Tackling the Nature Emergency - Scottish biodiversity strategy to 2045

Following consultation on the draft Strategy in 2022, this is the updated version of the Scottish biodiversity strategy to 2045: Tackling the Nature Emergency in Scotland, which takes into account responses to that consultation.


Annex 1

CBD Indicators Proposed (Shortlist In Bold)

CBD Goals and Targets Name of indicator Metric Related EU Restoration target

Goal A

The integrity, connectivity and resilience of all ecosystems are maintained, enhanced, or restored, substantially increasing the area of natural ecosystems by 2050; Human induced extinction of known threatened species is halted, and, by 2050, extinction rate and risk of all species are reduced tenfold and the abundance of native wild species is increased to healthy and resilient levels; The genetic diversity within populations of wild and domesticated species, is maintained, safeguarding their adaptive potential.

Red list of ecosystems

Extent of natural ecosystems by type (HI[15] 1)

1. Extent – HabMoS

2. Connectivity – Connectivity and extent of woodland, heathland, grassland and marsh by EUNIS habitat type

1.
Red List Index (species) (HI 2) IUCN Red List Index 1.
The proportion of populations within species with an effective population size > 500 (HI 3) Tracked through Scorecard NA but related to 2, 6

Goal B

Biodiversity is sustainably used and managed and nature's contributions to people, including ecosystem functions and services, are valued, maintained and enhanced, with those currently in decline being restored, supporting the achievement of sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations by 2050.

Functions and services provided by ecosystems, by service type (HI 4) Scottish Natural Capital Accounts and Wellbeing index NA

Goal C

The monetary and non-monetary benefits from the utilization of genetic resources, and digital sequence information on genetic resources, and of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, as applicable, are shared fairly and equitably, including, as appropriate with indigenous peoples and local communities, and substantially increased by 2050, while ensuring traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources is appropriately protected, thereby contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, in accordance with internationally agreed access and benefit-sharing instruments.

Indicator on monetary benefits tbc (HI 6) Income from Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) agreements NA
Indicator on non-monetary benefits tbc (HI 7) Number of research & development products from an ABS agreement NA

Goal D

Adequate means of implementation, including financial resources, capacity-building, technical and scientific cooperation, and access to and transfer of technology to fully implement the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework are secured and equitably accessible to all Parties, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as countries with economies in transition, progressively closing the biodiversity finance gap of 700 billion dollars per year, and aligning financial flows with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity.

International public funding, including official development assistance (ODA) for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems Reserved matter for State Party indicator n/a

Domestic public funding on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Private funding (domestic and international) on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Target 1

Ensure that all areas are under participatory integrated biodiversity inclusive spatial planning and/or effective management processes addressing land and sea use change, to bring the loss of areas of high biodiversity importance, including ecosystems of high ecological integrity, close to zero by 2030, while respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.

Headline Indicators

A.1 Red List of Ecosystems

A.2 Extent of natural ecosystems

1.1 Percentage of land and sea area covered by biodiversity-inclusive spatial plans

Target 2

Ensure that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of areas of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine ecosystems are under effective restoration, in order to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, ecological integrity and connectivity.

Area under restoration (HI 10) Follow EU methodology 1,3,5,6,7

Target 3

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.

Coverage of protected areas and OECMs

% of land and sea covered by protected areas and OECMs.

Effective management metric to be defined by CBD

1

Target 4

Ensure urgent management actions to halt human induced extinction of known threatened species and for the recovery and conservation of species, in particular threatened species, to significantly reduce extinction risk, as well as to maintain and restore the genetic diversity within and between populations of native, wild and domesticated species to maintain their adaptive potential, including through in situ and ex situ conservation and sustainable management practices, and effectively manage human-wildlife interactions to minimize human-wildlife conflict for coexistence.

