Scottish Government biodiversity duty report 2021-2023

3. Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services

3.1 Introductory information

RESAS – Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Services is the Scottish Government’s Division which provides advice and support to the Agricultural and Rural Economy (ARE) Directorate and the Environment and Forestry (ENFOR) Directorate. It funds and carries out a wide range of research, science and analysis and advises Scottish Ministers on issues arising in these policy areas.

3.2 Actions to protect and enhance biodiversity

RESAS played a key role in the development of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) 2022-2045. The RESAS science advice unit (SAU) oversaw the Biodiversity Programme Advisory Group (PAG), a group of independent external experts who provide advice and recommendations for the SBS programme. From 2021-2023 this included advice on the vision and outcomes in the strategy and undertaking a logic modelling exercise to develop the initial list of action that formed the basis of the first SBS delivery plan. The PAG also started a new programme of work to provide recommendations for the development of statutory nature restoration targets in the forthcoming Natural Environment Bill. Science advisors within SAU have also been directly advising the biodiversity policy unit on the development of the SBS.

Social researchers within the RESAS Environment Analysis Unit (EAU) undertook an extensive engagement exercise with a wide range of policy teams and SG agencies on the long list of actions developed by the PAG for the first SBS delivery plan. The Environment Analysis Unit also manages a portfolio of analysis on natural capital and recently reported that Natural capital reliant industries are estimated to support at least around £40bn in economic output and around 260,000 jobs in Scotland. This concluded that policy makers should recognise the non-market and social value of nature and communicate the benefits along with traditional economic data. Habitats that provide ecosystem services that are not substitutable by man-made solutions should be prioritised for protection and environmental management and in development policies.

The Agriculture, Food and Drink Analytical Unit within RESAS has played a key analytical role in the ongoing development of the Scottish Government’s Agricultural Reform Programme (ARP) which has strategic outcomes on nature restoration to improve Scotland’s biodiversity.

3.3 Mainstreaming biodiversity

Addressing biodiversity loss is a key strategic driver of the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) Research Strategy: Strategy for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Research 2022-2027. A core thematic area of our strategy, Theme D Natural Resources, has a number of sub-topics that are relevant to addressing biodiversity loss including a specific research topic on biodiversity.

A biodiversity indicator is included in Scotland’s National Performance Framework which allows tracking of progress across all priority policy areas – and this is also reported in the Environment Strategy monitoring framework. RESAS provides regular updates on the environmental indicators.

3.4 Nature-based solutions, climate change and biodiversity

3.4.1 Climate change related challenges over the next three years

Our primary biodiversity related challenge will be completing the biodiversity and climate change relevant research that we have funded as part of the ENRA Strategic Research Programme. In addition to this, we will be developing our next research strategy for ENRA (covering period 2027-2032) that will be developed, consulted on and published within the next reporting cycle.

Research that we have funded as part of our strategic research programme on the impact of climate change on natural capital has highlighted potential impacts under future climate projections related to increased water stress for multiple species and habitats, increased species competition for water and nutrients and increased fire danger amongst others.

3.5 Public engagement and workforce development

While RESAS does not have a direct public engagement and workforce development function much of the work that we fund through our Strategic Research Programme is disseminated to a wider audience by the researchers and institutes working on the programme.

Through the environment strategy monitoring framework RESAS contributes towards the biodiversity indicator, this is communicated through the Environment Strategy Monitoring Framework dashboard.

3.6 Research and monitoring

3.6.1 Research activities

The Scottish Government invests in science, including biodiversity research through the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Strategic Research Programme (SRP) 2022-2027. Within the SRP there are a wide range of projects that are delivering high quality research that help develop our understanding and awareness of biodiversity. Specifically, the Natural Resources theme (Theme D) within the programme funds research projects on air quality, water, soils, biodiversity and natural capital, all of which are directly improving our understanding of biodiversity. There are also projects within some of the other themes that aid our understanding of biodiversity including: use of outdoors and greenspace, large scale modelling, land use, climate change, livestock improvement, plant disease and improving agricultural practice.

