CAMERAS: evidence strategy for rural affairs and the terrestrial environment

The strategy outlines how CAMERAS partners aim to make best use of resources through strengthening collaboration and co-ordination and by improving the delivery of evidence to users.


Annex A - Tables of Evidence Needs

TABLE 1. OPTIMISING LAND USE

Examples of major external drivers of evidence needs
Globalisation / Technological advances / Population growth / Climate change Biodiversity loss / Increasing pressure on land / Higher and volatile energy prices / Carbon targets
Examples of major global, EU, UK and Scottish policy interventions driving evidence needs
EU Common Agricultural Policy
European Landscape Convention
EU Directive (2011) on Regulation of
Plant Protection Products
EU Animal Welfare Strategy
EU Animal Health Regulation (forthcoming)
EU Plant Health regime
Landfill Tax
UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory
UK Tree Health Strategy and Biosecurity
action plan
Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003
Scottish Adaptation Programme (2013-17)
Scottish implementation of Common
Agricultural Policy
Scottish animal health and welfare policy
Scottish Forestry Strategy 2006
Land Use Strategy for Scotland (2011)
Scottish Soils Framework
2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity
Outcomes Areas of Evidence Need Providers* Users*

Sustainable land use that is contributing to the Scottish Economy

Scotland as a leader in innovative and integrated land use management

Understanding of the relative (monetary and non-monetary) values of different land uses and outputs from land in Scotland, including landforms, bio- and geodiversity.

Development of innovative and integrated systems based approaches to address land use management challenges in rural and urban areas.

JHI
SG-RESAS
SRUC
SNH
SEPA
FR
SG-RESAS
SG-EQD
SG-LUB
SG-NHM
FCS
SNH
SEPA
Sustainable land use that is informed by ecosystem function, resilient to multiple pressures, and managed for multiple benefits

Understanding how drivers acting at different scales (e.g. climate change, demographics, incentives, demand for and impacts of renewable energy) influence land use change and the implications for managing land use to deliver multiple benefits.

Understanding of the implications of land use change and management practices on:

  • Levels, sources and sinks of pollution/contamination
  • GHG emissions
  • Energy supply
  • Biodiversity, ecosystems and geodiversity
  • Farming and food production
  • Human pathogens and food safety
  • Resilience to flooding and other natural hazards
  • Tourism, amenity land use and landscape

Understanding the drivers influencing land use decision making, attitudes to change and identifying mechanisms to influence these behaviours at appropriate scales.

Evidence to support land managers, including:

  • practical biodiversity, conservation and ecosystems management measures
  • identification of sites for and benefits of woodland expansion, agroforestry, flood management and sustainable intensification
  • use of an ecosystems approach in decision making
Models, tools, data and improved approaches to generate accurate and where appropriate spatial data, for use in analysing various land use change questions.
JHI
SASA
SG-RESAS
SRUC
SNH
SEPA
FR
RBGE
MRI
SG-RESAS
SG-LUB
SG-NHM
FCS
SNH
SEPA
FSAS
SASA
The land of Scotland contributing to our sense of place, overall health and quality of life. Understanding the relationships between patterns of land/property ownership, landscape, community structure, well-being, poverty and sustainability. SG-RESAS
JHI
SRUC
SG-RU
SNH
SG-RESAS
SG-LTR
SG-RU
SG-LUB
FCS
SEPA
SNH
Effective interventions

Evidence to enable an integrated assessment of the impact and influence of previous interventions ( CAP, Planning policy, Advisory Services, green stewardship, green infrastructure, biodiversity strategy and duty).

Predictions of the impact of policy/strategy reform and evidence to support the implementation of new approaches, including incentives that can encourage land managers to deliver a range of desired benefits.

Understanding of the relationship and interactions between related land use interventions and desired outcomes.

