Biodiversity Programme Advisory Group: terms of reference

Governance

The Programme Advisory Group is accountable to the Biodiversity Programme Board, and is responsible for providing expert scientific and evidence based advice.

Programme objectives

The main objective of the programme is to put the necessary measures in place to enable transformational change to address the drivers of biodiversity loss and to improve the state of nature in Scotland. 

       Specifically, the objectives are to:

• build on and learn from existing policy and delivery mechanisms under the 2020 Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity, the Route Map to 2020 and a range of relevant delivery projects led by the public, private and third sector
• increase Scotland’s engagement and profile on biodiversity internationally, including to inform preparation for the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Conference of Parties (COP) 15 and to engage on behalf of the Convention on Biological Diversity with regional partners and sub-national and regional governments to increase recognition of their role in shaping and delivering the global biodiversity framework
• develop a new policy framework and strategy for biodiversity in Scotland which reflects the new global biodiversity framework and its targets, fits with Scottish Ministers’ wider policies on the environment, sustainable development, climate change and a green recovery; with a suitable monitoring framework to measure and report on progress
• report on international targets and on progress in delivering the biodiversity strategy and route map, and identify and address gaps in the evidence base to inform the development of the future policy framework and strategy and any associated delivery plans
• develop communications to help galvanise public interest in and appreciation of biodiversity and nature; and raise the profile of biodiversity with stakeholders to help ensure an inclusive and participatory approach to delivering the future strategic framework
• mainstream biodiversity across government policy and relevant public sector partners in partnership, wherever possible, with policies and plans to address climate change
• influence increased biodiversity outcomes under current funding arrangements, provide evidence to help maintain or secure increased funding and engage with others to develop new and innovative funding streams to support biodiversity related activities and projects

Purpose

The group will advise the Programme Board on all aspects of science and evidence to help achieve the programme objectives. In particular, it will:

• advise on the application of new international targets in Scotland and on the development of monitoring and reporting on targets arising from CoP 15 and the new Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
• advise on approach and mechanisms to respond to the impacts of the IPBES drivers (direct and indirect) on the state of nature in Scotland, and the balance of effort to be devoted to addressing these
• ensure advice on tackling climate change and biodiversity loss and other major challenges is aligned to deliver best practice e.g. in devising nature-based solutions
• invite specialists to support specific aspects of work, and form ‘task and finish’ groups as appropriate

Sources of evidence include:

• the IPBES Report  and the Zero Draft of the Post 2020 Global Framework and the Fifth Global Biodiversity Outlook
• Scotland’s Biodiversity Strategy Indicators
• Scotland’s Marine Assessment 2020 , which underpins marine planning under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010
• the six-yearly assessment of progress towards Good Environmental Status under the UK Marine Strategy (which was last updated in 2019)
• periodic assessments undertaken by The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (the ‘OSPAR Convention')
• the State of Nature Report produced in partnership with the ‘State of Nature’ coalition of environmental NGOs and public bodies

Membership

Members will be experts in terrestrial and marine science embracing our understanding of the causes of changes in the state of nature. The SG CSA - Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, who as a member of the Programme Board has oversight and reporting responsibilities, will chair the group. A full membership list is available.

Observers

Definition

An observer is an individual or representative from an external body who is invited to attend PAG meetings and workshops to monitor proceedings and provide input when invited to do so.

Observers may be added at the discretion of RESAS and policy colleagues within SG based on their skills, knowledge and interests. Listed PAG members may also suggest other experts in terrestrial and marine science that may be useful to involve at certain developmental stages.

A list of observers, role of the observer in relation to the PAG and commencement and end of role unless revoked earlier is available.

Scope of participation:

• observers may attend meetings and can speak and/or participate in the meetings when invited so do so or which are relevant to their role as an observer, unless otherwise specified
• observers do not have voting rights
• individuals attending in observer status will receive those papers relating to the areas relevant to their role as an observer
• observers will treat all information as sensitive and confidential and not to be shared externally of their organisation
• any relevant FOI or EIR requests, with scope for information permitting to the PAG and shared documentation must notified to RESAS and policy colleagues

Responsibilities of observers:

• to remain informed about the groups agenda and relevant documents
• to respect the confidentiality of discussions and documents as required
• to provide feedback or reports to their respective organisations, if appliable
• observers may be asked to submit a summary report of their observations to the PAG or SG colleagues, depending on the context

Limitations of observers:

• observers shall not influence decisions in relating to voting, hold voting rights, or pressure PAG members on how to vote
• observers shall not represent themselves as PAG members
• observer status may be granted for a specific period or indefinitely, subject to review
• observer status is only for the role listed for each specific observer
• observers may be denied access to private, confidential, or deemed- irrelevant sessions by the Chair or SG colleagues
• SG colleagues reserves the right to revoke observer status at any time with justification

Meetings and papers

• CSA Prof Mathew Williams will chair Advisory Group meetings. In the event that he cannot attend the group, he will  nominate a chair for that meeting
• a programme of work will be generated by the Advisory group chair, the programme SRO, the PAG secretariat, Dr Jack Bloodworth (Principal Science Advisor, RESAS). The programme board and advisory group members will also be invited to put forward topics to include in the programme of work

• group meetings will be co-ordinated by the secretariat in conjunction with the biodiversity programme manager and agendas will include selected topics from the programme of work as agreed by the Advisory Group chair and programme SRO
• the secretariat will circulate meeting agendas and papers to Advisory Group  members by email no later than five working days prior to each meeting
• draft outputs of each meeting will be circulated to Advisory Group members no later than one month  following each meeting. Meeting outputs and advice papers will be agreed amongst the group before being finalised

Review of group

The role and terms of reference of the group will be reviewed annually.