A.3 Species Red list Index

A.4 The proportion of populations within species with an effective population size > 500

Target 5

Ensure that the use, harvesting and trade of wild species is sustainable, safe and legal, preventing overexploitation, minimizing impacts on non-target species and ecosystems, and reducing the risk of pathogen spill-over, applying the ecosystem approach, while respecting and protecting customary sustainable use by indigenous peoples and local communities.

Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels (HI 12) Sustainability of fish stocks NPI 6

Target 6

Eliminate, minimize, reduce and or mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity and ecosystem services by identifying and managing pathways of the introduction of alien species, preventing the introduction and establishment of priority invasive alien species, reducing the rates of introduction and establishment of other known or potential invasive alien species by at least 50 per cent, by 2030, eradicating or controlling invasive alien species especially in priority sites, such as islands.

Rate of invasive alien species establishment

Target 7

Reduce pollution risks and the negative impact of pollution from all sources, by 2030, to levels that are not harmful to biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, considering cumulative effects, including:

  • reducing excess nutrients lost to the environment by at least half including through more efficient nutrient cycling and use;
  • reducing the overall risk from pesticides and highly hazardous chemicals by at least half including through integrated pest management, based on science, taking into account food security and livelihoods; and
  • also preventing, reducing, and working towards eliminating plastic pollution.

Index of coastal eutrophication potential (SDG 14.1.1a) (HI 13)

Pesticide environment concentration

Method: SDG 14.1.1a 6

Target 8

Minimize the impact of climate change and ocean acidification on biodiversity and increase its resilience through mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction actions, including through nature-based solution and/or ecosystem-based approaches, while minimizing negative and fostering positive impacts of climate action on biodiversity.

No additional dedicated HI proposed. HI 4, 5, 10, 11 & 17 are relevant. Use other component or complementary indicators or other national indicators.

Target 9

Ensure that the management and use of wild species are sustainable, thereby providing social, economic and environmental benefits for people, especially those in vulnerable situations and those most dependent on biodiversity, including through sustainable biodiversity-based activities, products and services that enhance biodiversity, and protecting and encouraging customary sustainable use by indigenous peoples and local communities.

Benefits from the sustainable use of wild species

Percentage of the population in traditional occupations

Target 10

Ensure that areas under agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and forestry are managed sustainably, in particular through the sustainable use of biodiversity, including through a substantial increase of the application of biodiversity friendly practices, such as sustainable intensification, agroecological and other innovative approaches contributing to the resilience and long-term efficiency and productivity of these production systems and to food security, conserving and restoring biodiversity and maintaining nature's contributions to people, including ecosystem functions and services.

Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture (SDG 2.4.1) (HI 14) Method; SDG 2.4.1. Updated UK and Scottish figures not yet available following method change by UN 5
Progress towards sustainable forest management (SDG 15.2.1(4,5)) (HI 15) SDG 15.2.1 for Scotland and UK 3

Target 11

Restore, maintain and enhance nature's contributions to people, including ecosystem functions and services, such as regulation of air, water, and climate, soil health, pollination and reduction of disease risk, as well as protection from natural hazards and disasters, through nature-based solutions and/or ecosystem-based approaches for the benefit of all people and nature.

Services provided by ecosystems

Target 12

Significantly increase the area and quality and connectivity of, access to, and benefits from green and blue spaces in urban and densely populated areas sustainably, by mainstreaming the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and ensure biodiversity-inclusive urban planning, enhancing native biodiversity, ecological connectivity and integrity, and improving human health and well-being and connection to nature and contributing to inclusive and sustainable urbanization and the provision of ecosystem functions and services.

Average share of the built-up area of cities that is green/blue space for public use for all (SDG 11.7.1) (HI 16) SDG 11.7.1 for Scotland and UK 4

Target 13

Take effective legal, policy, administrative and capacity-building measures at all levels, as appropriate, to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits that arise from the utilization of genetic resources and from digital sequence information on genetic resources, as well as traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, and facilitating appropriate access to genetic resources, and by 2030 facilitating a significant increase of the benefits shared, in accordance with applicable international access and benefit-sharing instruments.