JHI
SG-RESAS
SRUC
SNH
FR
SEPA
SG-ARD
SG-RESAS
SG-LUB
SG-NHM
SEPA
SNH
FCS
FSAS

TABLE 2. MANAGING NATURAL RESOURCES FOR MULTIPLE BENEFITS

Examples of major external drivers of evidence needs
Globalisation / Technological advances / Population growth / Climate change / Increasing demand for water / Higher and volatile energy prices / Biodiversity loss
Examples of major global, EU, UK and Scottish policy interventions driving evidence needs
Stockholm Convention on persistent
organic pollutants
EU Common Agricultural and Fisheries Policies
EU Water Framework Directive
EU Birds and Habitats Directives, Natura 2000
EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy
EU Ambient Air Quality Directive (2008)
GB Habitats Regulations
GB Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy (2008)
Air Quality Standards (Scotland)
Regulations 2010
Air Quality Strategic Framework
2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity
Biodiversity Duty 2004
Wildlife and Natural Environment Scotland Act
Water Resource (Scotland) Act 2013
River Basin Management Plans
Land Use Strategy
Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004
Scotland's Sustainable Development Strategy
Scotland's Zero Waste Plan
Pollution Prevention and Control (Scot.) Regulations 2012
Outcomes Areas of Evidence Need Providers* Users*

Realise the full potential of Scottish natural resources to contribute to Scotland's sustainable economic growth.

Scotland as a leader in innovative environmental approaches and technologies.

Development of innovative approaches, tools, techniques and technologies for:

  • Waste reduction
  • Water technologies
  • Water use efficiency
  • Influencing consumer behaviour
  • Biodiversity and ecosystem management
Development of new techniques and approaches to assess the economic and societal value of natural resources and incorporate these values into decision making.
FR
JHI
MSS
SEPA
SG-RESAS
SNH
SRUC
SW
CREW
DWQR
RINH
ZWS
FCS
MSS
SEPA
SG-EQD
SG-NATRES
SG-RESAS
SNH
SW
ZWS
DWQR
SG-CLIM
SG-PAD
SG-PHD
Sustainable Scottish ecosystems that are resilient to changing pressures and threats.

Collection and analysis of environmental monitoring data for a range of variables in the air, soil, on land and at sea, and development of indicators and proxies for ecosystem health and biodiversity.

Understanding the structure, function and services of Scottish terrestrial, freshwater and coastal ecosystems, how the natural environment is changing in relation to various pressures, identifying possible management approaches and developing an appreciation of their wider ecological importance.

Understanding the status and trends in Scotland's non-renewable resources that affect land-use and contribute to the Scottish economy (e.g. metalliferous minerals, sand, gravel, limestone etc).

Understanding the impacts of climate and other environmental change, including the changing risk to Scottish biodiversity from invasive species, pests and diseases, the ability of various ecosystems to adapt and identification of possible management approaches.

Evidence to support the application of an ecosystems approach in Scotland.

Monitoring and analysis of risks, presence and impact of invasive non-native species, pests and diseases on non-agricultural plant and animal species (including trees), understanding of potential risk to agricultural species, development of possible approaches to their control.

Understanding of the factors (including agricultural and other land use practices) that influence water quality, nutrient flows, sediment, catchment morphology and developing/providing monitoring and integrated management solutions at appropriate scales. Data on water flows and their spatial variation, minimum flow requirements for effective functioning of water infrastructure.

Evidence to evaluate the quality of Scottish soils, their resilience to changing pressures and practices and the impact of poor soil quality on the services they provide.

Understanding of the drivers that influence public behaviours that result in environmental improvements.

CREW
CXC
FR
JHI
MSS
SASA
SEPA
SG-RESAS
SNH
SRUC
SW
RBGE
DWQR
FCS
MSS
SASA
SEPA
SG-EQD
SG-NATRES
SG-RESAS
SNH
SW
QMS
SG-AHW
Sustainable Scottish ecosystems and natural resources that are contributing to the health and well-being of the Scottish population

Understanding the impact of, and relationship between, access to 'blue/ green' amenities, biodiversity and human health.

Understanding which land use practices negatively impact on human health and the mechanisms involved.

Assessment of extent and impact of antisocial and illegal activities, understanding of drivers of relevant behaviours and approaches to change.

SEPA
SNH
JHI
FR
SRUC
RBGE
FCS
SEPA
SG-LUB
SNH
SG-PHD
SW
Effective interventions

Assessment of the effectiveness of Scottish public body biodiversity protection measures in support of the Scottish Biodiversity strategy through:

  • The impact of CAP, WFD and Forestry policy measures
  • Ecological status of protected species and habitats
  • Biodiversity and ecosystem health indicators

Evidence to help implement and to evaluate the impact and cost effectiveness of policy interventions including:

  • Water Framework Directive
  • River basin management plans
  • Water environment restoration
  • Water leakage targets
  • Pollution Control, Waste reduction and Environmental policies

Evidence to support the co-ordination of linked policies (e.g. flooding and other water management policies).

