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Where does SNH stand on some key issues?

Caring for nature

Biodiversity

Scotland has some of the best wild areas and most iconic species in the whole of Europe.  Scotland’s biodiversity is a vital part of our natural and cultural heritage that enriches and underpins our lives – the air we breathe, the water we use and the soil we grow our food in all depend on it.

The top-level target for biodiversity within the European Union is “halting the loss of biodiversity by the year 2010”.  A key target for SNH is to contribute to the delivery of the EU target and we do this particularly through our Biodiversity Action Programme as well as the wider range of our work.

Our biodiversity work is largely set by three main drivers:

However, our biodiversity work is much wider than this and includes a range of other work such as protecting sites and providing advice on species (see section B3), advising on development proposals (see section B5) and promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity. All of this work is helping Scotland and the UK meet commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the 2010 biodiversity target.

Our biodiversity agenda and that of Scotland as a whole are largely now coincident, with SNH driving elements of the Scottish process. However, SNH still has its own role in delivering action for UKBAP priority habitats and species and under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.  Work on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan has now been devolved to the various countries and they now have their own frameworks for action.

The structure for delivering biodiversity action in Scotland now integrates the devolved UKBAP responsibilities with those arising from the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy:

For further information contact Brigid.Primrose@snh.gov.uk
01463 725251

Species Action Framework

Scotland boasts a rich range of species - some 90,000 different animals, plants and fungi inhabit Scotland's land and sea.  The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy sets out what needs to be done over the next 25 years to conserve and enhance this biodiversity.

Our priority is to focus on those species where significant gains can be secured.  To help do this, SNH has produced a Species Action Framework which identifies a list of 32 species where new, focused effort and resources over the next five years can make the most difference.

The Framework highlights four situations when species management is needed:

For further information contact Martin.Gaywood@snh.gov.uk

01463 725230

Rural development contracts and Natural Care Schemes

The Scottish Government, together with Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland, has developed Rural Priorities-Rural Development Contracts as part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme.   The contracts will replace previous agri-environment schemes, such as the Rural Stewardship Scheme and ESA, and were launched early in 2008.

We currently offer funding to land managers of SSSIs and Natura sites. Much of this comes through our Natural Care  incentive schemes  which are available on a wide range of sites, and some through individual management agreements.

Our current system of support for SSSI and Natura land managers will be largely integrated into the new Rural Development Contracts system. This will allow most land managers to have a single contract across all their land, instead of separate contracts with the Scottish Government, Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage. Integration will start in 2009 and take place over the next few years. Whilst many Natural Care schemes will remain open for application until autumn 2008 we will, beyond this point, only enter into agreements on SSSIs and Natura sites in exceptional circumstances.

In most cases, Rural Development Contracts will offer similar support to that currently available through Natural Care schemes.  We will still be able to offer direct funding in special circumstances where an SSSI or Natura site requires management measures which are not available through the Rural Development Contracts system.

For further information contact: Jenny.johnson@snh.gov.uk
01786 435393

Outdoor learning and A Curriculum for Excellence

The Scottish Government’s new approach to school education, ‘A Curriculum for Excellence’, sets out four purposes of education: successful learner, confident individual, responsible citizen, effective contributor.  A Curriculum for Excellence also recognises that learning is embedded in experience, and learning is enriched by different settings, including the outdoors.  

Learning outdoors gives young people the chance to learn more about themselves, the natural world and their relationship with it.  For SNH, taking learning outdoors gives us the opportunity to promote understanding of the natural heritage, and to build enthusiasm for enjoying and caring for it.  The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy also identifies first hand experience of the natural world as forming the foundation for people’s commitment to biodiversity.

Key elements of our approach are:

Contact:  rachel.hellings@snh.gov.uk
01738 458638

Volunteering

Environmental volunteering provides opportunities for people to:

Research published by SNH in 2006 shows that over 23,000 people in Scotland are already involved in environmental volunteering. We are working to increase the number of people involved in volunteering and the number of volunteering opportunities that are available  For example, we:

We published a policy statement on environmental volunteering in 2008, and will continue to work with a range of partners to develop a vibrant culture of environmental volunteering in Scotland.

