Terrestrial and freshwater sites - biodiversity commitment: consultation analysis

Executive summary

This summary presents the key findings from the analysis of responses to the Scottish Government’s consultation ‘Meeting our '30 by 30' biodiversity commitment on terrestrial and freshwater sites: consultation on legislative proposals’, which ran from 02 April 2024 to 24 May 2024. In the consultation, the Scottish Government sought to explore views on the potential legislative proposals which will support the implementation of 30 by 30. These legislative proposals aim to:

• Create flexibility around designated sites
• Increase Proactive Management of Protected Areas and other important areas for biodiversity

In the consultation, the Scottish Government suggested ways to deliver biodiversity benefits which complement the existing regime.

Headline findings

• The consultation received a total of 64 responses (67 including duplicated responses). All of the closed questions in the consultation were answered by almost 99% of all respondents.
• 84% of respondents supported the proposal that the Scottish Government should allow protected areas to also be designated on the basis of important ecosystems in addition to individual natural features.
• 86% of respondents supported the Scottish Government clarifying the existing powers that require management and restoration of protected areas, making it clear that this requirement also covers protected areas that are experiencing slow deterioration over a long period of time.
• 72% of respondents supported the Scottish Government expanding the existing powers to enforce and incentivise management and restoration of protected areas, to cover other land in situations where it has been identified to have significant benefits to be achieved through nature restoration.