Goal C indicators (HI 6 & 7) also apply to target 13.

Target 14

Ensure the full integration of biodiversity and its multiple values into policies, regulations, planning and development processes, poverty eradication strategies, strategic environmental assessments, environmental impact assessments and, as appropriate, national accounting, within and across all levels of government and across all sectors, in particular those with significant impacts on biodiversity, progressively aligning all relevant public and private activities, fiscal and financial flows with the goals and targets of this framework.

No additional dedicated HI proposed. HI 9, 19 & 20 are relevant. Use other relevant component or complementary indicators or other national indicators.

Target 15

Take legal, administrative or policy measures to encourage and enable business, and in particular to ensure that large and transnational companies and financial institutions:

(a) Regularly monitor, assess, and transparently disclose their risks, dependencies and impacts on biodiversity, including with requirements for all large as well as transnational companies and financial institutions along their operations, supply and value chains and portfolios;

(b) Provide information needed to consumers to promote sustainable consumption patterns;

(c) Report on compliance with access and benefit-sharing regulations and measures, as applicable;

in order to progressively reduce negative impacts on biodiversity, increase positive impacts, reduce biodiversity-related risks to business and financial institutions, and promote actions to ensure sustainable patterns of production.

Number of companies reporting on disclosures of risks, dependencies and impacts on biodiversity Corporate reporting currently reserved NA

Target 16

Ensure that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives, and by 2030, reduce the global footprint of consumption in an equitable manner, including through halving global food waste, significantly reducing overconsumption and substantially reducing waste generation, in order for all people to live well in harmony with Mother Earth.

No additional dedicated HI proposed. Use other relevant component or complementary indicators or other national indicators See HI5

Target 17

Establish, strengthen capacity for, and implement in all countries in biosafety measures as set out in Article 8(g) of the Convention on Biological Diversity and measures for the handling of biotechnology and distribution of its benefits as set out in Article 19 of the Convention.

No additional dedicated HI proposed. Use other relevant component or complementary indicators or other national indicators.

Target 18

Identify by 2025, and eliminate, phase out or reform incentives, including subsidies, harmful for biodiversity, in a proportionate, just, fair, effective and equitable way, while substantially and progressively reducing them by at least 500 billion United States dollars per year by 2030, starting with the most harmful incentives, and scale up positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Value of subsidies and other incentives harmful to biodiversity that have been eliminated, phased out or reformed Value of direct and indirect subsidies to activities harmful to biodiversity
Positive incentives in place to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use (HI 20) Value of direct and indirect subsidies to activities which promote biodiversity & sustainable use

Target 19

Substantially and progressively increase the level of financial resources from all sources, in an effective, timely and easily accessible manner, including domestic, international, public and private resources, in accordance with Article 20 of the Convention, to implement national biodiversity strategies and action plans, by 2030 mobilizing at least 200 billion United States dollars per year, including by:

(a) Increasing total biodiversity related international financial resources from developed countries, including official development assistance, and from countries that voluntarily assume obligations of developed country Parties, to developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as countries with economies in transition, to at least US$ 20 billion per year by 2025, and to at least US$ 30 billion per year by 2030;

(b) Significantly increasing domestic resource mobilization, facilitated by the preparation and implementation of national biodiversity finance plans or similar instruments according to national needs, priorities and circumstances;

(c) Leveraging private finance, promoting blended finance, implementing strategies for raising new and additional resources, and encouraging the private sector to invest in biodiversity, including through impact funds and other instruments;

(d) Stimulating innovative schemes such as payment for ecosystem services, green bonds, biodiversity offsets and credits, benefit-sharing mechanisms, with environmental and social safeguards;

(e) Optimizing co-benefits and synergies of finance targeting the biodiversity and climate crises;

Goal D indicators (HI 8 & 9) apply to target 19 HI 19 & 20 are also relevant.