Scenarios for the future that consider climate change and other risks, approaches to include risk assessment in decision making and policy implementation.

CREW
FR
JHI
MSS
SASA
SEPA
SG-RESAS
SNH
SRUC
SW
CXC
RBGE
FCS
MSS
SEPA
SG-ARD
SG-EQD
SG-NATRES
SG-RESAS
SNH
SW
ZWS
QMS
SASA
SG-AHWD

TABLE 3. BUILDING A LOW CARBON FUTURE

Examples of major external drivers of evidence needs
Technological advances / Population growth / Climate change / Declining fossil fuel resources / Carbon targets / Higher and volatile energy prices
Examples of major global, EU, UK and Scottish policy interventions driving evidence needs
UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change (1992)
Kyoto Protocol (1997)
EU Monitoring Mechanism decision and EU Emissions Trading Scheme
EU Waste Framework Directive
EU Floods Directive (2007)
EU Water Framework Directive
UK Energy Efficiency Strategy
Climate Change Act 2008
UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Landfill Tax
Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
Scottish Climate Change Adaptation
Programme (2013-17)
Low Carbon Behaviours - a Framework
for the Future
2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity
Flood Risk Management
(Scotland) Act (2009)
2020 Route map for
Renewables in Scotland Renewable Heat Plan
Scotland's Zero Waste Plan (2010)
Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012
Outcomes Areas of Evidence Need Providers* Users*
Low carbon innovations and opportunities that give rise to more sustainable economic growth

Development and evaluation of options for supporting low carbon innovation.

Development and evaluation of innovative and cost effective approaches/options for:

  • Waste re-use
  • Decarbonising transport, heat and energy production
  • Low carbon business practices
  • Low carbon infrastructure development
  • Carbon capture and storage
  • Exploiting unconventional energy sources
CREW
CXC
SEPA
SG-RESAS
ZWS
FR FSAS
MSS
SG-LCEER
SEPA
SG-EQD
SG-RP
FCS
FSAS
MS
SG-LCEER
SG-RESAS
Progress towards a more sustainable, resource efficient, circular economy that is resilient to environmental pressures including climate change

Understanding public attitudes and behaviours to moving towards a low carbon lifestyle.

Evidence to support options and approaches that will improve energy security, help meet emissions targets and reduce the carbon footprint and environmental impact of the energy and agricultural sectors, including;

  • increasing the contribution of renewables
  • carbon capture and storage
  • risks and benefits of unconventional gas
  • reduction of agricultural losses through disease and waste
Evidence to support transition to a circular economy, including understanding resource flows, developing integrated approaches for waste reduction and recovery, resource efficiency and recycling, new circular business models, e.g. extended producer responsibility, design for circularity.
CREW
CXC
SEPA
SG-OCEA
SNH
ZWS
FR
JHI
MRI
MSS
RINH
SG-LCB
SG-RESAS
SRUC
SEPA
SNH
SG-EQD
SG-LCB
SG-RP
ZWS
FCS
FSAS
MS
SG-FDARC
SG-LCEER
SG-RESAS
Effective
interventions

Evidence for, and analysis of, policy interventions for trade-offs and synergies between economic growth, fossil fuel use and GHG emissions, including improved estimates of GHG emission factors.

Evidence for and analysis of trade-offs and synergies in environmental management interventions for carbon management and for biodiversity conservation objectives (e.g. in peatland systems).

Development of effective approaches to influence behaviours and encourage transition to lower carbon lifestyles.

Evidence to measure policy delivery against targets and to inform targets, e.g. for waste reduction, GHG emissions.

