A groundbreaking initiative that aims to safeguard Scotland’s vital natural capital has released a new infographic to show how our whole economy is reliant on the health of our natural environment. Whisky, the most iconic of Scotland’s products, has been used as the focus of the recipe-themed infographic.
This infographic has been published to coincide with Burns Night on 25 January, when many people will be enjoying one of Scotland’s biggest exports, whisky. It shows the need for a high quality natural environment in order to produce high quality Scotch whisky.
Co-Chair of the Scottish Forum on Natural Capital and Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Jonny Hughes, said: “The economic importance of whisky to Scotland is clear. The industry exports 40 bottles every second and directly employs around 10,000 people.
“Nature underpins not only the whisky industry but our entire economy. The natural environment is precious in its own right but it’s also our life support system and needs appropriate investment.”
“The Scottish Forum on Natural Capital wanted to share this infographic at a time of year when people all over the world are celebrating Scotland’s most famous son, Rabbie Burns. Traditionally, whisky is integral to Burns Suppers and while many people enjoy a dram, they might not give much thought to the “recipe” of Scotland’s national drink.”
Group Operations Director of Edrington, Graham Hutcheon, who is a member of the Scottish Forum Steering Group, said: “As an owner of some of the world’s best-loved Scotch whiskies we are delighted that a product that is so unequivocally Scottish can be used to highlight everyone’s reliance on natural capital and the need to conserve and protect it.”
Ian Marchant, Chair of Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group, which co-chairs the Scottish Forum, said: “We’re delighted to support the Scottish Forum on Natural Capital and this infographic, which demonstrates two of Scotland’s biggest assets – whisky and its natural landscape.
“Whisky relies on very clean water, filtered through granite or healthy peatlands, and needs fertile soils to grow the barley. What we’re trying to communicate is that we need natural and organic landscapes to remain clean and untouched, so we can continue to produce globally acclaimed products.”
The Scottish Forum on Natural Capital was launched with support of the former First Minister Alex Salmond at the UN-backed World Forum on Natural Capital in Edinburgh on 21 and 22 November 2013.
The Founding Partners are the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group, the University of Edinburgh, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and the Institute of Directors (IoD) Scotland.
The Scottish Forum on Natural Capital brings together public, private and voluntary sector organisations to protect and rebuild Scotland’s natural capital. To date, there are over 60 member organisations including Alliance Trust, BT Scotland, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Edrington, Diageo, SSE, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, John Muir Trust, Buccleuch, Woodland Trust Scotland, RSPB Scotland, James Hutton Institute, the Crown Estate, Mazars LLP and the Scottish Government.
The vision of the Scottish Forum on Natural Capital is of:
- A Scotland in which all parts of society, including companies, NGOs, the Government, public bodies and communities, recognise our reliance on natural capital and the impact we have on it.
- A Scotland in which an understanding of our relationship with natural capital leads to action to protect and rebuild it.
- A Scotland which is exercising leadership to galvanise action both here and beyond Scotland’s borders.