Encourage people’s connection to nature through local green spaces and other land managed for nature, supporting capacity-building projects.
Objective 6: Take action on the indirect drivers of biodiversity loss
Priority Action 28. Engage and strengthen the connection between people and communities with nature.
Public connection to nature is being supported through a range of NatureScot and partner-funded local greenspace and community nature projects, largely delivered through the Nature Restoration Fund and related programmes.
Examples include Nature Restoration Fund-supported urban and greenspace projects such as Inshes District Park (Inverness), which delivered native tree and shrub planting to improve habitat quality and public access. A wider set of pollinator-friendly and community greening initiatives, supported under Scotland’s Pollinator Strategy and related programmes, have enabled habitat creation and enhancement in local greenspaces (e.g. wildflower meadows, orchards, hedgerows, and community gardens).
Community volunteering is also supported through long-running programmes such as Action Earth, which engages local groups in activities including pond creation, wildflower planting, and greenspace improvement. In addition, NatureScot-supported projects such as NHS greenspace mapping pilots and habitat restoration in designated sites (e.g. Glencoe NNR) combine biodiversity improvement with public engagement and access to nature.
Local greenspace and community nature projects contribute to biodiversity recovery by delivering habitat creation, habitat enhancement, and ecosystem management in urban and rural settings.
Evidence from NatureScot-supported programmes shows that these projects can deliver tangible local ecological benefits, such as increased tree cover, improved pollinator habitat, and restored greenspace functions. They also support public engagement with nature, which is an enabling factor for long-term conservation support.
NatureScot – Nature Restoration Fund
NatureScot – Pollinator Strategy for Scotland 2017-2027 – Implementation Plan
Action Earth volunteering programme
NatureScot – NHS Greenspace
Develop a communication and engagement programme to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of biodiversity and its links to climate change and the changes needed to ensure a just transition to a net zero and nature-positive Scotland.
Increase public connection and action for nature through expanding the reach of the Make Space for Nature campaign and develop a national nature volunteer and citizen science frameworks.
Work with stakeholders to complete a review of opportunities for increasing community participation in safeguarding marine biodiversity.
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