Biodiversity

Conservationists give new Bill green light

'Undoubtedly the most important environment-related Act to be passed in the Scottish Parliament's history' Simon Milne, Chief Executive, Scottish Wildlife Trust

On Monday 29th November, the final part of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill comes into force. This places a new duty on public bodies in Scotland to further the conservation of biodiversity. Leading environment organisations welcome the bill, but hope the Scottish Executive's guidelines will emphasise that the new law should be central to running the country's public bodies.

With just 23 working days left in the year, Part 1 of 2004's Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill becomes law. Scottish Environment LINK (the umbrella body for Scotland's voluntary environment organisations and representing half a million members) recognises it as a positive step. Lloyd Austin, Head of Policy Operations at RSPB Scotland says:

'The Biodiversity duty is very welcome, we have long campaigned for such a duty, and we look forward to seeing significant changes in the policy of the Scottish Executive Departments and Agencies, and adequate funding for implementation'.

BRISC 'welcomes the new duties, which will require public bodies to ensure that their efforts are founded on reliable, scientifically robust information' and Butterfly Conservation Scotland comments that "The opportunity is now there for everyone and every organisation to play their part in promoting and protecting Scotland's wonderful wildlife heritage - its future is in your hands!"

But there are reservations; the Marine Conservation Society comments that 'Although we welcome the new biodiversity duty, which applies out to the 12 nautical mile limit, it still falls a long way short of adequate protection for marine species and habitats. We would like to see marine spatial planning and a dedicated lead body in Scotland, underpinned in statute by a Marine (Scotland) Act.'

Monday also sees the publication of the Scottish Executive's guidance on the duty, aimed at helping public bodies fulfil this new obligation. Likening biodiversity to a 'living bank balance', it remains to be seen whether the guidelines are clear enough on advising public bodies on how not to become overdrawn. Dr Deborah Long at Plantlife Scotland comments: "The important thing is for public bodies and office holders to see the conservation of biodiversity as integral to everything they do. These guidelines still present the conservation of biodiversity as an optional add-on. Ultimately Scotland's future depends on assuring the long term conservation of biodiversity, in which we are all implicated and all have a role to play."

This statement is supported by RSPB Scotland, Woodland Trust Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Native Woods, Marine Conservation Society, Plantlife Scotland, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Butterfly Conservation Scotland and Biological Recording In Scotland.

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