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Read LINK’s Press release as we resign from Cleaner Air for Scotland Governance Group

March 26th, 2018 by

Press Release LINK Resigns from CAFSGG Mar18

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Environmental organisations welcome UK-leading environmental commitments in Scottish Continuity Bill

March 21st, 2018 by

Amendments to protect EU environmental principles and address governance gaps post-Brexit are expected to be passed today with cross-party support by the Scottish Parliament.  Environmental organisations have called on Westminster to follow Scotland’s lead.

Amendment 39 by Claudia Beamish MSP, supported by Colin Smyth MSP and amendment 56 by Mark Ruskell MSP are expected to be passed by the Scottish Parliament when the vote on the Scottish Continuity Bill takes place later today, on the afternoon of 21 March [1].

Environmental organisations, members of Scottish Environment LINK [2], had raised concerns that in bringing across EU legislation into domestic law, the Continuity Bill had failed to preserve the vital environmental principles, part of EU treaties, that underpinned legislation and policy making [3]. The amendments ensure that these vital environmental principles not only maintain their current status, but become the basis of all environmental law-making in Scotland. The amendments also commit the Scottish Government to consulting on new measures to ensure that environmental laws continue to be enforced effectively. Scottish Environment LINK members are calling for the creation of new watchdog functions and environmental courts to uphold environmental laws.

Speaking on behalf of the 18 organisations that have welcomed the vote in Scotland, Charles Dundas, Chair of Scottish Environment LINK and Public Affairs Manager at the Woodland Trust Scotland said:

“With today’s vote, the Scottish Parliament has made it clear that it will not accept any loss of environmental standards in Scotland as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. Important environmental principles, like the ‘precautionary principle’ or ‘polluter pays’, have for years underpinned EU environmental policy and legislation, helping to protect Scotland’s environment. This vote means that this will continue to be the case, whatever Scotland’s future relationship with its European neighbours is.
 
“Earlier in the process, Green, Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians all brought forward amendments that highlighted the opportunity for the Scottish Continuity Bill to avoid the gap in the UK Government’s Withdrawal Bill. All those in Scotland that care about the protection of our natural environment will be grateful that the Scottish Government listened and acted on those concerns. This was our political representatives at their best, working together to restore Scotland’s environment to good health.”

The coalition of environmental charities have also welcomed new commitments from the Scottish Government to examine solutions to a ‘governance gap’ created by the loss of functions currently performed by EU institutions like the European Commission and European Court of Justice.

Lloyd Austin, convenor of LINK’s Governance Group and RSPB Scotland’s Head of Conservation Policy said,
“European institutions have performed a valuable role in holding Scottish and UK Governments to account for their environmental commitments. Leaving the European Union must not mean the loss of these checks and balances or the rights of citizens to ensure our environmental laws are enforced. We were very pleased to hear the Scottish Government’s commitment to closing this gap. Particular credit is also due to Mark Ruskell MSP who has regularly raised this issue in sessions of the Parliament’s Environment Committee.”

Commenting on the Scottish Continuity Bill, Greener UK’s Chair Shaun Spiers [4] said:
“It’s heartening to see the Scottish Parliament voting to protect the environmental principles that have underpinned the EU’s law and policy making. We’ve been working with politicians at Westminster from across the political spectrum to raise the same concerns about the UK Government’s Withdrawal Bill. The Scottish Parliament’s vote shows that there are no practical barriers to doing this. There’s still time to make changes to the UK Withdrawal Bill, and it’s now time for Westminster to act on our concerns.”

For more information please contact:
Daphne Vlastari, LINK Advocacy Manager
daphne@scotlink.org | 0131 225 4345

— ENDS —

Notes to editors:
[1] The amendments are available online here. The amendments will begin being debated on and voted on at 2.20pm on 21 March in the Scottish Parliament as part of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill Stage 3.

