Biodiversity Programme Advisory Group – citizen and society target indicators: summary of responses

4. Further suggestions from PAG/SAC that would need further exploration

This section briefly explores some of the additional suggestions made by the PAG and SAC. As outlined below, they would require further investigation into appropriate data collection methods to be included as indicators.

4.1 Citizen science

Citizen science is regarded as a pro-nature behaviour and refers to the collection of information on the environment by volunteers of all ages and levels of experience.

Considerations;

• Currently there is no clear central collection of data on citizen science projects or number of participants. It is likely that individual project would be able to report on their numbers, but there would need to be further work to pull these into a centralised place for regular reporting.
• In the questions SPANS offers on pro-nature behaviours, citizen science is listed as an option.

4.2 Outdoor learning

Research has shown that outdoor learning or nature-based education increasing environmental knowledge and nature connectedness.

Considerations;

• Currently there is not a central collection of data on outdoor learning. Much data on outdoor learning and its impact is in the form of one-off, qualitative projects or studies. That said, there are potential routes to pull the data together/ future indicators in the works, including;
• Learning for Sustainability (LfS), as part of the LfS Action Plan, is currently exploring an indicator. Such an indicator, however, would likely cover issues such as global citizenship and sustainable development as well as outdoor learning.
• Previously, Local Authorities have been asked to provide data on the number of outdoor visits by schools in their areas.
• The new Nature Discovery Map Scotland is a tool to help schools survey their school grounds.

4.3 Business sustainability

Business sustainability is largely described via B Corp certification which requires an assessment based on social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.

Considerations;

• Data on the number of B Corps in Scotland can be accessed via B Lab, the accreditor. Further exploration would be needed if there was a desire to gather data on business sustainability outwith the B Corps accreditation.
• B Corp accreditation is not solely about impact on the environment but also considers social aspects, such as treatment of workers, impact on community and customers, and therefore work would be needed to investigate whether a direct indicator could be found.
• There is an under-representation of larger companies and enterprises, which is noted as a product of the logistics of B Lab’s (the accreditors) assessment process.

4.4 Proximity to blue and green space

Spatial proximity to blue and green space, through the lens of ecosystem services and social data such as Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), could provide insight into access to green and blue space and the spread of their benefits.

Considerations;

• As indicated above (section 2.2), we suggest that access to ecosystem services provided by green and blue space (such as cooling and flooding) is covered via the Natural Capital Index indicator and other targets such as ecosystem health. Direct access to green and blue space, and therefore ecosystem services such as health and wellbeing benefits, can be captured via the established access to green space indicators collected via the SHS.
• If we did want to explore this route however, data is available to craft this analysis however this currently isn’t reported on a regular basis over time. For example, the landscape scale natural capital tool looks to provide ecosystem service demand vs supply in a regional context and could be scaled up to a national picture.

4.5 Further suggestions that have been collected via PAG and SAC that have not been taken forward for further exploration;

• Skills - A new metric that shows skills requirement and capacity of society for meeting climate/nature crises.
• Land ownership and amount of community owned land/ gardens/ woodlands
• Marine focused indicator - e.g. information from Royal Yachting Association, fishing and sailing clubs
• Bathing water quality
• Organic farm certification
• Visit numbers to specific sites such as Nature Reserves and Forest and Land Scotland sites
• Social media