Guest blog from Plantlife Scotland
Nature Networks are starting to take root across Scotland – and wild plants and fungi are finally getting the attention they deserve.
Plantlife Scotland have published guidance that offers practical recommendations to put plants and fungi at the heart of Nature Network plans. Bringing these essential groups into nature-recovery opportunity mapping will result in a more resilient landscape, rich in wild plants and fungi and the multitudes of species that they support.
What are Nature Networks?
Nature Networks are a new mechanism to map ecological corridors between existing wildlife-rich areas in Scotland. Creating Nature Networks offers a route to connect our most important sites for nature (the protected site network) with the wider landscape, allowing our species to move, adapt and thrive.
Nature Networks are being planned from the bottom-up, led by Local Authorities, and the priorities they identify will help target public and private finance, and attract interest for future nature recovery projects.
For more information on the Nature Networks concept and its application see Nature Networks Toolbox | NatureScot.
Why is this guidance important?
Creating Nature Networks can unlock action towards Scotland’s national and international targets to protect and restore nature. The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy identifies Nature Networks as a key process for targeting action for nature recovery to 2030 and beyond.
Local authorities, landowners and communities are being directly involved in Nature Network planning, mainstreaming nature recovery and empowering more people to shape a better future for nature and people.
What are the key recommendations?
Plantlife Scotland’s guidance signposts users to the best available data for mapping nature recovery opportunities, provides recommendations for spatial prioritisation, and outlines how other land use types can be improved for biodiversity. A closer look:
Grasslands
Species-rich grasslands are unsung heroes. They sustain a huge diversity of species, contribute significantly to carbon storage, and improve our food security and wellbeing. However, most species-rich grasslands have been lost over the last century.
Rainforest
Scotland’s temperate rainforests are a globally significant habitat, which we have an international responsibility to protect. Despite being an irreplaceable part of Scotland’s natural heritage only c.30,000 fragmented hectares remain. Their survival is threatened by habitat degradation and invasive species.
…Supporting these superhero habitats by identifying them as high-priority core areas, and targeting degraded sites as priorities for restoration, will bring resilience and diversity to Nature Networks.
Species Recovery
Species are the building blocks of biodiversity, and preventing species loss is essential to protecting resilience. Establishing local species priorities and designing Nature Networks that support them is needed to ensure the recovery of species that are closest to extinction.
The document also promotes nature-positive land management practices such as wildlife-friendly Road Verge and Green Space management, ‘Right Tree, Right Place’ principles, low-input farming and non-destructive forestry techniques.
Final thoughts
Mainstreaming nature recovery will be essential to upscaling delivery, and this document aims to mainstream the restoration of wild plant and fungi across Scotland, to the benefit of all.
Top image: Calum McLennan