This year is shaping up to be full of big opportunities for nature. Lottie van Grieken, Campaigns and Communications Officer, talks about our ongoing #NatureMatters campaign, featuring your stories.
Nature underpins everything – from the air we breathe, the food we eat and water we drink, to our economy, society, wellbeing, and culture more broadly. Nature loss is not only a tragedy in itself, but when nature is lost, our future is at risk too.
But nature is in crisis and needs saving. The scale of crisis is clear, with 1 in 9 species – including Puffins, Wildcats and Swifts - at risk of national extinction from Scotland. This comes on top of historic losses of nature, with Scotland ranking 212th out of 240 countries and territories for how intact its biodiversity remains, making it one of the most nature depleted countries in the world.
Scotland is known and loved for our amazing natural places and wildlife, and we know how much people care about nature, so we’ve been gathering your stories about why nature matters to you.
‘It matters MORE than the other things; it underpins them all! Without it, everything else becomes more difficult and the world’s problems just escalate.’ Mae, Killearn
'It is the core of our happiness. It helps with food production, mental wellbeing & just the joys of being alive. I couldn't contemplate a world without nature.' Anonymous, Lochgilphead
‘Scotland’s nature and wildlife is an integral part of its heritage, culture and history. If we lose this, we’re losing part of Scotland. Thousands of people visit Scotland every year for this very reason, to experience the unique qualities this country has to offer. It’s why many people choose to live and work here. If that doesn’t make it as important as other items on the political agenda, I don’t know what does.’ Claire, Kentallen
Image credit: Andy Robinson
We also asked you to tell us about a nature experience in Scotland which sticks in your mind.
‘Every day the birds in my garden give me great joy.’ George, Livingston
‘…I had a walk through Whin Park, Inverness, where I hoped to see the Kingfisher again. It has been absent over the summer - probably away on its breeding territory. I carefully made my way up the banks of a small watercourse at the side of the park looking for it and, eventually, there it was!... That flash of brilliant blue stays with you for ages… It was so good to see it again. Amazing.’ Steve, Westhill
‘My first experience of Scottish wildlife was in Shetland on Sumburgh Head and Hermaness on Unst as well as Isle of Noss, where I was just calmly sitting in the grass and Puffins were walking around me, eyeing me curiously and even pulling my boot laces. To be seen just as part of the environment of an animal and not as a dangerous intruder, was absolutely unique and heart-warming.’ Heike, Sandness
Image credit: Katie Nethercoat
Later this year we expect to see a Natural Environment Bill brought to the Scottish Parliament. This will set legally binding targets to drive action across government and other sectors, helping protect and renew nature and ensure the Scottish Government can be held to account.
‘Legal targets mean there is something to hold the Scottish Government and Parliament to account and not just until the next election in 2026 but way beyond. Protecting and restoring nature takes a long-term commitment and legal targets will help make sure that efforts can't be overturned on a whim and give us more hope of achieving the necessary changes to secure a better future for everyone in Scotland.’ Kirsty, Aberdeen
‘The government should be making increasing wildlife habitat a priority. It’s healthy to have wildlife and clean air and areas for the animals to enjoy live feed and breed naturally with fresh water and all of nature helps us de-stress too’ Anonymous, Dundee
‘Us as a species have been making a mess of our planet for too long. It's time to give back.’ Duncan, Orphir
‘Unless humans start to understand that they are only one part of the planet’s ecosystem there will be no future worth living. Targets need to be set for the long term, not the shelf life of a parliament. Every young person now needs to grow up with some appreciation of the natural world.’ Anonymous, Methven
The Natural Environment Bill will be a major opportunity for Scotland to demonstrate leadership on tackling the nature and climate emergency and is something which all political parties have said they support, and the Scottish Government has committed to bring forward. With a busy political agenda, nature cannot be sidelined, and so we will be sharing your messages with politicians to show that people across Scotland want urgent action to restore nature.
‘The banner above says it all - No Nature - No Future.’ Anonymous, Garve
‘Nature is fundamental to everything - we need it to produce food, for mental health, for preventing floods and so much more. Nature should be at the heart of policy making so that politicians are forced to tackle the nature crisis head on instead of avoiding it.’ Andrew, Glasgow
As our campaign to save nature continues, we’ll keep gathering and sharing your stories and we’d love to hear yours. If you’d like to tell us why nature matters to you, follow the link here:
https://action.rspb.org.uk/naturematters
Header image credit: Ray Kennedy