Read our latest blog from our Chief Officer, Deborah Long –
After more than 17 years working for small environmental and cultural charities in Scotland, I left the eNGO sector for two years. And now I’m back. Coming back in with fresh eyes has been a revelation. Some things have changed and others haven’t but the clarity of a new perspective has been invaluable.
What’s changed?
The value given to working cooperatively and collaboratively: two years ago, environmental bodies in Scotland rubbed along, usually pulling in the same direction although not always. That marriage of convenience has changed into a marriage of necessity as this sector and others respond to external and significant threats, including the current consitutional crises. There has been a realisation that we face enormous challenges and that if any one of us wants to achieve our broad objective of making Scotland a sustainable place to live, work and play then we have to work together in defending the environment. (more…)
Scotland must take urgent action to halt its declining biodiversity, say campaigners following the release of a major global report revealing that one million animal and plant species worldwide are threatened with extinction.
A ground-breaking assessment released today on the state of the planet’s nature found that human actions threaten more species with global extinction now than ever before.
Scotland’s nature faces the same fundamental challenges. Despite environmental laws that have allowed us to stem the tide of biodiversity loss, 1 in 11 species in Scotland is at risk of extinction. Along with the vast majority of countries, Scotland is set to fail many of the global targets for halting biodiversity loss by 2020 (in Scotland’s case 13 out of 20 targets), ahead of a meeting of states in Beijing which will seek to renew efforts to protect our planet’s life supporting system.
The global assessment highlights that stronger environmental laws and their implementation are essential to tackle the underlying drivers of nature deterioration.
35 of Scotland’s leading environmental charities are calling for a Scottish Environment Act to protect and enhance Scotland’s nature. The charities, members of Scottish Environment LINK, say Brexit brings even greater urgency to the need for government action, as Scotland is set to lose 80 per cent of its environmental protections following an exit from the European Union.
Deborah Long, chief officer of Scottish Environment LINK, said today:
“The global biodiversity report released today paints a stark picture of the horrific damage humans are doing to the natural world we rely on. Scotland’s nature faces similar challenges. 5 per cent of our invertebrates and 13 per cent of our plants are at risk of extinction while our globally important seabirds have declined by 38 per cent since the 1980s.
“We’re facing a profound ecological crisis, and we need to take action fast. We can’t let ourselves be dragged backwards by losing decades of progressive European environmental legislation. A strong Scottish Environment Act would allow Scotland to retain and build on the protections we have at present, and to take action to safeguard the unique wildlife and landscapes for which the country is famous. Having our own Environment Act would also underpin the essential changes we need to tackle major issues like air pollution.”
Scotland’s environmental charities are fighting for Scotland’s nature and calling for a Scottish Environment Act to maintain and enhance environmental protections: fightforscotlandsnature.scot.
In 2020, the Convention on Biological Diversity will adopt a post-2020 global biodiversity framework as a stepping stone towards the 2050 Vision of “Living in harmony with nature”. This will be a Global Deal for Nature which will aim to serve as a universal framework for action on biodiversity.
Scotland must take urgent action to halt its declining biodiversity, say campaigners following the release of a major global report revealing that one million animal and plant species worldwide are threatened with extinction.
A ground-breaking assessment released today on the state of the planet’s nature found that human actions threaten more species with global extinction now than ever before.
What about Scotland?
Scotland’s nature faces the same fundamental challenges. Despite environmental laws that have allowed us to stem the tide of biodiversity loss, 1 in 11 species in Scotland is at risk of extinction. Along with the vast majority of countries, Scotland is set to fail many of the global targets for halting biodiversity loss by 2020 (in Scotland’s case 13 out of 20 targets), ahead of a meeting of states in Beijing which will seek to renew efforts to protect our planet’s life supporting system.
Photo credits: Helen Todd
Stronger laws needed
The global assessment highlights that stronger environmental laws and their implementation are essential to tackle the underlying drivers of nature deterioration.