Evidence to evaluate the effectiveness and/or distributional impacts of:

  • Waste reduction policy
  • Climate change policies
  • Heat mapping
  • Scottish Sustainable Communities initiative
Development of climate change scenarios and approaches for their use in policy development and managing uncertainty.
CXC
SNH
SEPA
SG-OCEA
ZWS
JHI
MS
SG-RP
SRUC
SEPA
SNH
SG-CLIM
SG-OCEA
SG-RP
ZWS
MSS
SG-LCEER

TABLE 4. MAKING THE MOST OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND DRINK

Examples of major external drivers of evidence needs
Global trade / Technological advances / Population growth / Climate change / Changing demands for food / Higher & volatile energy prices / Volatile food prices
Examples of major global, EU, UK and Scottish policy interventions driving evidence needs
UN Guidelines and standards on
agricultural products
UN Plant Protection Convention
EU Common Agricultural & Fisheries Policies
EU Directive (2011) on Regulation of Plant Protection Products.
EU Plant Health Regime
EU Animal Welfare Strategy
EU Animal Health Regulation (forthcoming)
EU Veterinary Medicines Legislation
EU White Paper on Food Safety and multiple Regulations on Food Hygiene, Food Safety, etc
UK Global Food Security Programme
Land Use Strategy for Scotland (2011)
Scottish Forestry Strategy and
Implementation Plan
2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity
SG-specific Animal Health and
Welfare Legislation
Scottish animal health and welfare policy
Plant Health (Scotland) Order 2005
Recipe for Success - Scotland's National
Food and Drink Policy 2009
Fresh Thinking - Scotland Food and
Drink Strategy 2010
Obesity Route Map 2010
Healthy Eating, Active Living 2008
Outcomes Areas of Evidence Need Providers* Users*
Profitable, productive and innovative agriculture, food and drink industries that contribute to Scotland's economy

Understanding of supply chains, systems and factors affecting performance and profitability in the food, drink and farming industries.

Approaches to managing risk from livestock, crop and food-borne disease, including improvements to surveillance and disease control and understanding and managing the influence of emerging pressures such as climate change and land use change.

Development and implementation of innovative tools and technologies in the food, drink and farming industries, including: approaches to sustainable intensification, innovations for resource efficiency, food safety (e.g. food preservation and storage), business proficiency, low carbon production, animal and plant disease control, provenancing tools, agricultural diversification, new crops, improved livestock.

JHI
MRI
MSS
RINH
SASA
SG-RESAS
SRUC
SG-FDARC
SG-AHWD
FSAS
MSS
QMS
SASA
SG-FDARC
SG-RESAS
SG-AHWD
FSAS
Scottish agriculture, food and drink industries that are resilient to change and emerging pressures and threats

Evidence to support resilience in the Scottish agriculture, food and drink industries, including:

  • Resilience of agriculture to climate change, extreme weather events, declining biodiversity
  • Understanding potential impacts of emerging pressures such as climate change on different sectors of the food and drink industry at relevant scales
  • Surveillance and risk management for notifiable, emerging and endemic diseases of livestock and crops
  • Understanding of and contingency planning for major threats to food security in Scotland, including risks of raw materials shortages
  • Identifying skills gaps in the food and drink industry and addressing age imbalances in farming

Definition and improved understanding of economic, social and environmental sustainability in a Scottish context.

Understanding of relationships and trade-offs between factors affecting food security (including sustainability, resource use, waste, supply systems, accessibility of healthy diets, demand) and between food security and other desired outcomes such as profitability, productivity and animal welfare.

Evidence to help improve the sustainability of Scottish crop and livestock systems, including approaches to sustainable intensification, to improving livestock health and welfare, to reducing the impacts of crop and livestock disease, to understanding the role of biodiversity in delivering low-input food production systems, to understanding risks to livestock from low-level pollutants, to understand risks arising from raw materials shortages.

Evidence to improve understanding of how agricultural systems and management practices can deliver other benefits, such as biodiversity conservation (e.g. High Nature Value farming), water quality, recreation.

JHI
MRI
MSS
RINH
SASA
SG-RESAS
SRUC
FSAS QMS
SG-FDARC
SNH
MSS
QMS
SASA
SG-FDARC
SG-RESAS
SG-AHWD
FSAS
SNH
SG-PHD
A healthy and sustainable diet accessible to all

Evidence to support the development of options to improve health benefits from food across all price ranges.

Improved understanding of factors affecting food insecurity and dietary health in Scotland, including consumer behaviours.

Evidence to reduce diet-related ill-health, including improved understanding of prevalence, causation and management of risks from the food supply chain.

