Biodiversity Programme Advisory Group - external engagement session minutes: 7 July 2025

Attendees and apologies

Scottish Government

• Aisling Duncan, team leader nature targets
• Jack Bloodworth, principle science adviser
• Rebecca-Katie Sinclair, policy officer

External stakeholders - 77 attendees

• North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership
• NatureScot
• Green Action Trust
• Highland Council
• Scottish Fishermen’s Federation
• Improvement Service
• North Ayrshire Council
• James Hutton Institute
• Renfrewshire Climate Action Network
• Crown Estate Scotland
• Dumfries and Galloway Council
• Scottish Forestry
• Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
• Museums Galleries Scotland
• Perth and Kinross Council
• North Lanarkshire Council
• Highlands Rewilding
• DEFRA
• COSLA
• City of Edinburgh Council
• Angus Council
• West Lothian Council
• West Dunbartonshire Council
• Scottish Wildlife Trust
• East Lothian Council
• Dundee City Council
• VisitScotland
• Tayside Biodiversity Partnership
• Association of Deer Management Groups
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Aberdeen
• South of Scotland Enterprise
• Ramblers Scotland
• East Dunbartonshire Council

Items and actions

Meeting agenda 

These sessions will provide an overview of policy progress, updates on the Bill, governance, monitoring and evaluation as well as future internal and external engagement opportunities. They are designed to help integrate biodiversity and environmental sustainability into policy across the Scottish Government.

Welcome and introductions

Purpose and aims and structure of session explained. 

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Presentation

From slide 2

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Question and answer session

Is the National Biodiversity Forum only government officials or broader?

The National Biodiversity Forum comprises range of strategic leaders who can help influence positive outcomes for biodiversity. Membership includes key organisations/groups external to Government. The forum is chaired by the Minister/Cab Sec and working groups or task and finish groups will be formed to support specific projects as required.

What does that mean at the local level, are there any roles for the Local Authorities in the delivery of targets?

Local Authorities currently have a duty to report on their compliance with the Scottish Biodiversity Duty and there are a number of actions within the Scottish Biodiversity Action Plan which are for local scale delivery. It is the intention that targets will align with the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy as it forms part of the strategic framework and therefore align with delivery at a local level. As committed within the Biodiversity Delivery plan the reporting process will be reviewed to ensure that it is effective as possible. Tackling biodiversity loss requires a whole-of-government and a whole-of-society approach and the existence of statutory targets can drive action to ensure process is made.

When looking at different targets to set, did species abundance get considered?

Yes, the threatened species status target topic does include species abundance as one of the key indicators. One of the three key indicators that we can measure against that target topic is the marine terrestrial species indicator which largely relies on species abundance data within that.

What is the timescale for agreeing the statutory targets?

The timelines for Targets is dependent on the progress of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill through Parliament. The end of the current Parliamentary session is next year, marked by the next General election. It is therefore the ambition of this policy area to continue development of targets over the course of the next year.

To what extent is Scotland aligning its efforts with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets?

The remit the SG gave the Programme Advisory Group (PAG) was to try and align recommendations with consideration given to the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets, but devolution of powers. The Scottish Government must report through the UK process with respect to GBF and work along-side JNCC. The Scottish Government are happy to receive feedback if you think there are areas where suited internal GBF alignment or other targets. One specific example is the 30 by 30 target in the GBF, the Scottish Government have a separate policy instrument which is implementing that target, and there are other things that have been dealt with via other policy rather than just the statutory nature restoration targets in the bill.

What is email for subscribing to updates on statutory nature restoration targets?

Please email biodiversity@gov.scot to opt-in to be added to the mailing list.

Will the Biodiversity Duty reporting eventually be aligned with these new targets?

Scottish Government has committed to in the Biodiversity Delivery Plan to review the Biodiversity Duty Reporting process to ensure that it is as effective as possible. As targets for a key role in the strategic framework for biodiversity in Scotland, alignment will also be considered.

Will designated site feature condition inform the habitat species targets?

Yes, the current process for designated site feature condition was one of the indicators that was brought forward to the habitat condition extent target topic. Colleagues in NatureScot are revising the approach for protected area monitoring. The Scottish Government will review progress and how that is potentially integrated in the future.

Is the Scottish Government giving thought to more geographically precise metrics for any of the targets, such as no net loss of priority species at local authority level?

These targets are meant to be in place to help drive action at a range of levels, including the local level. If the PAG advised a specific local level target should have that regional aspect to drive that action, the Scottish Government would consider that advice and how it could be implemented.

What will be the reporting process for targets?

For monitoring and evaluation purposes it will depend on selection of indicators and form of targets of how often these are reported, which could be annually. It is the ambition to have indicators which are routinely used and reported on to help monitor the progress towards targets. Targets have to be practical without putting unnecessary due process into the system. The reporting of targets are clear within the provisions, this will occur at least one in every three-year period and targets reviewed at least once in every 10 year period. Reports will be laid before Parliament.

Who will report on the process to meeting targets? 

As described in the draft provisions, the Scottish Ministers will have to lay a report to Parliament which will undergo parliamentary scrutiny. In addition, the Independent Review Body (IRB) will review Scottish Ministers reports and make an assessment of the manner in which Scottish Ministers seek independent advice.

What is the role of ESS (Environmental Standards Scotland)?

ESS have been appointed as the independent review body (IRB).

The IRB will have the following functions, as set out in the draft provisions:

• review each report prepared by Scottish Ministers on monitoring progress towards meeting targets (3 yearly progress report)
• review each report prepared by the Scottish Ministers reviewing all targets and target topics (10 yearly full targets review)
• assess the manner in which Scottish Ministers seek and use independent advice in compliance with carrying out reviews for targets and target topics (both ad hoc and 10 yearly reviews); and
• prepare a report on the above matters and submit this to Scottish Ministers to then be laid in parliament. It is likely that this reporting will be changed to Scottish Parliament instead

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