Louise Gunstensen, Senior Conservation Planner, shares RSPB Scotland's response to the 'Blueprint for Scotland' report from the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland.
Nature recognised as vital part of Scotland’s infrastructure
The Infrastructure Commission for Scotland have released their ‘Blueprint for Scotland’ report which makes recommendations to the Scottish Government on the future of infrastructure investment. In a progressive move, the Commission have said that Scotland’s natural assets, like peatlands and woodlands, should be included in the definition of infrastructure and seen as a component part of the whole system, not viewed in isolation. This is an extremely positive step forward at a time when environmental challenges are more urgent than ever and recognises that nature-based solutions are key in tackling the nature and climate emergency.
The Blueprint notes that the Government is already working towards integrating of a natural ecological network and the principle of biodiversity net gain into the next National Planning Framework (NPF4), which is expected to drive investment in natural assets through local infrastructure investment. These are both ideas that RSPB Scotland has been promoting for some time and look forward to seeing imbedded in the emerging NPF4. We also welcome the Commission’s recognition that there is scope for better integration across planning, the land-use strategy, marine spatial planning and forestry, something we have long called for.
In another positive move, the Commission has placed an ‘inclusive net zero carbon economy’ at the core of its thirty-year vision. The report notes that infrastructure decisions focused on these policy areas will lead to very different outcomes compared with past, business as usual, investment and that the nature, purpose and focus of infrastructure investment over the thirty-year horizon is likely to change fundamentally. We strongly support this and hope that everyone involved in the planning and delivery of infrastructure is willing to take the difficult decisions which will be required to ensure transformative change across the whole of Scotland. If there isn’t investment in infrastructure which is fit for the future, we will not be able to mitigate and adapt to climate change and we will lose yet more of our exceptional biodiversity and the ecosystem services that it provides.
This report looks at what needs to be done and why. The next phase of the Commission’s work will look at the ‘how’. That is, how will Scotland’s infrastructure priorities be delivered? For many years RSPB Scotland has championed and led the development of nature-based solutions to help combat climate change and improve biodiversity on our own reserves. This has included repairing peatlands, reinstating native forests and recreating or restoring coastal and marine habitats. It is hoped that the Commission will be able to visit some of our incredible reserves to see some ways the Blueprint’s recommendations can be put into practice.
We also hope the Scottish Government will use the Commission’s recommendations to deliver a truly integrated approach to planning and delivering infrastructure which ensures Scotland can meet its world-leading climate change targets whilst protecting, enhancing and restoring our exceptional natural environment. This of course will require adequate funding and there is evidence that projects benefitting nature are underfunded and preventing Scotland achieving our international targets. We therefore urge the Scottish Government to follow the advice of its appointed expert independent advisers and invest in nature when setting their next budget, expected early next month.