Our Head of Policy, Bruce Wilson, broadly welcomes the top-level nature commitments in the new Programme for Government, but is cautious about the Government’s track record on delivery. 

The Government has once more committed to growing the economy, eradicating child poverty, tackling the nature emergency, and delivering high quality and suitable public services. These are aims that probably resonate with most of us, but when it comes to delivery, nature is what really delivers the return on investment. A healthy, clean and functioning natural environment provides us with clean water, flood prevention, health and wellbeing benefits, long-term sustainable jobs across Scotland, and a practical route to tackling the climate crisis that communities can tangibly engage with. 

We are pleased to see commitments to woodland, peatland and statutory nature targets; however, we’ve seen promises to deliver in these areas many times before. This is the last chance to deliver against these promises in this parliament, and for the Government to show the electorate that they are willing to not only set high level ambition, but also follow through. 

What is new and does allow room for progress, is commitment to consider the development of local deer management pilot projects and associated implementation and funding models. We look forward to discussing these with Government and others over the coming months.

Unfortunately, there are very few updates on the marine front, and we will need to see a step change here if we are to get even close to achieving Government ambitions for nature and climate. The long-standing commitment to consult on further protection measures for our Marine Protected Areas, which has been in every Programme for Government this session in one form or another, is not there, despite the need to consult on the long-awaited fisheries management measures for the inshore area.

Header image © Lister Cumming