Biodiversity PAG NatureScot Engagement minutes: 11 November 2025

Attendees and apologies

Scottish Government 

• Aisling Duncan, Team Leader Nature Targets  
• Jack Bloodworth, Principle Science Adviser  
• Rebecca-Katie Sinclair, Policy Officer 
• David O'Brien, NatureScot

External Attendees – 42

• NatureScot
• JNCC

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Meeting Agenda  

The aim of this session is to: 

• Provide a recap on the 4-step selection process for targets 

• Inform on the process of selecting indicators using expert advice 
• Present the proposed PAG recommended indicators 
• Engage with externals on the proposed indicators 

Welcome and introductions

Purpose and aims and structure of session explained.   

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Presentation  
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Question and answer session

Was it thought important to define what 'nature restoration' is?  And if so, is there an agreed definition?
The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) definition of 'nature restoration' is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem towards or to good condition, as a means of conserving or enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. 

In relation to the condition and extent of habitats and potential indicators, will this be coverage of 'Protected' or 'Effectively Managed' sites?
Coverage will include the total extent of protected areas and Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs). The Scottish Government currently does not have an appropriate indicator metric for this, but work is underway to implement one. While a protected area indicator exists, the emphasis is that nature targets will also apply to areas outside of protected sites, taking a holistic approach. 

The Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill Policy Memo further clarifies that the focus is on the quality and extent of all habitats in Scotland, including protected areas as well as urban and peri-urban habitats.
A target of habitat extent could embed inflexibility that we are trying to get away from. How will this be avoided and changes enabled?
This target relates to the extent of protected areas and Nature30 sites. Habitats are expected to change over time. Within the Red List of Ecosystems, there is a criterion concerning the loss of large amounts of extent; however, flexibility is built in to allow for inevitable transitions, such as those driven by climate change.
If any extent-based target is applied, it will be linked to ecosystem condition. Where an ecosystem or habitat has a limited extent that does not align with the desired condition, there may be a requirement to increase its extent.
The Scottish Government has incorporated these considerations into the Act to ensure adaptability and enable necessary changes.

Will the bill have any impact on the existing strategic environment assessment process?
The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is not within the scope of the bill. Part two of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill focuses on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations in relation to habitats regulations

Have you considered Management Effectiveness of Protected and Conserved Areas (MEPCA) indicator for the effectiveness of areas?
NatureScot’s new approach to protected areas, known as Monitoring to Deliver Healthy Ecosystems, is based on the Management Effectiveness of Protected and Conserved Areas (MEPCA) framework.

How often are you planning to report against these targets? Thinking about these metrics and what change they can show depending on the timescale considered.
Work is ongoing to develop monitoring and evaluation of targets in relation to the strategic framework. Under the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, the Scottish Government must:

• Report progress towards meeting the targets at least once every three years.
• Review the targets at least once every ten years.

The three-year reporting also includes progress on the implementation plan for the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, which covers delivery of actions. In addition, the Bill provides for an ad-hoc process to address unforeseen changes, such as new indicators or technological developments, allowing secondary legislation to be amended as required.
In terms of reporting against indicators and targets to observe change, this will vary depending on the indicator used:

• Some indicators are updated almost annually.
• Others are updated every five years.

The Scottish Government must also consider the underlying science, including restoration timelines, when interpreting these indicators.

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