We urge Scotland’s political parties to Take Nature Seriously and commit to three core principles that will ensure nature is valued, protected and restored – all while Scotland moves towards a more resilient and prosperous future:

	Safeguarding and building resilience for the future– Protect and restore Scotland’s natural environment to secure a resilient, healthier future for all.
	Prioritising nature – Embed nature at the heart of policy as a cost-effective solution to public and environmental challenges.
	Securing investment and funding – Invest in nature with meaningful funding to reflect its true value and deliver lasting benefits.

 

Below we explore the third of these core principles – the need to invest in nature with dedicated, long-term funding.

 

 

Securing investment and funding  

Budgets reflect priorities, and the long-standing trend of declining environmental funding must be reversed. It’s one thing to talk the talk on nature, but time and time again we see a lack of follow through when it comes to funding. We need to see Scotland’s political parties walking the walk when it comes to committing to clear, long-term funding which reflect the scale and urgency of the nature and climate crises. 

In recent years we have seen drastic cuts to nature budgets. NatureScot has suffered roughly 40% cuts over the last decade and local authorities have seen cuts to their Nature Restoration Funds. With rising costs and further budget cuts likely, the pace of Scotland’s progress on nature is deeply concerning. This warning was echoed by former chief executive of NatureScot, Francesca Osowska, who said earlier this year that greater urgency, action, and funding is desperately needed. 

With continued pressures placed on agri-environment budgets, progress on nature-friendly farming is severely lacking. As currently divided, a measly 5% of the agricultural budget goes towards nature-friendly farming practices, while a disproportionate 70% continues to go towards Direct Payments (which by the Government’s own assessment has been shown to deliver little to no positive environmental impact). To ensure a sustainable future for farming, our policy and financial support systems must empower farmers to invest in the very asset that underpins long-term productivity and resilience: nature. 

 

Without meaningful, long-term funding, commitments to nature and climate are little more than empty promises.  

 

Numerous studies, including our report with the University of Edinburgh, show that investing in nature isn’t just the right thing to do, it delivers real return on investment. This will enhance our ability to react creatively to future scenarios and allow us room to manoeuvre.

 

Policy tools to mobilise sustainable investment: 

• Increase proportion of agriculture budget which supports farmers to adopt nature- and climate-friendly practices, thereby directly tackling the threat that the climate and nature crisis pose to food security. This approach will support a vibrant farming sector, whilst also delivering other vital nature-based solutions to Scotland’s wider priorities. We need to see a transition plan from the Government outlining how we get to a system where 75% of our farming budgets are supporting environmentally sustainable, regenerative farming. Anything less does not get us anywhere near delivering against agreed 2030 targets for nature (read more about the potential benefits of farm payments here). 

• Embed natural capital as a national priority through the National Performance Framework, with protections for Scotland’s peatlands, forests, rivers and sea. This means legally binding commitments in the secondary legislation of the Natural Environment Bill. 

• Support local authorities to deliver Nature Networks and establish a coordinated national network across Scotland to deliver ecological connectivity. Nature Networks should be used to create a pipeline of “shovel ready” projects that local authorities can use to direct funds from “positive effects for biodiversity” as required by the National Planning Framework 4. Nature Networks should also be used to spatially prioritise essential green and blue infrastructure. To help achieve this, NatureScot should centrally coordinate spatial expressions of the Nature Network to guide ecological connectivity and provide a clear picture of national opportunity.  

• Restore nature at a much bigger scale by unlocking and mobilising private sector investment in natural capital, with robust safeguards to ensure ecological integrity and community benefits.  By catalysing market-driven investment in Scotland’s natural assets, there can be significant increase in high-quality and large-scale projects by 2030. 

• Further develop and properly support a dedicated Nature Restoration Fund. Funding must be multi annual, it should be linked to the wider Nature Network development and priorities under the Biodiversity Delivery Plan.  

• Ensure proper resourcing for Marine Directorate to fulfil their role in management and enforcement of marine protected areas management measures. There should be continued investment in meaningful engagement with communities across Scotland to help increase trust and confidence in government bodies as well as helping to foster buy-in for management decisions. This should include in-person events covering as much of the country as possible, and innovative methods to engage people in policy rather than just holding traditional drop in events. This could look like collaborating with existing community events and networks and considering lesser heard voices. 

• Provide a dedicated funding pot for community led marine projects at a local level, to encourage bottom-up policy approaches. This should not be limited to marine restoration projects and should instead include a more holistic view of marine management and engagement. 

 

Brown hare © Chris Gomersall/2020VISION

 

How you can get involved  

Every voice counts in this election, and while it can feel overwhelming to sift through all the pre-election information, it’s incredibly important to have your say if you want things to change. This of course means voting in the elections next year, but it could also mean:  

• Writing to current MSPs to urge them to prioritise nature 

• Reading party manifestos when they’re launched  

• Researching candidates and staying up to date (through party websites and other resources like Ballotbox) 

• Attending campaign events and asking candidates where they stand on key environmental issues 

• Raising awareness within your community about why this election matters for nature 

To learn more about the many ways you can get involved with the Scottish Wildlife Trust please have a look on our website, and visit the Scottish Parliament and Electoral Commission websites to read more about engaging with the political process.  

Whether you’re a seasoned activist or newly inspired to get involved, your voice can shape the future of Scotland’s political – and natural – environment. 

 

Read our list of detailed policy asks here.

 

 

Header image © Colin Horn