BETTER PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF SCOTLAND’S NATURE
Better protection and management of Scotland's seas, landscapes, wildlife and habitats through a Marine Bill for Scotland, new legislation for protecting landscape and increased funding to help halt the loss of species and habitats in Scotland by 2010
Why?
The health of Scotland’s seas is failing. Important habitats and species at sea and on land are disappearing. Parts of our beautiful landscape are often destroyed and degraded. If we are to safeguard our environment for future generations, we need to take action now. A thriving, wild-life rich environment enhances our quality of life and, as we are increasingly realising, promotes physical health and mental well-being.
Scotland’s seas
Background
At sea, the recovery of our marine ecosystems is vital. The health of Scotland’s seas is failing. Important marine species and habitats are in severe decline. Scotland’s seas support an estimated 8,000 species of marine plants, invertebrates, fish, birds and mammals. Home to almost a third of the world’s grey seal population, to some of our most spectacular seabirds such as puffins and gannets, as well as bottlenose dolphins and basking sharks – it is no wonder that wildlife tourism in Scotland is a fast growing business. Incredibly, marine wildlife in Scotland has very little protection under law. Consequently, the marine eco-systems on which we all depend as source of food and energy as well as for recreation and relaxation, is beginning to unravel.
Photo left: Sightings of basking sharks have increased in Scotland over recent years. It is thought that they have moved up from the south of England where they used to be sighted more regularly, because of climate change.
Facts
16 out of 21 Scottish fish stocks, including cod and Atlantic salmon, are beyond sustainable limits
Important marine species and habitats, including common skate and seagrass beds, are in severe decline
Seabird colonies are failing due to a shortage of food. Hundreds of guillemots are reported to have died of starvation across Scotland, especially on the west coast, with birds even swimming upstream into central Glasgow (Sept 2006)
More than 1.7 million farmed salmon have escaped into the wild from salmon farms in Scotland since 1998
Our seas are increasingly crowded. There is more pressure than ever to exploit precious marine resources – fishing boats, energy pipelines, shipping, fish farms and industrial machinery are all vying for space in our seas. Scotland has some of the busiest seas and ports in the world, which can lead to pollution, oil spills and ship strikes.
We need new solutions to safeguard our seas for future generations. This is crucial, not only from a conservation perspective, but also for our coastal communities who rely on the sea for their survival. In contrast to the UK’s well-developed planning system on land, at sea there is no planning system beyond the low water mark. Instead there is an ad hoc sectoral approach regulating marine activity.
A UK Marine Bill is currently being considered at Westminster, which will include marine spatial planning. The everyone campaign is calling for a similar commitment to legislation by the Scottish Executive. In particular we want to see proper marine spatial planning, a lead body to enforce planning decisions, and proper marine protected areas to protect Scottish species and habitats.
Wildlife and Habitats
Most biologists believe we are currently experiencing the sixth mass extinction in earth’s history. This period of mass extinction is unique – as it has been caused by human actions. According to one biologist and professor at Harvard University, if human destruction of the biosphere continues at its currents rates, one half of all species of life will be extinct in 100 years (Prof. E.O Wilson: The Future of Life (2002))
Wildlife in Scotland is in decline, with over 200 species in Scotland identified as of ‘conservation concern’ including the red squirrel, water vole and Scottish primrose. This is largely due to human actions – whether through local action such as agriculture, poor forestry management, increasing urbanisation – or global issues such as climate change.
Phot left: the red squirrel is endangered in Scotland
In 2002, Scotland signed up to the ambitious target
to ‘halt the
loss of biodiversity’ by 2010. We will not achieve this target,
and stop the loss of species and habitats in Scotland, unless the scale
and scope of our nature conservation efforts become much more ambitious. Politicians
must recognise the urgency with which the loss of species must be addressed.
The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act put in place landmark legislation to ensure proper protection and enhancement of Scotland’s wildlife. However, the implementation process has been slow and weak. There is a lack of clear targets and action; and there is not the proper funding in place to implement the biodiversity strategy. We need to proper investment in the protection of species and habitats. And we also need to ensure that biodiversity planning becomes integrated into the whole terrestrial planning system, so that biodiversity strategy is not only about specific species but about whole ecosystem networks locally, regionally and nationally.
Landscape
Scotland’s wild landscapes are renowned around
the world for their beauty.
They are also fundamental economic assets, as tourism is Scotland’s
biggest industry and employer and the vast majority of tourists give
Scotland’s landscape as their prime reason for visiting.
Scotland also has a wide range of significant historical landscapes. They range from the World Heritage sites of St Kilda and Orkney to the form of our modern townscapes. These landscapes are important in themselves, but are also highly valued by the local people who live in them. They define the character and identity of these communities.
A good environment enhances our health and well-being. We need to invest in managing landscapes, ensuring that everyone in Scotland can experience something of beauty and wonder. Frustration is evident in communities where landscape is being destroyed – often irreparably.
Everyone is calling for greater protection for
all Scotland’s
landscapes, both through implementation of new National Scenic Areas
legislation under the new Planning Bill and through more focus on implementing
requirements of the European Landscape Convention.
What we are asking:
Keep wild land free from development.
Protect and enhance Scotland’s national scenic areas.
Use ‘landscape assessment’ to inform all planning and strategic land management decisions.
Introduce a statutory duty of care for the historic environment on all public bodies.