Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: external engagement sessions presentation – November 2025

Session 2 - Recommended Indicators for Statutory nature restoration targets – presentation

Statutory targets team, rural and environmental and analytical services (RESAS) and NatureScot

Aims of today's session

• Provide a recap on the 4-step selection process for nature restoration targets
• Inform on the process of selecting indicators using expert advice
• Present the Programme Advisory Group (PAG) recommended indicators

Recap on selecting and setting targets process

Step 1: Define the Policy Framework

Step 2: Describe the high-level topics that the targets will cover

Step 3: Assign indicators to the proposed targets topics

Step 4: Set the quantifiable values to targets

Recap on the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill

i) The condition or extent of any habitat

ii) The status of threatened species

iii)The environmental conditions for nature regeneration

iv) Any other matters relating to the restoration or regeneration of biodiversity as Scottish Minsters consider appropriate

Recap on the Form of Targets

Number of targets

• Biodiversity is complex set of inter-connected systems, and it is not possible to identify a single quantifiable apex target.

Challenge

• Find a suite of targets that allows for assessment of whether the vision of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) is being delivered.

Proposal

• Smallest feasible number of targets which reflects the complexity of nature restoration.

Timescales

• Align with the timescales of the SBS strategy of 2030 and 2045.

Types of targets

• Outcome targets: demonstrate whether activities have achieved the desired overall effect. For example, ‘X’% increase the abundance of a species by a specific date.
• Output targets: focus on whether actions have been delivered. For example, invasive species removed from ‘X’ hectare of ancient woodland by a specific date.
• Input targets: focus on whether resources, such as money, equipment or people have been committed. For example, £’X’ million is set aside for land managers to manage their land as nature rich habitat by a certain date.
• Ensure targes meet the Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound (SMART) criteria.

Step 3: Assigning indicators process.

Following on from Step 2: “Describe the high-level topics that the targets will cover”, Step 3 focuses on assigning indicators to the high-level targets.

Step 3.1: NatureScot and SG scoping exercise to determine an indicators list.

PAG sent the list and select maximum of 3 indicators per target topic (7) with justifications and asked to highlight any additional indicators for selection.

Step 3.2: As a result of step 3.1, this was used in PAG workshops to discuss indicators and answer two main questions.

PAG recommended list of indicators was agreed upon completion of workshop

Where the PAG felt that suggested indicators did not fulfil the requirements of a target topic suggestions for indicators development/further work were put forward.

Step 3.3: As a result of step 3.2, this was used in PAG workshops to discuss indicators and answer two main questions.

PAG recommended list of indicators was agreed upon completion of workshop.

Where the PAG felt that suggested indicators did not fulfil the requirements of a target topic suggestions for indicators development/further work were put forward.

Step 3: Assign indicators process- PAG Recommended Indicators

Target Topic: Condition or extent of any habitat

PAG Recommended Indicator 1: Red List of Ecosystems

Reference: Red List of Ecosystems

Coverage: Marine and Terrestrial

PAG Recommended Indicator 2: Article 17 Habitats Directive Reporting

Reference: Article 17 habitats directive report 2019

Marine and/or Terrestrial: Marine and Terrestrial

PAG Recommended Indicator 3: Coverage of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures

Reference: Protected Areas post 2020 indicators

Coverage: Marine and Terrestrial

Target Topic: Status of Threatened Species

PAG Recommended Indicator 1: Species Red List Index

Reference: Species red list index

Coveragel: Marine and Terrestrial

PAG Recommended Indicator 2: Marine & Terrestrial Species Indicator

Reference: Marine and terrestrial species indicator

Coverage: Marine and Terrestrial

PAG Recommended Indicator 3: Scorecard of Genetic Diversity

Reference: Scorecard of genetic diversity

Coverage: Marine and Terrestrial

Target Topic: Environmental conditions for nature regeneration

PAG Recommended Indicator 1: Rate of invasive alien species establishment

Reference: Rate of invasive alien species establishment

Coverage: Marine and Terrestrial

PAG Recommended Indicator 2: Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

Reference: Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

Coverage: Marine

PAG Recommended Indicator 3: Water Framework Directive Aquatic Classification - Ecological Status

Reference: Aquatic Classification | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Coverage: Terrestrial

PAG Recommended Indicator 4: Clean Seas

Reference: National Performance - Clean Seas

Coverage: Marine

Ecosystem Health and Integrity (EHI)

• PAG recommendation: no current ‘ecosystem health’ indicator exists across all the required areas, however options forward outlined.
• Progress update: Research commissioned which aims to identify, develop and incorporate indicators into the work being led by NatureScot on the Red List of Ecosystems for Scotland

Citizens and society understanding, benefiting from and contributing to nature (C&S)

• PAG recommendation: Only a proportion of this target topic is covered by available indicators. New indicators will need to be developed or considered for civil society (education) and contributing to nature.
• Progress update: Further wider input required (see next steps).

Potential Target Topic: Ecosystem Health and Integrity (EHI)

PAG Recommended Indicator 1: Delivering Healthy Ecosystems

Reference: Official statistics of protected sites

Coverage: Marine and Terrestrial

PAG Recommended Indicator 2: Red List of Ecosystems

Reference: Red List of Ecosystems link

Coverage: Marine and Terrestrial

Potential Target Topic: Citizens and society understanding, benefiting from and contributing to nature (C&S)

PAG Recommended Indicator 1: Access to blue and green space

Reference: National performance - access to blue and green space

Coverage: Terrestrial

PAG Recommended Indicator 2: Visits to the outdoors

Reference: Visits to the outdoors

Coverage: Unknown

Suggestions from PAG for C&S target topic:

• ‘Benefitting from’: Proximity to green and blue space (beyond self-reported), Quality of the green and blue space, Ecosystem services provided.
• ‘Contributing to’: Business impacts, Consumption and production, Governance of nature, Policy and decision-making considering nature, Number of community led projects
• All: Qualitative measure such as citizen assembly

Next steps – your input is required

We are looking for your feedback and input to help shape the final indicators to be recommended:

1. Please respond to the MS Teams form by the 28^th of November: External Questionnaire
2. PAG recommended target indicators, particularly suggests for additional indicators for the 'Citizen & Society' potential target topic

Next steps for SG

Commencement of Step 4 on setting nature restoration targets

• Work will be commencing with the PAG from Autumn 2025 on Step 4. This is a critical step in making recommendations of what the targets should be for each topic, ensuring that they are SMART

Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill

• RAI Committee Stage 1 Report published on Tuesday 30 September
• Stage 1 debate currently scheduled for the Thursday 30 October 2025

Next steps – engagement

Internal- Pathways:

• Tuesday 21 October - 11:30
• Monday 03 November - 11:00

External Webinars

• Thursday 16 October – 11:00
• Thursday 23 October - 13:30
• Wednesday 05 November – 11:00

NatureScot Webinar

• Tuesday 11 November – 13:00

Useful information

Links to information

• Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
• Governance, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill
  • Primary Legislation, as drafted
  • Policy memo
  • Financial memo
  • Delegated Powers memo
• RAI Committee Stage 1 Report

Contact information

Mailing list: biodiversity@gov.scot

NE Bill: nebill@gov.scot

To be sent from the Targets team via email

• Copy of Presentation
• MS Teams form- to be completed by 28^th November.
• Copy of draft advice documents
• TBC Website update with link to documents.