The Trust supports the Scottish Government’s priorities published today which will help Scotland meet global biodiversity targets by 2020.
The announcement sets out the Scottish Government’s plans to meet the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy 2020 Challenge which was launched two years ago at the Scottish Wildlife Trust Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre.
Scotland’s Biodiversity – A Route Map to 2020 outlines ‘Six Big Steps for Nature’ which will guide Scotland towards meeting the crucial international Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
The Six Big Steps for Nature are:
• Ecosystem restoration – to reverse historical losses of habitats and ecosystems, to meet the Aichi target of restoring 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems.
• Investment in natural capital – to ensure the benefits that nature provides are better understood and appreciated, leading to better management of our renewable and non-renewable natural assets.
• Quality greenspace for health and education benefits – to ensure that the majority of people derive increased benefits from contact with nature where they live and work.
• Conserving wildlife in Scotland – to secure the future of priority habitats and species.
• Sustainable management of land and freshwater – to ensure that environmental, social and economic elements are well balanced.
• Sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems – to secure a healthy balance between environmental, social and economic elements.
Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Jonny Hughes, said: “The Scottish Wildlife Trust would like to commend the Scottish Government on outlining these key priorities that will lead Scotland closer to reaching the internationally agreed Aichi Biodiversity Targets and ultimately towards a better Scotland.
“Including natural capital as a key focus in the Roadmap is particularly welcome in the year the World Forum on Natural Capital takes place in Edinburgh on November 23 and 24, when the international spotlight will shine on Scotland.
“The Trust believes first and foremost that we have a moral obligation to protect and restore nature in Scotland, but by also explaining that a healthy natural environment underpins a healthy, more equal and more prosperous Scotland, we may just begin to see the political buy-in we need to reverse ongoing wildlife loss. The natural capital debate helps explain that nature is directly relevant to everyone’s daily lives.”