Undertake measures to reduce human pressures to give habitats and species (especially specialists; arctic/alpine) more chance of surviving and improve the status of red listed species in Scotland.
Objective 4: Protect and support the recovery of vulnerable and important species and habitats
Priority Action 21. Develop effective species reintroduction and reinforcement programmes.
Relevant measures are in place through separate Scottish Government policy areas, including muirburn regulation reform under the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024, seabird conservation actions delivered through the Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan, and wider biodiversity policy commitments under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Delivery Plan 2024–2030. However, these are not brought together under a single published programme specifically targeting arctic/alpine or other specialist habitats with measurable national outcomes for red-listed species.
No published national framework sets combined targets linking these actions directly to changes in red-listed species status at Scotland-wide level.
The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 introduces regulatory changes to muirburn practice, which are intended to reduce damage to peatland and upland habitats, but ecological outcomes depend on implementation through secondary regulations and enforcement, which are still being phased in.
The Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan (NatureScot, 2020–2025 framework and updates) sets targeted actions for seabirds, but operates as a sector-specific programme rather than a unified system covering all red-listed or arctic/alpine specialists.
NatureScot and RSPB Scotland state in their biodiversity reporting and conservation evidence that pressures such as habitat loss, predation, and disturbance are key drivers of decline in red-listed species, particularly in upland systems, but do not present a single coordinated national recovery programme covering all specialist habitats.
As a result, ecological benefits are supported by evidence-based policy and sectoral actions, but remain fragmented across multiple strategies without a unified outcome framework or consolidated delivery plan.
Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024
NatureScot – Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan
NatureScot – Species at Risk
RSPB Scotland – Priority Species Spotlight: Curlew
IUCN red List
Develop effective species recovery, reintroduction and reinforcement programmes drawing on partnership work on Species at Risk prioritisation, Species on the Edge programme, and evaluation of drivers.
Develop and implement national plans for conserving species groups for which Scotland holds internationally important populations including lichens and bryophytes (end of 2025), freshwater pearl mussels (end of 2028), herptiles (end of 2025) and national curlew plan (end of 2027).
Assess genetic diversity risks across Scotland and ensure mitigation of genetic diversity risks via Gene Conservation Units and other means. Genetic Scorecards for 50 marine and terrestrial species compiled and published by end 2025. Twenty-five Gene Conservation Units registered by mid-2025, with 50 registered by end-2028.
Raise public awareness of science and practice around conservation translocations through public engagement.
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