For further information contact Scott.Ferguson@snh.gov.uk
0141 951 0825

Responding to climate change

Climate change

SNH views climate change as the most serious threat over coming decades to Scotland’s natural heritage.  The climate in Scotland is changing and this will have an effect on our natural heritage.

We are working to help deliver Scotland's Climate Change Programme, Changing our Ways.

Our response so far has included:

Our research and development strategy sets out three research priorities:

We intend to develop our approach to addressing climate change in 2008, working with others to identify where we should focus our efforts.

For further information contact John.Baxter@snh.gov.uk
0131 316 2610

Renewable energy

SNH views climate change as one of the most serious threats over coming decades to Scotland’s natural heritage. 

We therefore strongly support the development of renewable energy if it replaces the burning of fossil fuels.  Our roles are mainly to:

To help us do this, we:

Since 2001, we have responded to over 150 renewables proposals.  We have supported around 75% of these, some without reservation and some subject to conditions relating to the natural heritage. 

We believe that the Executive’s target of 50% renewable electricity by 2020 can be met, largely through onshore wind and existing large-scale hydro schemes, though not without a significant cumulative impact on some of Scotland’s upland landscapes.   We believe that meeting higher targets will be dependent on bringing forward offshore technologies such as wave and tidal stream power and offshore wind.

For further information contact  jane.clark@snh.gov.uk

0131 316 2640

Delivering health and well-being

Access and enjoying the outdoors

Enjoying the outdoors is important to many people in Scotland. It can also help deliver many social, economic and environmental benefits, from more sustainable travel and increased tourism to better health and quality of life. Encouraging participation, promoting responsible outdoor access and supporting sustainable development are key to realising these benefits.

In 2007, SNH has produced a policy statement, Enjoying The Outdoors, which sets out our vision and key priorities.  These priorities are that:

Along with the national Access Forum, we played a key role in developing the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.  Since 2004, we’ve been promoting awareness of the Code, which has increased from under 7% of the Scottish population to over 60%.  We established and continue to fund the Paths for All Partnership, who provide advice, training and support to help the development and use of local path networks.

To support Government effort to increase participation, key priorities over the next 3 years are:

We are also supporting the provision, management and further development of infrastructure, such as local path networks, national and regional routes, local nature reserves, country parks and regional parks, and associated ranger services. We are also continuing to support the successful implementation of the access legislation (the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003) and supporting increased visitor use of our National National Reserves.

For further information contact peter.rawcliffe@snh.gov.uk
01738 458624

Landscapes

The diversity of Scotland’s landscapes is described as a “national treasure” in the National Planning Framework and they are a key resource for our tourism industry.

SNHs Landscape Policy Framework sets out our approach to landscape issues. Our priorities are to:

In 2006, we established the Scottish Landscape Forum, a group of bodies with a common interest in Scotland’s landscapes. Its initial work focused on the implications of the UK signing the European Landscape Convention, and has proposed to Ministers a set of actions for enhancing care of this ‘national treasure’.  The Forum is currently preparing a statement of landscape principles and priorities to promote what needs to be done for Scotland’s landscapes, and has developed the PlaceBook Scotland project as a way of raising awareness and promoting interest in sense of place.

For further information contact Simon.Brooks@snh.gov.uk
01463 725315

Health benefits of outdoor recreation

Scotland’s nature and landscapes are an outstanding resource which provides opportunities for people to get more active, helps people to escape from the hustle of modern living and gives people the opportunity to ‘recharge’ their batteries.  In short, outdoor recreation delivers significant health benefits at very low cost.