Selected (but not all) research projects within our SRP that relate to biodiversity include:

• People and Nature – Identifying and evaluating interventions, research approaches and processes which can facilitate transformative change in how biodiversity in Scotland is framed, valued, managed, and governed.
• Identifying the causes of biodiversity change with specific references to the Intergovernmental Science-policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services drivers - identifying how the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) direct drivers affect key parts of Scotland’s biodiversity.
• Scotland’s biodiversity: people, data and monitoring - addressing deficiencies in data and recording infrastructure of Scottish biodiversity enabling improved identification of drivers, hotspots and uniqueness.
• Habitat management and restoration - assessing how specific land uses and management activities affect biodiversity and ecosystem services to inform land use policy.
• Protected areas to tackle biodiversity loss now, and for the future - understanding how protected areas can best conserve biodiversity under current and future climates.
• Seeking multiple benefits from natural carbon stores in the uplands - exploring the relationship between carbon storage, biodiversity conservation and flood mitigation in upland habitats to detect synergies and trade-offs and identifies land management practices that optimise the benefits to be gained.
• Assessing the impact of changing migratory patterns and population size of greylag geese on livestock and public health - investigating microbial risks carried by wildlife species whose distribution and abundance is affected by climate change.
• Climate change impacts on natural capital - developing a Risk and Opportunities Assessment Framework to assess Natural Capital assets and impacts of climate change, by integrating multiple (quantitative and qualitative) data, to identify risk asset types and consequences on capacity for Nature-based Solutions.
• Synthesis of natural capital and valuation outcomes - identifying emerging research on natural capital metrics and values from across Scottish Government research in areas including greenspace, water, soils, and biodiversity.
• Achieving multi-purpose nature-based solutions - assessing and enhancing water-related ecosystem services of Nature-Based Solutions in catchments. The project explores how NBS can work across multiple sectors and scales to achieve transformative change.
• Nitrogen deposition impacts in natural ecosystems - examining the impacts of nitrogen deposition on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in Scottish natural habitats and the interactions between nitrogen impacts and climate change.

In addition to the SRP, RESAS has also funded biodiversity related work under our Responsive Research Fund, Underpinning National Capacity and Centres of Expertise. A selection of projects either commissioned or completed in the reporting period include:

• Two British Ecological Society fellowships commissioned for early career researchers with projects funded on regenerative agriculture and agricultural measures to improve biodiversity.
• Underpinning national capacity call down projects on the impacts of grazing on livestock and the implications of not controlling bracken with the pesticide asulam.
• Multiple relevant Centre of Expertise projects across a number of the centres including CREW, CxC and the Plant Health Centre.

A biodiversity indicator is included in Scotland’s National Performance Framework which allows tracking of progress across all priority policy areas – and this is also reported in the Environment Strategy monitoring framework. RESAS provides regular updates on the environmental indicators.

3.7 Biodiversity highlights and challenges

3.7.1 Main achievements

Within the reporting period RESAS has published its research strategy 2022-2027 and commissioned an extensive range of research on biodiversity through the strategic research programme, responsive research fund, underpinning national capacity and centres of expertise.

RESAS has also played a key role in pulling together the evidence for and advising on the development of Scotland’s Biodiversity Strategy 2022-2045 either through the biodiversity PAG or directly from each of the different units within RESAS.

3.7.2 Main challenges in the next three years

Over the next three years RESAS will be developing, consulting on and publishing the next ENRA research strategy.

RESAS will continue to play a role in providing analytical support and advice to policy on biodiversity, which is likely to become more prominent as biodiversity is mainstreamed across a wider set of policy areas. This might place more pressure on RESAS’ resources and budget given the wide remit that RESAS has.

Biodiversity is complex and identifying what is best for biodiversity is often a challenge. RESAS will continue to support policy with analysis, evidence and advice on biodiversity through messaging that is clear, simple and as actionable as possible.