Climate change - Scottish National Adaptation Plan: annual progress report 2024-2025

Nature Connects (NC)

SNAP3 Outcome: Nature connects across our land, settlements, coasts and seas

This section presents policy delivery progress against the SNAP3 Nature Connects (NC) outcome. We know climate change is the biggest threat to Scotland’s wildlife and habitats; and nature is one of the best tools we have to help our communities, places and businesses adapt to the changing climate. The Nature Connects (NC) chapter centres on six delivery objectives that use nature to build climate resilience across Scotland’s communities, places and landscapes.

During the reporting period:

• The Biodiversity Investment Plan, released in February 2025, sets out six key actions to enhance investment in nature restoration, complementing the Natural Capital Market Framework. The Nature Restoration Fund, in its final year, has fulfilled its £65 million investment commitment. An evaluation of the first 3 years of the NRF, to be published later this year, will highlight nearly 800 projects benefiting from £35.5 million, unlocking a further £7.1 million in match funding.
• Efforts to restore soils and landscapes are expanding, with NatureScot identifying landscape-scale nature restoration projects and ClimateXChange setting out a Soils Route Map, outlining actions for a coordinated approach to healthy soils. Local Development Plans are evolving, with a full suite expected by 2028. Nature networks are being mapped across Scotland, supported by new tools and resources for local authorities.
• Scotland’s Land Use Strategy is undergoing development, with a fourth iteration expected in 2026. Regional Land Use Partnerships are being formalised in four regions following a successful pilot program, providing locally governed approaches to land use that support national sustainability goals. The planned Land Use and Agriculture Just Transition Plan will support rural communities by fostering economic opportunities, improving health and environmental outcomes, and ensuring fair access to benefits like green jobs and skills development.
• The draft National Marine Plan 2, along with three Regional Marine Plans for Shetland, Orkney, and the Clyde, is under development. Following public consultation on the Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan, a final version is planned for summer 2025. Scottish Government has supported evidence reviews on climate impacts on aquaculture and ocean acidification in addition to a policy brief on climate impacts on aquaculture. Additionally, the Invasive Non-Native Species Action Plan is scheduled for publication in 2025-26, aiming to reduce the introduction and spread of invasive non-native species and protect ecosystems.
• Scotland is strengthening its natural carbon stores through forestry, peatland restoration, and marine conservation. In 2023-24, 15,000 hectares of woodland were created, including 7,700 hectares of native trees, with resilience planning underway. Peatland restoration is progressing, with 14,860 hectares restored in 2024-25 and £35.5 million committed towards a target of restoring at least 12,000 hectares in 2025-26. The Blue Carbon Action Plan will be published in summer 2025, with funding announcements for new research.
• Details on Forestry Scotland’s Routemap to Resilience, launched in March 2025 are covered in the Economy, Business and Industry Outcome below.

NC1.1 – Extent of green-blue land cover in urban areas

Description: This indicator shows the total accessible and non-accessible greenspaces^[1] (woodland, open semi-natural, inland water, beach or foreshore) in urban areas in Scotland^[2].

Data source: Ordnance Survey

Ambition: Maintaining or increasing over time

In 2024 there were 259.5101 (km²) of greenspace in urban areas in Scotland, similar to levels in 2023. This represents an increase over time since 2019, when there was 242.2748 (km²) of urban greenspace.

Green-blue land cover in urban areas reflects the extent of natural spaces in cities that provide crucial ecosystem services. It is relevant for climate adaptation as it captures how well cities are prepared to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change, making urban environments more sustainable and liveable. Urban greenspace contributes to temperature regulation during hot weather, biodiversity and wellbeing and flood resilience through water flow and run-off regulation.

NC1.2 – Proportion of adults who live within a five-minute walk of their nearest green or blue space

Description: This indicator shows the proportion of adults in Scotland living within a five-minute walking distance of their nearest green or blue space

Data source: Scottish Household Survey

Ambition: Increasing over time

This figure was broadly the same between 2022 and 2023 (from 70% to 68%; not statistically significant). Tests of statistical significance have been performed for differences between years.

This data is an estimate, based on self-reported survey data. The survey question is framed in terms of how long the respondent thinks it would take the interviewer (not interviewee) to walk to the nearest green or blue space to avoid variation due to differences in the ability to walk of interviewee.

As well as providing emotional and wellbeing benefits for people accessing them, local green space can contribute to temperature regulation during hot weather, brings biodiversity benefits and can improve flood resilience through water flow and run-off regulation.

NC2.1 – Newly protected land and marine features

Description: This indicator shows the number of hectares of newly protected land and marine features across Scotland

Data source: NatureScot

Ambition: Annual increase, maintained over time

In 2024 there was a reduction in the area of terrestrial features protected of 30.54 hectares in 2024. There was no net change in the hectares of protected marine or mixes features across Scotland. This is relative to 5,230,055 hectares of terrestrial protected areas and 17,636,743 hectares of marine protected areas.

