Introduce statutory nature restoration targets in Natural Environment Bill (scheduled to be introduced in this parliamentary session)
Objective 1: Accelerate ecosystem restoration and regeneration
Priority Action 1. Introduce statutory nature restoration targets in Natural Environment Bill (scheduled to be introduced in this parliamentary session)
Nature restoration targets were introduced by the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act in March 2026. Further detail on the specific nature restoration targets, including how they will be defined, measured and implemented, is expected to be set out through secondary legislation.
This measure strengthens the legal basis for nature recovery by establishing statutory targets, which is a significant shift from previous policy-led approaches. However, Scotland has historically had a persistent gap between environmental legislation and delivery of measurable biodiversity outcomes. The effectiveness of this measure will depend on how ambitious the targets are, the robustness of monitoring systems, and whether they are supported by sufficient resourcing and enforcement. Without these elements, statutory targets risk not translating into measurable improvements in ecosystem condition.
Hitting the targets: Delivering Scotland’s nature ambitions
Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026
Scottish Government – Natural Environment Bill consultation (2023)
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