The Scottish Government

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CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

1.1 This report summarises Scotland's progress in terms of meeting international obligations on biodiversity. Biodiversity conservation is a devolved matter. It reviews and analyses the development and practice of biodiversity policies in Scotland from the inception of the Scottish Biodiversity Group (SBG) in 1996 to the current date, 2001.

1.2 This report:

• Reviews the work and progress of the SBG from 1996 to present.
• Reviews the progress of UK Biodiversity Species and Habitat Action Plans relevant to Scotland (paragraphs 4.58-4.72).
• Reviews the development and implementation of the Local Biodiversity Action Plan process (paragraphs 4.73-4.85).

1.3 Biodiversity means the variety of life. The need to conserve biodiversity was recognised by world leaders at the 1992 Rio 'Earth Summit', when the UK and 150 other countries signed the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and pledged to develop and implement plans of action to sustain biodiversity at home and abroad.

1.4 The SBG was formed in 1996 so that the objectives of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) could be translated into action in Scotland. The implementation of biodiversity conservation is a devolved matter. The SBG is therefore responsible to Scottish Ministers for biodiversity work in Scotland to meet UK and international obligations, and its aims are supported by the Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland. The SBG is a broad working partnership.

1.5 At ground level, Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) which take account of local and national priorities are being produced across Scotland. Some of these are as much processes as plans, evaluating regional biodiversity, involving local people and organisations, raising awareness, identifying priorities, writing action plans, taking action, and measuring progress.

1.6 By reviewing UK, Scottish and Local biodiversity work, this report provides an assessment of Scotland's progress in the 'conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources' over the last 5 years.

1.7 This report asks:

• Is Scotland protecting its biodiversity?
• What policies and plans has it put in place to protect biodiversity?
• Are the policies being managed and carried out effectively?
• Are the policies having a positive effect on biodiversity?
• Can things be improved, and if so, how?

1.8 There have been many reports on biodiversity. This report does not attempt to summarise all of them, but highlights some of the most important findings, and reports from key people involved in the Biodiversity Process 4. It also indicates how Scotland can conserve its irreplaceable biodiversity resources and answer the international call for nature conservation and sustainable development.

Biodiversity benefits

1.9 Biodiversity includes all life - animals and plants and the communities they live in, and the full range of genetic variation within species. We value biodiversity intuitively - we can enjoy its beauty, feel its essence, respect its moral right to exist, and recognise that it makes Scotland special. Biodiversity enriches our daily lives, and Scotland's biodiversity is part of our quality of life.

1.10 We are also beginning to recognise the economic value of biodiversity. Nature is what makes our planet alive, and all of our lives and industries ultimately depend upon it. We depend on micro-organisms to clean our water, we depend on soil and plants to grow our food, we depend on bacteria and moulds to create our medicines and vaccines - and there will be more examples in the future, if we protect crucial species from extinction. Since we do not know which species - bacteria? mosses? insects? - contain the essential ingredients, it is wise to protect all of our biodiversity.

1.11 Biodiversity involves the interactions between living things, as well as the places where they live, and their genetic variety. The concept has developed to include the need to ensure the survival of all species and habitats, and for this to be part of human planning and development.

1.12 We owe it to our children's children not to destroy any of this natural richness. Yet in the last few decades, extinctions have increased, and we may have already lost important species. Wildflower meadows, hedgerows, skylarks and butterflies have all suffered great losses during our lifetime. People have become more aware of these losses, and when the UK signed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), it signalled our commitment to the conservation of biodiversity in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Biodiversity in Scotland

1.13 Scotland is home to more than 90,000 known species living in our sea or on our land. About half of Scotland's life forms are single-celled organisms, about one quarter are plants (mostly algae and fungi), and about one quarter are animals - almost all of which are invertebrates. There are just 6 species of amphibians, 4 species of reptiles, 242 species of birds, and 63 species of mammals.

1.14 In 1997 a map was produced illustrating the numbers of species in different parts of Scotland as noted by recorders during the last hundred years. Although the map did not take account of their rarity or value as part of Scotland's ecosystems, it did show biodiversity hotspots in:

• Galloway and the Solway Coast,
• the southern Hebrides and western Argyll
• the Central Highlands
• the Moray Firth coast, and
• Edinburgh to East Lothian area (probably because more wildlife recorders live here)

1.15 Scotland's Atlantic weather and varied coastline combine to create unique environments. Internationally, Scotland is famed for:

• Reserves of moist oakwoods, rich in lichens, liverworts, mosses, ferns, and fungi.
• The best examples of raised and blanket bogs, living sponges of moss and peat.
• Great examples of coastal machair, the windswept flower meadows traditionally farmed by crofters, and home of the great yellow bumblebee.
• Wild coasts containing some of the most important sea-bird colonies in Western Europe, including more than half of the world gannet population.

1.16 In all these cases, the reason for Scotland's biodiversity importance is the 'extreme oceanicity' of our climate - Scotland's mild wet west coast. More than half of Europe's moss and liverwort species occur in Scotland. Thanks to the North Atlantic Drift, the famous 'west coast air' is heavy with moisture, a wonderful habitat for these species.

1.17 In a UK context, 41 habitats and 184 species addressed by the UKBAP occur in Scotland, and Scotland therefore has the responsibility for conserving and monitoring these.

1.18 However, Scotland has principal responsibility for the two habitats which occur only in Scotland: machair and native pinewoods. These habitats can only be conserved by Scotland; they do not occur in other parts of the UK.

1.19 Scotland also has principal responsibility for the 45 species which only occur in Scotland, most of which are plants.

Table 1: Priority habitats for which Scotland is mainly responsible

Table 2: Priority species for which Scotland is mainly responsible

1.20 Although at present no single summary map exists of the species and habitats being protected under the Biodiversity Process, it will soon be possible to draw maps summarised from the British Atlas maps illustrating the distribution of those key species and habitats. This accurate and up-to-date information is becoming available as a result of the Biodiversity Process.

1.21 It is likely that climate change will have an impact on biodiversity in Scotland. Our island geography and limited altitude means that some key species and habitats may be unable to move any further northwards or higher up mountains in response to milder, windier and wetter conditions. Biodiversity and climate are closely linked and inter-related: each can affect the other. Climate change may cause some species to become extinct, and biodiversity change may cause climate change (for example, if large areas of woodland or peat bog are destroyed, they release carbon).

1.22 Our varied countryside, waters and seas and the way we have cared for them are key factors in Scotland's biodiversity.

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