Raise public awareness of the impacts of INNS and embed INNS biosecurity practice across industries and recreational activities linked to the most important pathways of introduction and spread, measuring changes in awareness through the NatureScot Opinion Survey.
Objective 1: Accelerate ecosystem restoration and regeneration
Priority Action 3. Implement a Scottish plan for INNS surveillance, prevention and control
Work to raise awareness of invasive non-native species (INNS) and promote biosecurity practices is underway, but progress is uneven and not yet at the scale required. Existing campaigns such as Check, Clean, Dry and Be Plant Wise continue to promote behaviour change across key pathways, particularly in water-based recreation and horticulture.
Awareness and behaviour change are monitored through tools such as the NatureScot Opinion Survey. While engagement and understanding of INNS risks is increasing in some sectors, consistent biosecurity practice across all key pathways remains uneven.
INNS biosecurity awareness is being promoted through established campaigns such as Check, Clean, Dry and Be Plant Wise, targeting key introduction pathways including recreation and horticulture. The NatureScot Opinion Survey indicates awareness of INNS is present and improving in some user groups, but there is limited evidence of consistent adoption of biosecurity behaviours across all high-risk sectors and pathways. Current delivery is therefore focused on communication and voluntary behaviour change, rather than demonstrated system-wide embedding of biosecurity practice across industries and recreation.
NatureScot – Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS)
Scottish Action Plan for Invasive Non-Native Species 2026-2032
NatureScot opinion survey 2024
Develop and implement an INNS Action Plan, which will ensure pathways for the introduction and spread of INNS are managed to prevent or reduce their rate of introduction and establishment, and prevent further damage to ecosystems. The plan will include: i. reducing the rate of establishment of known or potential INNS by at least 50% by 2030 compared to 2000 level; and, ii. detection of priority…
Develop and implement a pipeline of strategic INNS projects to coordinate the control of priority INNS at scale with the aim of eliminating or reducing the impacts of INNS in at least 30% of priority sites.
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