Publish the Scottish Plant Biodiversity Strategy in support of the United Nations Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.
Objective 4: Protect and support the recovery of vulnerable and important species and habitats
Priority Action 21. Develop effective species reintroduction and reinforcement programmes.
There is no standalone published Scottish Plant Biodiversity Strategy in Scotland. Plant biodiversity is currently addressed through wider biodiversity policy and habitat-based conservation frameworks, rather than a dedicated plant-specific national strategy.
NatureScot has published a scoping document (Building a Plant Biodiversity Strategy for Scotland) which sets out the rationale for and potential structure of a future plant biodiversity strategy. It identifies gaps in coordination, data, and prioritisation for plant conservation, but does not constitute an adopted strategy and contains no delivery commitments or implementation framework.
Plant biodiversity outcomes are therefore currently delivered indirectly through existing conservation mechanisms rather than a standalone plant strategy.
Plant biodiversity conservation in Scotland is delivered through established mechanisms including protected areas (SSSIs and European sites), habitat conservation and restoration programmes, and species listing and monitoring systems. These frameworks provide the primary policy and regulatory basis for protecting plant species and plant communities.
The NatureScot scoping document identifies that improved coordination and prioritisation of plant conservation could strengthen outcomes for plant biodiversity, particularly in relation to habitat pressures and data gaps. However, as this is a development-stage document rather than an implemented strategy, ecological outcomes remain indirect and dependent on wider biodiversity delivery mechanisms rather than a plant-specific framework.
NatureScot – Building a Plant Biodiversity Strategy for Scotland
NatureScot – Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
NatureScot – European sites
NatureScot – Spring into action for Scotland’s plants
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).
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.
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.
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