Ecosystem Restoration Code: engagement paper
Engagement paper for the Scottish Government-NatureScot partnership project to develop an Ecosystem Restoration Code (ERC) for Scotland. The paper summarises key evidence on the operation and scope of potential nature / biodiversity markets in Scotland.
6. Next steps for the ERC and how to get involved further
The Engagement Phase for the ERC project is being undertaken between April and July 2025. The focus of the Engagement Phase will be an extensive series of workshops and 1-2-1 meetings with stakeholders spanning all relevant interests in the development and operation of nature / biodiversity markets in Scotland (Box 7).
The intention will be to capture a comprehensive range of views as part of the project’s co-design approach addressing the following objectives:
- Clarifying the current state of knowledge (as per this Engagement Paper);
- Helping to address evidence gaps;
- Testing assumptions inherent to the rationale for the ERC; and
- Identifying new proposals / ideas for the development of the ERC.
If you would like to participate in an Engagement Phase event please contact: PINC@gov.scot
Whilst our preference is to speak to stakeholders at Engagement Phase events, we have also set up a survey on SG Citizen Space[96]. Stakeholders may wish to respond to this survey instead of (or as well as) attending an Engagement Phase event. Please note that this is not a formal SG consultation – the intention of the Citizen Space survey is to provide a means to capture additional views where stakeholders are not able to attend a specific Engagement Phase event. Responses to the survey will be analysed, alongside evidence from Engagement Phase events, to inform a series of recommendations for developing / writing the ERC during the later stages of this project (September – November 2025). Please note: individual responses will not be published.
Box 7: Categories of stakeholder for Engagement Phase
- Government and public bodies / agencies (including UKG / DEFRA);
- Validators / Verifiers (e.g. Soil Association);
- Representative Bodies / Associations (e.g. NFUS, CIEEM);
- Buyers and investors;
- Land managers and estates;
- Existing SG supported carbon codes;
- Academics / topic experts;
- Land agents / project developers;
- Nature fintech / platform providers;
- Enterprise agencies and other relevant industry / business sectors; and
- Environmental NGOs (e.g. RSPB, Woodland Trust).
Contact
Email: PINC@gov.scot