35 of Scotland’s leading environmental charities are calling for a Scottish Environment Act to protect and enhance Scotland’s nature. The charities, members of Scottish Environment LINK, say Brexit brings even greater urgency to the need for government action, as Scotland is set to lose 80 per cent of its environmental protections following an exit from the European Union.
Deborah Long, chief officer of Scottish Environment LINK, said today:
“The global biodiversity report released today paints a stark picture of the horrific damage humans are doing to the natural world we rely on. Scotland’s nature faces similar challenges. 5 per cent of our invertebrates and 13 per cent of our plants are at risk of extinction while our globally important seabirds have declined by 38 per cent since the 1980s.
“We’re facing a profound ecological crisis, and we need to take action fast. We can’t let ourselves be dragged backwards by losing decades of progressive European environmental legislation. A strong Scottish Environment Act would allow Scotland to retain and build on the protections we have at present, and to take action to safeguard the unique wildlife and landscapes for which the country is famous. Having our own Environment Act would also underpin the essential changes we need to tackle major issues like air pollution.”
Scotland’s environmental charities are fighting for Scotland’s nature and calling for a Scottish Environment Act to maintain and enhance environmental protections: fightforscotlandsnature.scot.
In 2020, the Convention on Biological Diversity will adopt a post-2020 global biodiversity framework as a stepping stone towards the 2050 Vision of “Living in harmony with nature”. This will be a Global Deal for Nature which will aim to serve as a universal framework for action on biodiversity.
Scotland’s nature is in decline. Climate change alongside habitat loss and pollution is threatening our diverse wildlife and environment.Will you help give nature a voice?
1. THE WILDCAT IS ONE OF THE UK’S MOST ENDANGERED MAMMALS
There are fewer than 100 wildcats left scattered across the Highlands. The wildcat is on the edge of extinction due to changes in its habitat, interbreeding and persecution.
2. NATIVE WOODLAND NOW ONLY COVERS 4% SCOTLAND’S LAND
Scottish Woodland areas have been affected by grazing pressure, land use change, invasive species, pests and disease. This combination of impacts may make woodland more susceptible to climate change. Birds like the famous capercaillie rely on dense woodland to live and are now in peril. Trees also capture carbon from the atmosphere and in turn affect the air we all breathe.
3. SEA TEMPERATURES ARE HAVING DRASTIC IMPACTS ON SCOTTISH OCEAN WILDLIFE
Climate change, pollution and human activities are impacting marine ecosystems. Even small changes in sea temperatures are having a drastic impact on Scotland’s ocean wildlife. Diverse habitats which are home to dolphins, whales, sharks and seals are under threat.
4. PUFFINS ARE AN AMBER LIST SPECIES
Many of our Scottish seabirds rely on sand eels which are in decline due to climate change, warming seas and fishing pressure. Puffins are a prime example of a bird under pressure, suffering a dramatic decline in numbers.
5. MOORLAND
Iconic Scottish moorlands have been affected by over-grazing, commercial forestry and drainage. Moorlands have already experienced several physical changes as a result of human activity. Many birds and butterflies rely on it.
6. THE GREAT YELLOW BUMBLEBEE HAS DECLINED 80% IN THE LAST CENTURY
The great yellow bumblebee is in decline because of land use change and is now restricted to some Scottish islands, Caithness and Sutherland. This is bad news for people as insects play a vital role in pollinating crops.
7. FRESHWATER PEARL MUSSELS ARE BECOMING EXTINCT IN LOCHS AND RIVERS
Our lochs and rivers support a huge variety of plants and populations, including Atlantic salmon and freshwater pearl mussels. They’re being affected by water quality, rising water temperatures, increased flooding, commercial fisheries, and illegal harvesting.
