The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), Scotland’s largest organisation for protecting wildlife, has made a radical bid to widen the focus of conservation efforts in Scotland by revealing the urgency to adopt a new approach to nature conservation
Minister for the Environment, Roseanna Cunningham, will join over 60 leading environmental champions at the launch of SWT’s new approach, ‘Living Landscapes’, tonight in Edinburgh.
Urging for a broader approach to conservation in Scotland, the new report underpins the need to focus on the ‘bigger picture’ and adopt conservation methods which care for whole ecosystems – from soils, seas, and rivers to all the plants and animals within them – while protecting a rich biodiversity for Scotland.
Jonny Hughes, SWT’s Director of Conservation and co-author of the ‘Living Landscapes’ report, explained: “Today, through the launch of our challenging new report, SWT is calling for conservation action to be bigger and wider in scale. Caring for the health of whole ecosystems is the only way to ensure Scotland’s environment can provide clean water, fertile soils, and thriving wildlife in the future.
“In the past, nature protection has mostly been achieved through legal protection for certain species and by designating protected sites. Whilst these must continue as important foundations, we are kidding ourselves if we think they alone are an adequate response to wildlife protection in the face of climate change.
“Investing in the health of Scotland’s ecosystems is not only about improving our natural heritage, it’s also about job creation, tourism revenues, vibrant rural economies and quality Scottish produce from sustainably managed land.
“We are heartened that the Scottish Government and its agencies are beginning to move towards such a ‘bigger picture’ approach through initiatives such as river basin management planning and green networks. SWT today urges that this approach continues to inform conservation efforts across the board as we all move forward with our efforts on climate change adaptation for Scotland.
Minister for the Environment, Roseanna Cunningham, said: “Scotland’s natural environment is worth around £17 billion a year to the Scottish economy so it is vital that we all act to protect it and the thousands of jobs it sustains.
“A wide-ranging, joined-up approach to protecting and enhancing our habitats and landscapes is vital. The Scottish Government is playing its part through its policies and by bringing together interests from across the spectrum to deliver a bright future for our natural environment and all who benefit from it.”
Allan Bantick, SWT Chairman, said: “The Scottish Wildlife Trust is passionate about Scottish Wildlife and is fully committed to its mission. The many other Government and non-Government organisations which are attending the launch today are equally committed in their respective realms and we look forward to working closely with them in delivering a more effective approach to nature conservation in the 21st century”.
Notes to editors
1. ‘Living Landscapes’ will be launched at the Royal Society of Edinburgh on Thursday 2 July 2009 at 6.00pm. Scotland’s Minister for Environment, Roseanna Cunningham, will be in attendance.
2. ‘Living Landscapes: towards ecosystem-based conservation in Scotland’ is the first of a series of ‘policy futures’ publications planned by SWT. The policy calls for a bolder approach to wildlife conservation, using clearer indicators to measure our success or failure.
3. SWT is the largest voluntary body working for all the wildlife of Scotland, representing more than 34,000 members who care for wildlife and the environment. SWT seeks to raise public awareness of threatened habitats and species and manages over 120 reserves Scotland-wide.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Nicola McGovern, Press Officer, Scottish Wildlife Trust
0131 312 4742