “special places” (that is, a well managed network of protected areas) and “reduced pressures” (that is, action to reduce systemic pressures on nature such as the impacts of climate change).  One of the social needs was summarised as “more fans” – and was intended to indicate the need for greater public and business connectedness with nature and public/political support for the necessary actions.

Having identified these needs – we then carried out a two stage process to identify “mechanisms” that could deliver these needs and whether these mechanisms were new, existing but in need of improvement or existing and working well.  The two stages of this process were:

• An online questionnaire to a wide range of experts, from across the NGO network, but also from academia and others; and
• A Chatham House rule workshop of conservation experts from the NGOs, statutory agencies and academics.

The outputs from this process was further refined by extensive consultation among the partner NGOs, resulting in (a) a full report detailing all the work from all four UK countries and (b) a summary report for each country – which were launched yesterday.

Response for Nature launch, Macdonald Holyrood Hotel, Edinburgh.

This process identified 10 key areas where we’d like to see progress. These include:

1. Setting an inspiring vision – we have a route map to 2020, but that is only 5 years away; we need a longer term and more ambitious vision, along with appropriate links to the UK Government’s 25 year plan (which, of course, is largely about England – but will include some reserved matters of interest to Scotland).
2. Fully implement and defend nature legislation – the Scottish Parliament has, over the last decade passed some excellent legislation – including the Nature Conservation, Marine, and Water Environment Acts – but none is implemented or enforced as vigorously as they might be and this is undermining efforts.  Moreover, we must play our role in defending key legislation such as the EU Nature Directives which underpins so much of what we do for wildlife and special places, not only here but across Europe.
3. Deliver a network of well-managed special places: In Scotland, we have a good network of designated sites on paper, but these need to be better understood and appreciated, better managed and more joined-up.  A good start is the acknowledgement of this in the National Planning Framework and the 2020 Route Map, but this acknowledgement must be turned into delivery, and our special sites must become exemplars of best practice.  This means harnessing the energy and enthusiasm of those who own or manage them.
4. Safeguard and restore species: Species are not just a incidental component of some wider ecosystem service – they are the building blocks of our biodiversity, and we need proper monitoring and targeted action for those that are of conservation concern.  Many species have declined in range or number – we must reverse this trend and restore some that have been lost.
5. Improve access to justice for nature: As part of the community empowerment agenda and because nature can’t “speak for itself”, we must enable citizens, communities and representative NGOs to be permitted to seek reviews of decisions by Government and other state bodies when they result in damage to the environment.  This isn’t just about compliance with the Aarhus Convention (although that would be the case); it’s also about an empowered public, connected with and appreciating nature, and the benefits that brings.
6. Improve incentives for land managers: We already have some of the finest areas in Europe for wildlife – just think of the Hebrides – but even here we cannot take things for granted as declines are happening.  Sustainable and High Nature Value farming and forestry systems support biodiversity and people – and we could have so much more in Scotland – with the right incentives, such systems could not only be more widespread but provide a genuine underpinning for the marketing of our “green, clean” produce.

This summary focuses on the actions we need from Government.  While actions by Government are vital – as only Government can pass or enforce legislation or allocate public funds for the investment needed – we also recognise that wider support from civil society is also necessary.  As NGOs, one of the key actions is to play our part.

We pledge to continue working to inspire people, to work with progressive land managers, businesses and communities in partnerships that can benefit nature, and to recognise and praise good practice as we do with our annual Nature of Scotland Awards.  We will continue to help with monitoring and reporting through our citizen science projects, to care for the wonderful places we manage and, above all, to speak up for wildlife whenever and wherever necessary.

Finally, we must thank all those who contributed – whether in responding to the online questionnaire or participating in workshops.  All 23 organisations who are signatories to this report call on the Scottish Government to heed this call – and for all political parties to have them in mind when formulating manifestos for next year’s Scottish elections.  That is why I will be writing to all the party leaders, in Scotland, and sending them a copy of the Response for Nature.