1 IN 11 SCOTTISH SPECIES ARE AT RISK OF EXTINCTION
Scotland’s nature is in urgent need of protection. Climate change, pollution and loss of habitats are all contributing to it’s decline. Leaving the EU means risking the environmental protections that our wildlife and landscapes depend on.
Brexit has the potential to unravel critical environmental protections in Scotland. The Scottish Geodiversity Forum has joined 35 environmental charities to ‘Fight for Scotland’s Nature’ and foster support for a Scottish Environment Act.
New legislation would provide the opportunity for a more integrated, holistic approach to the environment that recognises the importance of geodiversity – the variety of rocks, landforms, sediments, soils and the natural processes which form and alter them – both in its own right, and as ‘nature’s stage’, providing essential supporting services to maintain biodiversity.
Siccar Point, a geological SSSI and one of the world’s most important geological sites.
There are a range of existing protection measures for Scotland’s geodiversity, in the networks of geological Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Geodiversity Sites. However there are inconsistencies in the application of these measures, and many sites of national or local importance have no formal recognition in the planning system. This is particularly acute in the stalled process of designating nationally important Geological Conservation Review sites as SSSIs. However, if Scotland adopts new frameworks for monitoring, measuring and reporting on environmental outcomes under a new Scottish Environment Act, there are opportunities for improvement and to recognise the value of geodiversity as part of our natural capital and the benefits and services it provides for society.
Gannets on the Bass Rock. Scotland’s geology creates a wide variety of habitats.
Scotland’s geodiversity supports a complex mosaic of habitats that host a wide range of species. However, the value of geodiversity as part of nature and natural diversity is not only in the presence of rocky crags and islands, and a varied landscape that provides a range of habitats. It also lies in the ongoing processes that are continually shaping our slopes, river banks and dynamic coasts. The impact of climate change on Scotland is now becoming very obvious, and attention needs to be given to these ongoing geological processes to help inform natural solutions and to give nature the best chance of adapting to change.
A Scotland Environment Act would present unique opportunities to lead the way in giving due attention to the interactions of all parts of nature. This is particularly relevant in Scotland, given our unique and world-class geoheritage that has played a part through the work of the likes of James Hutton and John Muir in recognising the “Earth system” and the interconnectedness of all things.
Scotland has world-class geodiversity that provides the foundation of our remarkable geoheritage and essential benefits for people and nature. It has a profound influence on landscape, the economy, historical and cultural heritage, habitats and species, education, health and well-being.
35 environmental charities from across Scotland, including the Scottish Geodiversity Forum, have come together to ‘Fight for Scotland’s Nature’ and foster support for a Scottish Environment Act. Join us in calling for a Scottish Environment Act to protect and enhance our nature now and in the future!
We are very used to hearing about the two key culprits responsible for the decline of butterflies and moths in our countryside – habitat loss and climate change, but a third ‘driver’ increasingly being identified as guilty is nitrogen, the two main sources being vehicles and farming.
Back in the 1990s, Bobbink was finding high levels of nitrogen in Dutch chalk grasslands, leading to their invasion by coarse grasses1. Since then much research has been carried out on the impact on the nitrogen deposition on a range of plant communities, and Plantlife has produced a report “We need to talk about nitrogen”2.
In 2006 Ockinger et al. found that butterflies dependent on dry, nutrient-poor habitats in Sweden were much more prone to extinction than those on nutrient-rich sites3. Weiss found a similar situation in the San Francisco area and reported his work in a paper entitled “Cars, Cows, and Checkerspot Butterflies: Nitrogen Deposition and Management of Nutrient‐Poor Grasslands for a Threatened Species”4.
Wallis deVries and Van Swaay have suggested that nitrogen, perhaps in tandem with warmer weather, could be a cause of the decline of butterflies whose caterpillars depend on very warm microclimates5. These hotspots are provided by bare ground, very short turf or dead plant material, and in the sunshine can reach temperatures of 30-35°C, while the adjacent grassland may only be around 10°C. Nitrogen, coupled with warmer temperatures, is allowing much greater vegetation growth and the loss of these hotspots is very bad news for the caterpillars that need high temperatures to function properly and to grow fast to avoid predators and disease.