The Scottish Government’s objectives for a healthier Scotland will be more achievable if people have regular opportunities for exercise, relaxation and active travel in the outdoors. To help address health inequalities, targeting of effort on certain groups of people and specific parts of Scotland is required.  SNH can help the health sector address these challenges through its work to promote better places and increase involvement in the care and enjoyment of the natural heritage

In 2007, 80% population made at least one visit to the outdoors and 44% visited at least once a week for leisure and recreation purposes.  74% of visits involved the use of paths and 49% of visits involved the use of paths with signposting or waymarking. Encouraging more people to get out and enjoy the outdoors is a key aim of our new policy statement, Enjoying The Outdoors.

The main outdoor recreation activity is walking, which requires no particular skills or equipment and can be done informally by anyone. Paths to Health is a major Programme within the Path for All Partnership and is a key agent in delivering Scotland’s Physical Activity Strategy.  Paths to Health targets the most inactive and those suffering greatest health inequalities in Scotland. Key features of the initiative are:

For further information contact Ron.McCraw@snh.gov.uk
01786 435394

Greenspace and Green Networks

The majority of people in Scotland live in towns and cities.  SNH is working hard to improve the quality of the environment, for people and wildlife, in these places.   

Our goal is to ensure that everyone living and working in urban Scotland has easy access to quality greenspaces. Between 2002 and 2007, a key part of our work was to lead and core fund a partnership initiative with local authorities and others.  Over the 5 years, we provided £7 million towards greenspace action and this has supported projects worth almost £30 million. 

Key themes in this work are to: 

One of our main achievements has been to establish, with our partners, Greenspace Scotland. This is a federation of greenspace partnerships, such as Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network, Dundee Partnership for the Environment and the Central Scotland Forest Trust.  Members of the Greenspace Scotland network include local authorities, developers, housing associations and other greenspace interests. Its role is to facilitate a step change in the creation and sustainable management of quality greenspace. 

SNH and its partners reviewed the greenspace initiative in 2006.  The review concluded that greenspace must become part of the “mainstream” of public policy in Scotland.  The work of Greenspace Scotland is currently funded directly by the Scottish Government.

The new National Planning Framework (NPF 2), Scottish Planning Policy 11 Open Space and Physical Activity and Planning Advice Note 65 Planning and Open Space support the creation of green networks, including greenspace, connecting our inner urban areas with surrounding rural areas to provide a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits. We are now focusing on work with partners to develop and deliver the proposals in NPF 2 to establish green networks including the Central Scotland Green Network.

For further information contact Ian.Angus@snh.gov.uk
0141 951 0843

Community learning and development

Community learning and development (CLD) is part of the Scottish Government’s approach to lifelong learning.  The main aim is to help individuals and communities tackle real issues in their lives through community action and community-based learning. 

SNH is working with the Learning Connections team within the Scottish Government to identify the best ways of ensuring that the natural heritage is incorporated into CLD programmes.  One result of this work is a research report, Reviewing the Natural Heritage Content of Community Learning and Development Programmes.

We produced a joint publication with Communities Scotland on good practice, Practice Examples: Community Learning and Development and the Natural Heritage.  We have also run a regional event with local community learning and development partnerships in South West Scotland focussing on building relationships between community education workers and people working on biodiversity, access and other environmental activities.

We are now working with the Sustainable Development Education Network to establish strong links between community learning and learning for sustainable development across Scotland.

For further information contact alan.cameron@snh.gov.uk

01463 725022

Regeneration

The environment is a huge asset for Scotland’s economy, for the health and education of its people and for the education of its young people. 

Not only does the natural heritage underpin major sectors such as tourism, agriculture, water supply and forestry, but it also underpins our quality of life and our ability to attract and retain major economic investment.  In doing so, the natural heritage has a central role to play in supporting regeneration and in growing Scotland’s economy.

We support this through our greenspace work, which includes an increased targeting of action in the areas of greatest economic and social disadvantage.  In recent years, Scotland’s Sustainable Development Strategy and People and Place: Regeneration Policy Statement have recognised the importance of the environment in these issues.  Our role is to support the implementation of these and other strategies through our work. 

