The Scottish Biodiversity List
The Scottish Biodiversity List is a list of flora, fauna and habitats considered by Scottish Ministers to be of principal importance for the purposes of furthering the conservation of biodiversity.
The publication of the list is another step in the introduction of the new integrated system of nature conservation set out in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, which has at its heart the drive to reconnect people and nature. The Scottish Biodiversity List is a tool for public bodies doing their biodiversity duty under section 1 of the 2004 Act, and is intended to inform and guide them. The List will also be an important information resource for everyone with an interest in Scotland's rich Biodiversity.
The publication of the Scottish Biodiversity List satisfies the requirement in Section 2 (4) of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act to publish, by January 1 2006, lists of flora, fauna and habitats of principal importance for biodiversity conservation.
The development of the list has been a collaborative effort involving a great many stakeholders, overseen by scientists from the Action Planning and Science Group of the Scottish Biodiversity Forum. Completion of the list is an exciting development in our knowledge of biodiversity in Scotland as it is the first time such a stocktake has been done in Scotland.
The Scottish Biodiversity List comprises four spreadsheets: terrestrial and freshwater species, terrestrial and freshwater habitats, marine species and habitats, and species and habitats that satisfy the social criterion (i.e. they have been identified as important by the Scottish public). The criteria and the consultants' reports which led to the production of the Scottish Biodiversity List also form an important part of the process.
You will find full details of the Scottish Biodiversity List on the BiodiversityScotland website at the Scottish Biodiversity Forum website
You can also search the list by species group, habitat type and location and access additional information about the species and habitats from the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway, the UK's biodiversity information network.