Several of our scarce species that need open sunny habitats, such as the Grayling, Wall and Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, are undergoing further declines. Recent work on the High Brown Fritillary in Cumbria by Ellis et al. has revealed dramatic losses on nature reserves despite years of seemingly appropriate management6. The sites are becoming grassier, and the butterfly foodplants, violets, are losing out. So it is likely that these butterflies, already scarce due to habitat loss, and now suffering from the impact of both climate change and nitrogen pollution as well. Furthermore, studies by Kurze et al. on the impact of nitrogen on developing caterpillars themselves has shown serious negative effects7.
While Butterfly Conservation and others can try and manage key habitats as beneficially as possible, there is little we can do about air pollution – except by demanding policies and laws that aim to reduce it, which is one reason why we need an Environment Act for Scotland. Such an Act could embed in Scots law the four key principles that guide EU policy-making on the environment:
The precautionary principle: operates where there are reasonable grounds for concern that an activity could cause harm, despite there being some uncertainty.
Polluter pays: those who produce pollution should bear the costs of cleaning it up.
The rectification at source principle: policies should tackle the root of the problem rather than just tackling its consequences.
Preventive action: this is the need to address problems today rather than leave them for future generations to solve.
35 environmental charities from across Scotland, including Butterfly Conservation, have come together to ‘Fight for Scotland’s Nature’ and foster support for a Scottish Environment Act. Join us in calling for a Scottish Environment Act to protect and enhance our nature now and in the future!
References
Bobbink, O. Effects of Nutrient Enrichment in Dutch Chalk Grassland. Journal of Applied Ecology 28:28-41
Plantlife (2017) We need to talk about nitrogen. Plantlife UK, Salisbury. ISBN: 978-1-910212-49-3
Ockinger, E., Hammarsted, O., Nilsson, S. & Smith H. (2006) The relationship between local extinctions of grassland butterflies and increased soil nitrogen levels.Biological Conservation 128 564-573.
Weiss, S. (1999), Cars, Cows, and Checkerspot Butterflies: Nitrogen Deposition and Management of Nutrient-Poor Grasslands for a Threatened Species. ConservationBiology13:6 1476-1486.
WallisdeVries, M. & Van Swaay, C. (2006) Global warming and excess nitrogen may induce butterfly decline by microclimatic cooling. Global Change Biology12 1620–1626.
Ellis, S., Wainwright, D., Dennis, E.B., Bourn N.A.D., Bulman, C.R., Hobson, R., Jones, R., Middlebrook, I., Plackett, J., Smith, R.G., Wain, M. & Warren, M.S.(2019) Are habitat changes driving the decline of the UK’s most threatened butterfly: the High Brown Fritillary Argynnis adippe (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)? Journal of Insect Conservationhttps://rdcu.be/bowZU
Kurze, S., Heinken T. and Fartmann, T. (2018) Nitrogen enrichment in host plants increases the mortality of common Lepidoptera species. Oecologia 1881227–1237.
Crystal clear waters, tumbling through a rock-strewn channel – a scene that is encountered throughout Scotland. But in some of these watercourses, a truly special species can be found. Scottish Environment LINK has launched a call for Scotland to have it’s own Environment Act to protect and enhance Scotland’s nature, now and in the future.
The Freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is one of the most critically endangered molluscs in the world. Up to a half of the world’s remaining population are found in Scotland. As a nation, we therefore have an international responsibility to safeguard the future for this species. Many of the rivers where these mussels are found are protected as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), as part of the EU Natura 2000 Network. This network, covering over 18% of the EU’s land area, aims to ensure the long-term survival of Europe’s most threatened species and habitats, listed under the EU Habitats Directive.