Future work will focus on supporting proposals in the new National Planning Framework to establish a Central Scotland Green Network.

For further information contact Ian.Angus@snh.gov.uk
0141 951 0843

Breathing Places

Breathing Places is a BBC-led campaign which is aiming to create many more places for wildlife and people across the UK and increase people’s awareness and understanding of nature.  The campaign is urging people to “do one thing” for nature and it involves:

The scale of TV and radio coverage of wildlife in Britain through the campaign is unprecedented.  It provides a one-off opportunity to raise public awareness of wildlife and related issues in a significant way – we simply couldn’t do this on such a scale on our own.

SNH chairs the Scottish Advisory Group which brings together the BBC and its partners.  A key role for the Group is to ensure that the campaign is effective in Scotland and that it complements existing work rather than duplicating or complicating it.  We also provide grant support to projects in our towns and cities.

For further information contact Richard.Davison@snh.gov.uk
01738 458589

Supporting the Scottish economy

The Marine Environment

The seas around Scotland are some of the most productive in the world. Important marine industries such as fishing and aquaculture are dependent on the health of Scotland’s marine biodiversity, while our coast is one of Scotland's foremost recreation assets.  However, evidence suggests that maritime environments are not always well served by current management practices. Against the background of new policy proposals we therefore support approaches that:

In taking forward these approaches we will:

For further information contact Dominic.Counsell@snh.gov.uk
0131 316 2656

Sustainable development

SNH has a key role in helping the Scottish Government to achieve the 15 National Outcomes through its single purpose – achieving sustainable economic growth.

Sustainable development is about living within environmental limits and ensuring a healthy and just society by means of a sustainable economy, sound science and good governance (the 5 principles of sustainable development).

Our approach is set out in Sustainable Development and the Natural Heritage.  Our vision is that all activities which use or have an impact upon Scotland’s natural heritage should be environmentally sustainable, which means that:

We promote education on sustainable development and we are closely involved with the Scottish approach to the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

For further information contact clive.mitchell@snh.gov.uk
01738 458623

Tourism

Visitors consistently rate Scotland’s landscapes and wildlife as their number one reason for holidaying in Scotland. 

SNH believes that investing in this resource is an essential part of supporting tourism, in meeting national goals for growth in the tourism industry and in becoming the most sustainable destination in Europe by 2015. 

Our work supports all four themes in the national tourism strategy, Tourism Framework for Change:

Innovation and Product Development - our advice and grant support to communities, tourism providers, and area tourism and heritage partnerships can often make a real difference and make the most of what our visitors want to see more of: Scotland’s people and places.

For further information contact Claudia.Rowse@snh.gov.uk
01463 725319

Agriculture

Much of the variety and interest of Scotland’s landscapes, habitats and wildlife has been created by generations of farmers and crofters working on the land.

Agriculture should provide prosperity and employment for rural and remote areas, supporting a thriving and dynamic countryside in a way that protects and enriches Scotland’s natural heritage. It is important that it should be maintained wherever it has an important social or environmental function.

Agricultural policies should reflect the wide range of social and environmental benefits that farmers can provide, as part of a coherent rural policy having environmental care as its cornerstone.

Agri-environmental measures are particularly important because they are the main source of funding for managing the natural heritage on farmed land.  More of the public financial support for agriculture should be re-directed into programmes for positive environmental management.

SNH works in partnership with others to:

For further information contact peter.pitkin@snh.gov.uk
0131 316 2645

Transport

Good transport links are vital to Scotland’s economy.
To help look after Scotland’s nature and landscapes, SNH believes that the key needs are to make transport as sustainable as possible, minimise impacts on nature and landscapes, and encourage alternatives to the private car, especially active travel such as walking and cycling.
We work with the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland and local authorities on transport issues.  We are a statutory consultee for:

We also:

For further information contact daniel.gotts@snh.gov.uk
0131 316 2674

 

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