Scotland’s leading conservation charity, the Scottish Wildlife Trust today welcomed the new Scottish Biodiversity Strategy which chimes with the Trust’s vision for nature conservation in the 21st Century.

This morning, Wednesday 19th June, marked the launch of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy by Paul Wheelhouse MSP at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre in Grangemouth.

The Strategy sets out how the Scottish Government will care for our natural environment over the next eight years and deliver international commitments under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

Many of the priorities set out in the strategy align with those proposed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust four years ago when the then Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham, launched the Trust’s landmark publication ‘Living Landscapes: Towards Ecosystem-based Conservation in Scotland.’ 

Director of Conservation for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Jonathan Hughes, said: “The Scottish Wildlife Trust welcomes the launch of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.

“It is the explicit link with the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity targets which the Scottish Wildlife Trust particularly welcomes, along with a much needed emphasis on natural capital, the importance of nature to health and wellbeing and, perhaps most vital of all, the strong focus on restoring Scotland’s biodiversity at the ecosystem scale.

“However, getting the principles and theory right is one thing, making these a reality on the ground through projects which protect and restore our species, habitats and landscapes are another. 

“The Scottish Wildlife Trust looks forward to working closely with Scottish Government on achieving real benefits for what is Scotland’s greatest asset, our natural environment.”