It’s not just Freshwater pearl mussels that benefit from protection through the Habitats Directive in Scotland. Special Areas of Conservation have also been designated for three tiny species of whorl snail (Vertigo angustior, V. geyeri, and V. genesii), and the Marsh fritillary butterfly (Euphydryas aurinia), together with a wide range of plants, fish, amphibians, and mammals. The SACs also cover habitats such as the flower-rich machair on the Western Isles which is important for pollinators, and mesotrophic lochs in the Highlands which are home to a huge variety of freshwater invertebrates.
In total there are 244 SACs in Scotland, and together with the network of 1,423 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, they represent the jewels in the crown of Scottish biodiversity. These SACs not only provide protection for our most valuable and threated wildlife, they also attract dedicated funding for conservation action. Over the past 25 years Scotland has received €25.5 million of funding from the EU LIFE programme – the EU’s dedicated environmental funding mechanism.
Established in 1992, the LIFE programme has provided €121 million to help conserve European protected species and habitats in the UK over the past 25 years. One example of how Scotland’s biodiversity has benefitted from these funds is the Pearls in Peril project. The project received €2.3 million from the EU LIFE programme to restore and improve habitats for Freshwater pearl mussels in 21 rivers across Britain, 19 of which were in Scotland.
For Scotland to continue to fulfil its international responsibilities we need to maintain these protections and the funding required to restore the condition of these species and habitats. The spectre of Brexit means that it is even more important that Scotland has strong environmental legislation. We cannot afford for our nature to be left behind. This is why we need a Scottish Environment Act to set clear ambitions for our wildlife, backed by funding mechanisms and a variety of routes to ensure implementation. Join us in the Fight for Scotland’s Nature by adding your voice to our petition here.
Scotland supports six species of native amphibian and four native reptile species. These charismatic species form a valuable part of Scotland’s biodiversity and form an important role in effective ecosystem functioning. Most are secretive and often go unnoticed, but are appreciated in the many and diverse habitats where they occur.
Common frogs and common toads are perhaps the most well recorded species, being obvious in parks and gardens during spring breeding and migration. Both species have a widespread distribution along with smooth newts and palmate newts which are more secretive. Great crested newts have a more scattered distribution in Scotland while the nattterjack toad is confined to a small number of isolated saltmarshes along the Solway coast. In addition one introduced species, the alpine newt, occurs at a few sites across central Scotland. The three established native reptiles in Scotland include the adder (or northern viper), slow-worm and common lizard. Adders may be seen basking in warm sunshine in March and slow-worms often frequent garden or allotment compost heaps. In addition, the grass snake has recently been reported as occurring in the southern belt, particularly around Dumfries and Galloway (McInerny & Minting, 2016). Around the inshore waters a number of turtle species have been recorded including the leatherback turtle, loggerhead turtle and Kemp’s ridley sea turtle.
In recent decades populations of our most common amphibian and reptile species are under threat from a number of anthropogenic factors including habitat loss and fragmentation, introduced diseases, pollution and climate change (Downie et al., in press). The Fight for Scotland’s Nature campaign (www.fightforscotlandsnature.scot) aims to raise awareness of the plight of Scotland’s valuable species and protect and enhance Scotland’s natural environment. If you would like to help, please sign the petition/respond to the consultation at www.fightforscotlandsnature.scot/action/.
One of the biggest factors contributing to declines in Scotland’s native amphibian and reptile populations is habitat loss. For amphibians pond loss, coupled with a reduction in terrestrial habitat, has resulted in declines in many species. Research carried out by Froglife in 2016 showed that across the UK, common toad populations have declined by 68% over the past 30 years (Petrovan & Schmidt, 2016). In addition, filling in of garden ponds is likely to have negatively impacted common frog populations, which thrive in urban habitats and rely on garden features such as ponds for their successful breeding.