Terrestrial and Marine areas which are protected are likely to be in better ecological condition and therefore contributing more to Scotland’s resilience to climate impacts.

NC2.2 – Hectares of Scotland’s protected features in favourable condition

Description: This indicator shows the number of hectares of protected features in favourable condition across Scotland as assessed by NatureScot’s Site Condition Monitoring (SCM) programme. This indicator shows the efforts to improve the condition of natural features in protected sites as they will ensure terrestrial habitats are in good ecological health in Scotland. This indicator relates to the quality of natural habitats

Data source: NatureScot

Ambition: Increasing over time

At March 31st 2025 75.2% of Scotland’s protected features were in favourable condition.

This data included demonstrates the reported condition of natural features (species, habitats and earth science) in protected sites across Scotland. This includes features assessed as favourable, unfavourable recovering and unfavourable recovering due to management. These efforts will help to ensure terrestrial habitats are in good ecological health in Scotland.

NC3.1 – Number of Local Development Plans adopted by local authorities since National Planning Framework 4 publication

Description: This indicator measures the number of Local Development Plans adopted by local authorities in Scotland since National Planning Framework 4 publication in 2023

Data source: Scottish Government

Ambition: Increasing over time

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) sets out the Scottish Government’s long-term planning strategy for working towards a net-zero, climate resilient Scotland by 2045. The framework sets out how we plan for the future of our places and communities, placing the twin crises of climate change and nature loss at the front of our thinking.

NPF4 forms part of the statutory development plan, along with the Local Delivery Plan (LDP) applicable to the area at that time. LDPs are prepared by planning authorities and they support place-based adaptation measures and associated development planning. In the preparation of LDPs, planning authorities must take into account the National Planning Framework 4.

Scottish Government is working with a number of planning authorities progressing with preparation of their new LDPs. As of October 2024, six Local Development Plan Evidence Reports have been submitted by planning authorities to Gate Check (the conclusion of the evidence gathering stage), and decisions have been issued on the sufficiency of four of these. Two Evidence Reports were judged sufficient, and two insufficient. LDP preparation includes three key stages Evidence Gathering, Plan Preparation and Delivery.

Details of the monitoring of LDP delivery can be found in the NPF4 Delivery Programme.

NC4.1 – Number of nature networks across Scotland

Description: This indicator measures the number of local authorities reporting having spatially identified nature network(s) in their local authority area

Data source: Scottish Government

Ambition: Increasing over time

As of 2024, 4 (or 12.5%) of 32 Local Authorities reported having spatially identified nature network(s) across their local authority area, with an additional one in progress.

A Nature Network connects together nature-rich sites including restoration areas and other environmental projects. This will include nationally important sites contributing towards Scotland’s 30x30 target (the commitment to protect 30% of our land and seas for nature by 2030) alongside areas that are of local importance for biodiversity and people.

Nature networks are an important mechanism for restoring and protecting nature by ensuring ecological connectivity, providing benefits to wildlife and local people. Habitats that are better connected provide more climate resilience for Scotland.

NC4.2 – Abundance of terrestrial species

Description: This indicator shows the percentage change in terrestrial species abundance across Scotland since 1994

Data source: NatureScot

Ambition: Maintaining or increasing over time

From 1994 to 2019^[4], the average abundance of 337 species of bird, mammals, butterflies and moths was stable. Average abundance shows peaks in 1995, 2004, 2010 and 2019. Between 2016 and 2019 the indicator increased by 14%.

Climate change is a significant and growing threat to biodiversity globally (IPBES 2019), and its impact is being increasingly detected in Scotland and its seas. The effects are many, and varied, with a mixed impact in biodiversity; presently, at least, many species are benefiting. For example, species are shifting ranges northwards, through Scotland, with consequent increases in abundance and range for birds such as nuthatches (Gillings et al. 2015)^[5] and butterflies including ringlets (Fox et al. 2015)^[6]. The species occupancy and abundance indicators in the SNAP3 framework provide an assessment of changes in biodiversity over time. A trend towards milder winters may have resulted in improved survival for bird species such as goldfinches. For many species, the influence of climate change may be serving to soften the impact of land-use changes and other adverse environmental changes. However, species with their southern range limits in Scotland, and those associated with cold montane habitats where, for example, duration of snow-lie is decreasing, are likely to undergo range contraction and possibly even extinction from Scotland (ASC 2016). Further threats arise from increased frequency and severity of storms and other extreme weather events, and the impact of sea-level rise on vulnerable coastal habitats.