FSAS
JHI
RINH
SASA
SG-RESAS
SNH
SG-PHD
SG-FDARC
SG-RESAS
FSAS
QMS
SASA
SNH
Effective interventions

Evidence to evaluate the effectiveness, influence and impact of policy interventions including:

  • The agri-food package of EU public health legislation
  • CAP
  • Measures to reduce fat and salt in foods

Evidence (including possible tools and incentives) to help the public sector support the agri-food industry and the delivery of multiple benefits, including sustainable use of land and natural resources, production of healthy food, sustainable rural communities.

Evidence to support policy interventions to improve dietary health and reduce food insecurity.

JHI
MSS
RINH
SASA
SG-AHWD
SG-RESAS
SRUC
FSAS
SG-ARD
SG-FDARC
SNH
MSS
SASA
SG-AHWD
SG-ARD
SG-FDARC
SG-RESAS
FSAS
SNH

TABLE 5. STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES

Examples of major external drivers of evidence needs
Globalisation / Technological advances / Population growth / Climate change / Demographic change / Inequality / Changes in rural industries
Examples of major global, EU, UK and Scottish policy interventions driving evidence needs
EU Floods Directive 2007
EU Common Agricultural Policy
EU Common Fisheries Policy
UK Welfare Reform
The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 - Community Planning
Architecture and Placemaking Policy for Scotland (2012)
Scotland's Sustainable Development Strategy
Land Reform (Scotland) Act
Regeneration Strategy
Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill
Low Carbon Behaviours - Framework for
the Future
Tourism Scotland 2020
Good Places, Better Health Strategy
Scotland's Obesity Route Map 2010
Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003
Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009
Reservoirs (Scotland) Act 2011
2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity
Outcomes Areas of Evidence Need Providers* Users*
Adaptable, innovative communities that contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic growth

Understanding of fragile (local) economies.

Evidence to assess relationships between innovations/new industries/local branding/community capacity and economic performance.

Evidence to support the development of improved and innovative infrastructure such as local energy production, broadband access, ecotowns, sustainable and reliable treatment of water and wastewater and housing resilient to flooding.

JHI
SEPA
SG-RESAS
SRUC
CREW
CXC
DWQR
MSS
DWQR
SEPA
SG-EQD
SG-RESAS
MSS
SG-PAD

Communities that are responsive to change and resilient to emerging pressures

Effective flood risk management

Sustainable rural communities that are interconnected with urban areas

Place-based demographic, health, economic and environmental data at appropriate scales.

Approaches to improving and assessing community resilience, evidence of impacts of community engagement and empowerment on economic and social sustainability.

Approaches to improving flood and flood risk management, including monitoring occurrences and defences, drainage and sewer management and integration with other water policies.

Understanding the impacts of climate change and climate change adaptation policies at community level.

CREW
JHI
SEPA
SG-EQD
SG-RESAS
SRUC
CXC
MSS
SG-EQD
SG-RU
SNH
SW
SEPA
SG-EQD
SG-LTR
SG-RESAS
SG-RU
SNH
SW
MSS
SG-LUB
SG-PAD
SG-PHD
Empowered, communities that contribute to individual well-being

Methods to measure community well-being and approaches to using well-being in financial and policy decisions.

Evidence on delivery of public sector services in remote rural areas and how they can be improved through spreading best practice, community engagement and government intervention.

Understanding the relationship between access to green space, people's connection with nature and physical and mental health.

Evidence of the impacts of flooding on health and well-being.

JHI
SEPA
SG-RESAS
SRUC
FR
SG-RU
SNH
SG-LUB
SG-RESAS
SG-RU
SNH
FCS
SEPA
SG-PHD
Effective interventions

Understanding the Scottish Government's role in supporting communities to become more sustainable.

Developing scenarios for the future of rural areas.

Understanding the mid- and long-term impacts of policy instruments including, LEADER, CERB, patterns of land/property ownership on rural communities, identifying those that aid social, geographical mobility and economic growth at the local level.

Evidence to evaluate the impact of policy reform ( CAP, Welfare) on rural communities and the rural economy.

Systems approaches for evaluating multiple policies, multiple outcomes and their impacts and costs.

JHI
SG-EQD
SG-RESAS
SRUC
MSS
SEPA
SG-LTR
SNH
SW
SEPA
SG-EQD
SG-LTR
SG-RESAS
SG-RU
SNH
MSS
SG-LUB
SW

Contact

Back to top