Terrestrial and freshwater sites - biodiversity commitment: consultation analysis

Chapter 3 Creating flexibility for designated sites (Q 1)

Overview

The consultation paper set out that in order to ensure that protected areas can deliver the maximum for biodiversity, the Scottish Government proposes that sites should be able to be designated on the basis of important ecosystems on land or interactions between habitats (which recognise the importance of transitional habitats in addition to individual features. This will allow for the holistic management of ecosystems, rather than component habitats and species populations within a landscape.

Question 1

In Scotland, protected areas on land work by identifying individual natural features to be protected on a site (e.g. habitats, species populations or geology). Should the Scottish Government allow protected areas to also be designated on the basis of important ecosystems (including interactions between habitats, which recognise the importance of transitional habitats), in addition to individual natural features?

Responses to Question 1 by respondent type are set out in Table 3 below.

A majority – 84% of those who answered the question – agreed with the proposals that the Scottish Government should allow protected areas to also be designated on the basis of important ecosystems, in addition to their individual natural features.

The majority of responses from both organisations and individuals both by a large amount (89% of organisations and 75% of individuals) were in favour of the proposal.

No organisational responses disagreed with the proposal but 7% neither agreed or disagreed, 2% were unsure and 2% did not answer the question. Of the 20 responses from individuals, 15% of respondents disagreed with the proposal and 10% answered unsure.

Qualitative analysis

Of the 63 respondents to the first question, 56 also included a comment on the proposal that the Scottish Government allow protected areas to be designated on the basis of important ecosystems. The proposal was met with broad support among respondents with many feeling the change would be beneficial to the existing model and encourage biodiversity growth and development.

The proposal to include ecosystems as protected sites, was met with a positive response among respondents who felt that it could strengthen the medium and long term resilience of sites, especially in circumstances where signs of potential degradation might already be present. Many also felt that the taking into account of wider ecosystems could help prevent fragmentation of habitats and support sites that play key roles in the life cycles of important species.

By including ecosystems as designated sites, respondents expressed interest in the criteria that would be introduced on the selection and monitoring of sites. Some respondents hoped that including long term and future proofing elements into management plans could allow for the best chance for a site’s improvement. However, respondents stressed that management plans should also be flexible and adaptive in order to be able to address any potential changes that might occur to the quality of a site.

A common request raised by respondents was the need for further resources to be made available to NatureScot if this proposal is introduced. While many feel that the current measures have been a positive step, they believe additional resources being allocated would result in better management of sites and could produce improved results. Respondents also requested that NatureScot engage with stakeholders during the selection process and during any key decision making processes relating to site management.

Support for land managers under these changes was also a commonly noted topic among respondents with hopes for a collaborative approach to site management a common request that would take into account the challenges faced by rural and countryside businesses.