NC4.3 – Occupancy of terrestrial species

Description: This indicator shows the percentage change in species occupancy across Scotland since 1994

Data source: NatureScot

Ambition: Increasing over time

Species occupancy represents the number of sites where a species is present. From 1994 to 2016^[7], the average occupancy of 2,466 species of invertebrate, lichen and bryophyte increased by 24%. Between 2015 and 2016 the indicator was stable.

As with the species abundance indicators, this indicator provides an indicator of changes to biodiversity in Scotland over time.

More detailed information on the species abundance and occupancy indicators can be found in NatureScot’s 2022 publication.

NC5.1 – Abundance of marine species

Description: This indicator shows the percentage change in marine species abundance in Scotland since 1994

Data source: NatureScot

Ambition: Increasing over time

From 1994 to 2019^[8], the average abundance of 14 species of breeding seabird fell by 41%, with most of the decline occurring between 2000 and 2010. Between 2016 and 2019 the indicator declined by 8%.

In marine ecosystems climate change is having rapid and widespread effects through warming waters, salinity changes, acidification and seasonal stratification (MCCIP 2020). The impact of climate change is being felt through marine food webs, with changes in phytoplankton, feeding through to zooplankton (in which rapid northward shifts in range have been detected) to fish and top predators including large fish, seabirds and marine mammals. Declines in seabirds such as Kittiwakeshave been linked to climate change impacts upon food webs including key prey species such as Sandeels (Carrol et al. 2017)^[9].

NC6.1 – Hectares of restored peatland

Description: This indicator shows the hectares of restored peatland in Scotland in each financial year

Data source: NatureScot Peatland Action

Ambition: Increasing or maintained over time

The area of peatland restored in each year has increased since 2022. 5,631 hectares of peatland were restored in 2022, with this rising to 14,860 in 2024.

The Scottish Government has committed £250 million over 10 years to restore 250,000 hectares of degraded peatlands by 2030. To date, an estimated 90,000 hectares have been restored, with 14,860 hectares restored in 2024-25. The Scottish Budget 2025-26 commits £35.5 million towards peatland restoration. With this funding the Scottish Government has a target to restore at least 12,000 hectares in 2025-26.

Peatland restoration is crucial for climate resilience, providing ecosystem services such as capturing and storing water and carbon. There are numerous other co-benefits to society, including increasing biodiversity, improving water quality, and reducing risks of flooding and wildfires. Note that it can take several years before the benefits of peatland restoration are realised following restoration work. Some inferred adaptation benefits of healthy, resilient peatlands include:

• Healthy, rewetted peatlands are more resilient to climate impacts like droughts and can continue acting as carbon sinks rather than sources.
• Peatlands filter and improve water quality in their catchments. Restoring them helps maintain clean drinking water supplies in the face of climate impacts like droughts or contamination.
• Healthy and restored peatland help regulate water flow. Healthy peatlands with intact vegetation help prevent soil erosion, increasing resilience against climate change effects like intense rainfall.
• Peatlands are naturally wetter areas because of the higher water table. The wetter ground can help stop the spread of fires during droughts and dryer periods.
• Restoring peatlands protects their cultural significance and enables continued recreational opportunities like hiking, supporting community resilience.

NC6.2 – Woodland creation

Description: This indicator shows the hectares of all woodland in Scotland created each year

Data source: Woodland Statistics (via Forest Research)

Ambition: Increasing over time

In 2023-24 15,000 ha of woodland was created in Scotland, which was the highest level in 34 years. Native woodland planting was at 7,700 ha, the highest since 2001.

Over 33,700 hectares of new woodland (67.4 million trees) has been planted in Scotland over the last 3 years – around 71% of all new planting in the UK. 99% of this planting was supported by the Forestry Grant Scheme or delivered directly by Forest and Land Scotland.

Increasing the number of trees in Scotland can support climate adaptation in a number of ways. These include increasing resilience to flooding, cooling the air and increasing biodiversity.

NC6.3 – Area of forest and woodland registered under the Woodland Carbon Code

Description: This indicator shows the area of forest and woodland registered in Scotland under the Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) in Hectares over time

Data source: Woodland Statistics (via Forest Research)

Ambition: Increasing over time

The area of forest and woodland registered under the Woodland Carbon Code has increased year on year since 2020. There was a steep rise between 2021 and 2022 from 25,186 hectares to 49,563 hectares. As of 2024, 66,929 hectares of forest and woodland has been registered under the code.

The number of projects delivering woodland projects covered by the Woodland Carbon code has similarly increased since 2020. In 2020 157 projects were recorded, with this increasing to 914 by 2024.

The Woodland Carbon Code is the quality assurance standard for UK woodland creation projects which address climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It encourages increased creation and supporting of woodland projects across the UK.