With biodiversity in crisis across the planet, the fate of Scotland’s natural environment hangs in the balance. After decades of environmental degradation and species loss, the need to restore our habitats and species has never been more urgent. There is now an opportunity for Scotland to turn these losses around and become a world leader in biodiversity recovery, alongside the leadership shown on tackling the climate emergency. Nature and climate are inextricably linked and cannot be meaningfully addressed separately.
This paper sets out a vision for each of the ecosystem types LINK believes must be represented within the new Scottish Biodiversity Strategy. Collectively, we have the technical knowledge and expertise to realise a new, wildlife-rich future for Scotland. A truly ambitious strategy is now required to enable Scotland to unlock its potential.