No additional dedicated HI proposed. Use other relevant HI, component and complementary indicators and national indicators. Possible binary/checklist indicator

(f) Enhancing the role of collective actions, including by indigenous peoples and local communities, Mother Earth centric actions and non-market-based approaches including community based natural resource management and civil society cooperation and solidarity aimed at the conservation of biodiversity; and

(g) Enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency and transparency of resource provision and use.

Target 20

Strengthen capacity-building and development, access to and transfer of technology, and promote development of and access to innovation and technical and scientific cooperation, including through SouthSouth, North-South and triangular cooperation, to meet the needs for effective implementation, particularly in developing countries, fostering joint technology development and joint scientific research programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and strengthening scientific research and monitoring capacities, commensurate with the ambition of the goals and targets of the framework.

No additional dedicated HI proposed. Use other relevant HI, component and complementary indicators and other national indicators.

Target 21

Ensure that the best available data, information and knowledge, are accessible to decision makers, practitioners and the public to guide effective and equitable governance, integrated and participatory management of biodiversity, and to strengthen communication, awareness-raising, education, monitoring, research and knowledge management and, also in this context, traditional knowledge, innovations, practices and technologies of indigenous peoples and local communities should only be accessed with their free, prior and informed consent, in accordance with national legislation.

Indicator on biodiversity information for monitoring the Kunming-Montreal Global

Biodiversity Framework

SDG 1.4.2 for UK, no Scotland breakout available. Indicator under development

Target 22

Ensure the full, equitable, inclusive, effective and gender-responsive representation and participation in decision-making, and access to justice and information related to biodiversity by indigenous peoples and local communities, respecting their cultures and their rights over lands, territories,resources, and traditional knowledge, as well as by women and girls, children and youth, and persons with disabilities and ensure the full protection of environmental human rights defenders.

No additional dedicated HI proposed. Binary/tick-list indicator: No. of countries with legal framework guaranteeing women's equal rights to land ownership and/or control (SDG 5.a.2)

Target 23

Ensure gender equality in the implementation of the framework through a gender-responsive approach where all women and girls have equal opportunity and capacity to contribute to the three objectives of the Convention, including by recognizing their equal rights and access to land and natural resources and their full, equitable, meaningful and informed participation and leadership at all levels of action, engagement, policy and decision-making related to biodiversity.

Proposed EU Nature Restoration Law Targets

1. targets based on existing legislation (for each of the following habitats: improving and re-establishing biodiverse habitats on a large scale, and bringing back species populations by improving and enlarging their habitats)

1.1. wetlands,

1.2. forests,

1.3. grasslands,

1.4. river and lakes,

1.5. heath & scrub,

1.6. rocky habitats and

1.7. dunes) -

2. pollinating insects –

2.1. reversing the decline of pollinator populations by 2030; and

2.2. achieving an increasing trend for pollinator populations, with a methodology for regular monitoring of pollinators.

3. forest ecosystems –

3.1. achieving an increasing trend for standing and lying deadwood;

3.2. uneven aged forests;

3.3. forest connectivity;

3.4. abundance of common forest birds ;and

3.5. stock of organic carbon.

4. urban ecosystems –

4.1. no net loss of green urban space by 2030; and

4.2. an increase in the total area covered by green urban space by 2040 and 2050.

5. agricultural ecosystems –

5.1. increasing grassland butterflies;

5.2. increasing farmland birds;

5.3. the stock of organic carbon in cropland mineral soil (tonnes of organic carbon/ha);

5.4. the share of agricultural land with high-diversity landscape features; and

5.5. restoring drained peatlands under agricultural use.

6. marine ecosystems –

6.1. restoring marine habitats such as seagrass beds or sediment bottoms that deliver significant benefits, including for climate change mitigation; and

6.2. restoring the habitats of iconic marine species such as dolphins and porpoises, sharks and seabirds.

7. river connectivity –

7.1. identifying and removing barriers that prevent the connectivity of surface waters, so that at least 25 000 km of rivers are restored to a free-flowing state by 2030

Contact

Email: biodiversityconsultation@gov.scot

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