[2] The environmental organisations, members of Scottish Environment LINK, who have supported this call are:
Butterfly Conservation Scotland, Cairngorms Campaign, Froglife Scotland, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, Marine Conservation Society, North East Mountain Trust, Nourish Scotland, Ramblers Scotland, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Badgers, Scottish Countryside Rangers Association, Scottish Wild Land Group, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Soil Association Scotland, Trees for Life, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Woodland Trust Scotland and WWF Scotland.

[3] The environmental principles are defined by Article 191(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU as:
– the precautionary principle;
– the principles that preventive action should be taken;
– the principle that environmental damage should as a priority be rectified at source and;
– the principle that the polluter should pay.

LINK’s briefing on the Continuity Bill and importance of EU environmental and animal sentience principles as well as governance gap can be found here.

[4] Greener UK is a group of 13 major environmental organisations, with a combined public membership of 7.9 million, united in the belief that leaving the EU is a pivotal moment to restore and enhance the UK’s environment (http://greeneruk.org/).

[4] Examples illustrating the importance of EU environment and animal sentience principles:

• Application of polluter pays principle in Court of Session 2013 open cast coal ruling: In a landmark ruling for environmental protection in December 2013, the Inner House of the Court of Session ruled that liquidators of Scottish Coal could not ‘disclaim’ i.e. unilaterally abandon environmental licences, specifically CAR licences issued by SEPA under The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) Regulations 2005 and 2011.
– This forced liquidators to continue to maintain the sites, preventing further environmental damage and preventing further costs from falling to Local Authorities or Scottish Government. A key part of the reasoning behind this decision lay in looking to the underlying purposes of the CAR regime, stated as being “to secure environmental advantages for society through the achievement of EU environmental objectives”.
– The court ruled that the “polluter pays” principle as set out in the Treaty on the functioning of the EU (“TFEU”), provided a sound reason for prohibiting unilateral termination, because “the principle required that the costs of pollution should be internalised, through pricing mechanisms, so that they became costs of any operations causing environmental degradation.”
– This case illustrates how the Scottish court was able to refer directly to the “polluter pays principle” as it exists in the TFEU – without the principle existing in a specific piece of EU or EU-derived legislation.

• Scottish Government GM crops decision utilising the precautionary principle: Scotland opted out of the use of genetically modified (GM) crops in 2015 on the basis of the precautionary principle. The Scottish Government stated that it was concerned that there was insufficient evidence that GM crops would not damage Scotland’s food and drink sector.
– Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead stated: “I strongly support the continued application of the precautionary principle in relation to GM crops and intend to take full advantage of the flexibility allowed under these new EU rules to ban GM crops from being grown in Scotland”.

• Preventive action and the regulation of non-native species in Scotland: The principle of “preventive action” is the basis of invasive non-native species (INNS) legislation (Wildlife and Countryside Act as amended by the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act). This principle supports that “prevention is better than cure” and so effort should be put into biosecurity etc to prevent INNS arriving as this is less costly, in long run, than the elimination of INNS after they have arrived/ are established. This approach is reflected in the Scottish Government Code of Practice on Non-Native Species.

[5] Further background on process:

• Upon being introduced, the Bill retained one of the most important EU environmental principles, the precautionary principle, as a principle of general EU law.
• Following intense cross-party discussions between the Scottish Government and Scottish Labour, Scottish Greens and Scottish Liberal Democrats, the Bill that the Scottish Parliament has now voted for provides further assurances that our environmental will not suffer as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. It also provides a clear path forward that commits the Scottish Government to ensuring that future Scottish policy works towards sustainable development, in line with commitments previously made by Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham.
• The amendments preserve EU environmental principles and require Scottish Ministers to consider them in terms of Sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Bill. Most critically, this means that Scottish Ministers will not be able to use delegated powers conferred on them to address deficiencies of EU law following the UK’s exit from the EU to water down environmental standards.
• The amendments also bind the Scottish Government to consulting and bringing forward proposals on the role and function of EU environmental principles in Scottish law as well as the need to address the environmental governance gap emerging from the loss of functions currently performed by EU bodies and agencies. Ministers have committed to consult and consider proposals to address the full range of functions that Scotland will need to address as a result of the UK’s exit from EU, including those performed by the European Commission and European Court of Justice.
• A key gap in the UK Government’s Withdrawal Bill has been its failure to preserve the EU’s environmental principles and provide legislative commitments to address the EU governance gap.