Habitat fragmentation is also a big problem, especially for migratory species with habitual breeding ponds such as common toads and great crested newts. Collisions of amphibians on roads can lead to massive mortality and is one of the factors thought to be responsible for the long-term decline in UK and continental European toad populations (Petrovan & Schmidt, 2016). Introduced diseases including Ranavirus have had negative impacts on common frog populations. Also, a rise in the pet trade and an increase in members of the public housing exotic pets, has increased the risk that emerging infectious diseases like Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) will become introduced into wild newt populations (Cunningham et al., 2019).
In an attempt to combat these threats, the national charity Froglife are carrying out a number of conservation programmes to help a range of amphibian and reptile species. The Come Forth for Wildlife project is in its development phase, thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. If the main project is funded, this will tackle habitat loss in the Forth region of southern Scotland.
Through targeted restoration and creation of amphibian and reptile habitats, along with public education programmes, we will help preserve vital habitats for these species in this highly populated region of Scotland. Once habitats have been created and restored, Froglife are committed to re-visiting each site 1, 3, 5 and 10 years post-completion to ensure that they remain viable and successful for maintaining amphibian and reptile populations.
Road mitigation schemes are increasingly using under-road tunnels or culverts to help direct movements of amphibians from terrestrial to breeding habitats and prevent the negative effects of habitat fragmentation. Little research has demonstrated the success of tunnels in providing suitable corridors for amphibians. Research by Froglife in England has suggested that in certain circumstances tunnels may be effective in mitigating the impacts of road construction by linking key habitats, especially for the protected great crested newt (Jarvis et al., 2019). However, no research has demonstrated the success of tunnels for great crested newts in Scotland, where this species may have different habitat requirements (Harper et al., 2019). Froglife is carrying out a study on six newly created amphibian mitigation road tunnels at a site in southern Scotland with nationally significant populations of great crested newts. The research will determine whether the implementation of tunnels at this site is successful and will be important for determining the success of future tunnel mitigation projects.
Amphibians and reptiles face an uncertain future in Scotland but you can help by supporting The Fight for Scotland’s Nature campaign (www.fightforscotlandsnature.scot). This will help us to work together to protect the valuable amphibian and reptile species of Scotland, enable us to set clear ambitions for Scotland’s environmental policy, conserve habitats and create a more sustainable future.
References Cunningham, A. A., Smith, F., McKinley, T. J., Perkins, M. W., Fitzpatrick, L. D., Wright, O. N. & Lawson, B. (2019) Apparent absence of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans in wild urodeles in the United Kingdom. Nature Scientific Reports, 9: 2831. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-39338. Downie, J. R., Larcombe, V. & Stead, J. (in press) Amphibian conservation in Scotland: a review of threats and opportunities. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. Harper, L. R., Downie, R., McNeill, D. C. (2019) Assessment of habitat and survey criteria for the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) in Scotland: a case study on a translocated population. Hydrobiologia, 828: 57–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3796-4. Jarvis, L. E., Hartup, M. & Petrovan, S. O. (2019) Road mitigation using tunnels and fences promotes site connectivity and population expansion for a protected amphibian. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 65: 27-38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-019-1263-9. McInerny, C. J. & Minting, P. (2016) The Amphibians and Reptiles of Scotland. Glasgow, Glasgow Natural History Society. Petrovan, S. P. & Schmidt, B. R. (2016) Volunteer conservation action data reveals large-scale and long-term negative population trends of a widespread amphibian, the common toad (Bufo bufo). PLoS ONE, 11 (10): e0161943. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0161943.
A popular feature of Scotland’s countryside for over 40 years is now experiencing a critical decline. With this decline comes a threat to your enjoyment of the countryside and to the habitats and species that form our wonderful natural environment.
What is this popular feature? Well, you may well have met them, heard them on the radio and television, been to events and activities they organise and possibly have been inspired by them in your own life-long interest in nature. Scotland’s Countryside Rangers are becoming an endangered species in their own right. Created by the Countryside (Scotland) Act of 1967, Countryside Ranger Services have been an important feature as our network of country parks, regional parks, nature reserves and more recently National Parks were developed. Rangers look after these special places and their wildlife and help visitors to learn about and enjoy them.
