Terrestrial and freshwater sites - biodiversity commitment: consultation analysis

Chapter 1 Background

The Global Climate Emergency and the Nature Emergency are twin reinforcing crises: the actions taken to address each are fundamental to our wellbeing and survival as a species. There is now an indisputable body of evidence that biodiversity, both globally and in Scotland, is in real trouble.

The Scottish Government’s efforts to address the crisis to date have generated some lessons and local successes but these efforts urgently need to be accelerated and scaled up to drive landscape and seascape scale recovery. We will be taking this action forward through the vision for Scotland’s biodiversity and priority actions which have been identified in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.

The Strategy is one element of Scotland’s Biodiversity Framework, which includes the following parts:

• An overarching Scottish Biodiversity Strategy which sets out the Scottish Government’s high level vision to be nature positive by 2030 and substantively restore and regenerate nature by 2045;
• Underpinning 6-year Delivery Plans which set out the actions we need to take to achieve the vision;
• The introduction of statutory nature recovery targets, established by a framework in the Natural Environment Bill.

The commitment to protect 30% of Scotland’s land and seas for nature by 2030 (known as 30 by 30) is a key delivery mechanism for achieving the vision set out in the Strategy and forms an important part of the first Delivery Plan.

The international context

The commitment to protect 30% of Scotland’s land and seas for nature by 2030 is an international commitment in the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)^[1], specifically Target 3 of GBF. Target 3 states that parties will:

“Ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, recognizing indigenous and traditional territories, where applicable, and integrated into wider landscapes, seascapes and the ocean, while ensuring that any sustainable use, where appropriate in such areas, is fully consistent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, including over their traditional territories.”

Target 3 of the GBF can be broken down into two key elements:

• Achieving 30% of land and seas within areas protected or conserved for nature.
• Ensuring that the 30 by 30 sites are effectively managed.

30 by 30 Policy Framework

As part of the first 6-year Delivery Plan for the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, a policy framework has been co-designed for achieving 30 by 30.

This codesign process involved over 100 organisations and individuals representing a diverse range of interests. The 30 by 30 policy framework sets out a vision and key principles (set out in full on NatureScot website) which will guide the further development and delivery of policy. Final consultation on the policy framework was included in the 2023 Biodiversity Consultation, “Tackling the Nature Emergency: Consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity.”^[2]

About the consultation

The consultation paper issued by the Scottish Government contained 3 numbered questions, which were multi-part questions with an initial closed (tick-box) question followed by space for comments.

The consultation invited views on two topics, which relate to the effective management of protected areas and other important areas for biodiversity:

• Creating flexibility for designated sites (Q 1)
• Proactive Management of Protected Areas and Other Important Areas for Biodiversity (Qs 2 – 3)

About the analysis

This report is based on a systematic analysis of the responses to the consultation. Frequency analysis of the closed questions was undertaken, and the findings are shown in tables throughout this report.

Comments made in response to each question were analysed qualitatively. The aim was to identify the main themes and the full range of views expressed in relation to each question, and to draw out areas of agreement and disagreement between different groups of respondents.

It should be noted, as with all consultations, that the views of those who have responded are not necessarily representative of the views of the wider population. Individuals (and organisations) who have a keen interest in a topic – and the capacity to respond – are more likely to participate in a consultation than those who do not. This self-selection means that the results reported cannot be generalised to the wider population. For this reason, the overall approach to consultation analysis is primarily qualitative in nature. Its main purpose is not to identify how many people held particular views, but rather to understand the full range of views expressed.

Finally, it is important to note that some of the responses to this consultation (especially those from organisations) contained technical information and references to other published and unpublished material. It is not possible in a report such as this to fully reflect the level of detail included in these submissions.