A recent survey by the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association (SCRA) has revealed an alarming decline in the number of Rangers employed in Scotland. Looking at a ten year period from 2008 to 2017, the survey found that there had been a 34% reduction (141) in posts with only 279 remaining, many of those facing a very uncertain future. This is a relatively small sector, but it punches way above its weight in terms of delivery. This same survey showed in 2017 there were 43 million visitors to sites managed by Countryside Rangers – a conservative total. The same year almost 70,000 learners from nursery age to university were engaged in activities with Countryside Rangers. These figures are a snapshot of delivery that has been a cornerstone of our enjoyment of the outdoors for decades.
Sharing their knowledge, stewardship and ambition for the sites they work on, Rangers are uniquely placed to contribute to a flourishing Scotland. Working at the heart of government priorities in health, education, community and environment and working across these priorities in a way not replicated by any other occupation. For example, public health and well-being priorities have, at their core, the need to increase activity levels, easily served by safe outdoor spaces, environmental volunteering opportunities, path networks with signage, guidance and support in using our parks and green spaces. Rangers deliver across all of these priorities. The Curriculum for Excellence states that children have a right to outdoor learning experiences. Rangers deliver these too.
SCRA’s survey results were a key motivation in submitting a Petition to the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee. In this petition SCRA, representing some 300 members, sought to have a national strategic framework for Scotland’s Ranger Services, first developed in 2008, revisited. The petition attracted a significant level of public support and comment and so was accepted for a hearing in February 2018. Giving evidence to the petitions committee George Potts, Chair of SCRA described the loss of posts as “random, unstructured and ill-considered”.
The loss of ring-fenced funding to local authority ranger services at a time of reduced funding generally was identified as a key factor in almost half of all the posts that had been lost. Crucially, there had been no monitoring of the effect of this. The main funding agency, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) was called to a hearing in October 2018. This hearing highlighted the absence of national reporting on outcomes delivered by services both historically and currently funded through SNH. The Petitions Committee resolved to invite comment from the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment describing the work of Countryside Rangers as “of national significance”.
What is at stake here? Scotland has a national network of Ranger Services many of which are identified by use of our national badge. This acts as a charter mark for the professional quality of service customers should expect. This model has attracted international attention and has been copied by other nations. Through SCRA, Scotland had a role in creating both the International Ranger Federation (92 member countries) and the European Ranger Federation. This national network and international profile for Scotland are at risk.
Employment opportunities for the many capable and motivated young people in this popular sector are at an all-time low. The “non-filling” of vacant posts and undesirable re-deployment tactics continue; the resultant absence of career opportunities seriously impairs Ranger Services and threatens their future viability.
We in Scotland had created something very special, and it is as worthy of conservation effort as any red list species. Your voice as a council tax payer, as a paying member of a Trust, as a teacher who values the educational opportunities, as someone who appreciates the environment we are privileged to enjoy in Scotland, your voice needs to be heard – loud and clear – in support of our Countryside Rangers.
John Mayhew, President, Scottish Countryside Rangers Association
From an article published in The Scotsman on 9 April 2019.
40 years since the introduction of the first piece of EU legislation for the protection of our environment, the Birds Directive, RSPB and 34 other Scottish environmental charities are urging Scottish Government to make sure existing protections are retained and enhanced, no matter what happens with Brexit. RSPB Scotland’s Keith Morton discusses how we can ensure birds and the environment continue to be protected in Scotland.
Asking what the EU has ever done for the environment in Scotland – and indeed the rest of the UK – is like the scene in Monty Python’s Life of Brian, where they question: “What have the Romans ever done for us?”
The answer, of course, is similarly long and impressive. Two especially important pieces of EU law that have afforded many years of critical protection for our wildlife are the Birds and the Habitats Directives, more commonly known as the ‘Nature Directives’. But – if the UK is to leave the EU – we stand to lose these hugely important protections. That’s why we need a Scottish Environment Act and are campaigning for this through Fight for Scotland’s Nature.
The success of the Nature Directives is due not only to the strong legal protections that they create but also the wider framework that the EU provides for the directives to be properly and effectively implemented. the role of the European Commission has been particularly important in ensuring that national governments take their responsibilities seriously, while the prospect of a legal challenge through the European Court of Justice has acted as an effective deterrent ensuring good implementation of the laws.
What is more, the EU’s LIFE fund provides support to organisations working on the ground to ensure our most vulnerable species and habitats are protected. Since its inception, it has funded more than 25 projects in Scotland, bringing in well over £25 million for conservation delivery.
So following the EU referendum vote, reassurances by Roseanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, have been very welcome. The Cabinet Secretary has stated on several occasions that there will be no roll-back of environmental protections1 and that Scotland will continue to follow the principles of EU environmental law2. More recently, she stated that the Government would seek to maintain or enhance environmental standards.
In wildlife terms that means retaining the legal protections afforded by the Nature Directives, but also continuing to pursue legislation that is in line with established EU environmental principles, ensuring we can enforce provisions and challenge authorities when laws are not implemented, as well as ring-fencing dedicated funding to realise important projects. It is these key aspects that a Scottish Environment Act will help address.
Even through the Birds Directive turns 40 today (2 April 2019), the reality is that its provisions are more relevant than ever before. Research has shown time and time again that is has delivered significant benefits for wildlife even in the face of unprecedented climate changes3.
Despite this, the Birds Directive has faced challenge over its near 40-year existence. Not everyone considers the protection of nature to be a high priority. From 2013, both the Birds and Habitats Directives were subject to an ‘EU Fitness Check’ which involved checking that the laws remained fit for purpose. But there was wide suspicion amongst European conservationists that this exercise in reasonable regulation was a smoke-screen for environmentally damaging deregulation.
Whatever the truth of that, there was an unprecedented reaction from ordinary citizens right across the EU in defence of the Directives, as a result of a campaign coordinated by a range of environmental bodies, including the RSPB. The UK was prominent in this with over a hundred thousand individuals pledging their support for a robust EU-wide system of nature conservation. At the time, the Scottish Government also stated its support for the Directives and that it did “not wish to seek the renegotiation of the directives”4.
In the face of wide-spread public support and clear evidence that the Directives were delivering for Europe’s nature, in December 2016, the European Commission gave the Birds and Habitats Directives a clean bill of health, declaring both were “fit for purpose”5.
So, across the EU, countries continued to operate under the provisions of the Birds Directive which over the years had been firmly embedded in their own territories. In Britain, the legal basis for conserving wild birds in England, Scotland and Wales is the Wildlife and Countryside Act6. This Act has been amended many times and now exists in slightly different versions across the three countries, as devolved parliaments updated it as they saw fit. But all versions still follow the fundamental principle of providing a pan-European system of bird conservation – highly appropriate since birds, and in fact all wildlife, are not known for their respect of state boundaries.
There is a clear irony that, Brexit threatens to undermine the very same thing that so many UK citizens so strongly felt needed defending. This was a clear statement from the UK public – regardless of which side of the Brexit divide they sat – that effective nature conservation is very much what they want to see. This is what RSPB Scotland is seeking to ensure by calling for a Scottish Environment Act.
We hope to see the Birds Directive continue to protect species across all of Europe. Having an Environment Act in Scotland will ensure that our natural environment and wildlife are protected, no matter what happens with Brexit.
If you want some further detail about the Birds Directive, the Habitats Directive and how they work to safeguard ours and the rest of Europe’s wildlife, you can find it here.
Take action and tell the Scottish Government we need a Scottish Environment Act here.
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