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Response to the Loch Carron Marine Protected Area consultation

February 20th, 2018 by

In response to the launch of the Scottish Government consultation, proposing to formalise and extend the boundary of the existing emergency Loch Carron nature conservation Marine Protected Area and fisheries management measures:

Calum Duncan, Head of Conservation Scotland for the Marine Conservation Society and Convener of Scottish Environment LINK’s Marine Group said: “Local divers have long known how special this sea loch is and the recent findings firmly underline Loch Carron’s world-class credentials, meriting its place within Scotland’s developing marine protected area network. We welcome proposals to make permanent the Loch Carron Marine Protected Area, enabling recovery of the flame shell beds and protection for the newly discovered maerl beds. The swift action by Scottish Government and SNH scientists to survey the area, discovering the largest flame shell beds in the world in the process, is to be commended! This is the second time Scotland has claimed this global title, emphasising both how amazing the marine life in our seas is and how much we still have to learn.”

Esther Brooker, WWF Scotland said: “It’s great news that Loch Carron Marine Protected Area is being proposed for permanent protection. Recent research has shown that flame shell and maerl beds can absorb and store carbon, so by protecting this area as an MPA not only will these be conserved, but damaging carbon will continue to be locked away by keeping these habitats in good condition. With the impacts of climate change becoming increasingly obvious, it’s really important we continue to support the oceans’ natural resilience and, as the majority of the UK’s flame shell and maerl beds are found here in Scotland, it’s vital we look after them properly.”

 Iain Turnbull, Property Manager for the National Trust for Scotland at Balmacara said “We’ve always known how rich the sea is in this area and we are delighted to see this has now received official recognition. The natural environment is vitally important to the local community, supporting jobs in the tourism and sustainable fishing sectors and we think that the presence of the MPA will both help to safeguard this and highlight the importance of this spectacular part of Scotland’s coast.”

Sam Collin, Scottish Wildlife Trust said: “Marine Scotland’s swift and urgent response to damage to the local flame shell beds last year highlights the importance of taking an adaptive, ecosystems approach to marine planning and conservation.”

Sue Scott, independent marine biologist and local resident to Loch Carron said: “I am delighted that the proposals launched today would make the Loch Carron MPA permanent. It is great to have the richness and diversity of our local marine life recognised and protected. However, we were lucky to get photographic evidence this time – divers have known for years the damage scallop dredging does to the seabed and to sensitive marine life, including commercial species.”

**************ENDS******************

Contact details

Emilie Devenport, Marine Policy and Engagement Officer, emilie@scotlink.org, M: 07726 362727

Calum Duncan, Convenor of LINK Marine Group, calum.duncan@mcsuk.org, M: 07841985595

Editors’ Notes

Scottish Environment LINK is the forum for Scotland’s voluntary environment community, with over 35 member bodies representing a broad spectrum of environmental interests with the common goal of contributing to a more environmentally sustainable society.

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Help us plan a better Scotland: Environmental charities launch e-action to fix Scotland’s Planning Bill

February 15th, 2018 by

Scottish Environment LINK members have launched an e-action to gather support around much needed changes to the Scottish Government’s Planning Bill that will put our communities and the environment first.

Planning is the foundation that preserves and enhances our built and natural environment, shaping and supporting our local communities. At its best, planning can deliver sustainable communities with affordable housing, well-resourced public services, green spaces for recreation, a flourishing and protected natural environment, clean air and transport infrastructure.

But all too often the planning system puts developers’ profits before communities’ needs leading to unsustainable developments, exacerbating inequalities and damaging our environment.

Today, confidence in the planning system is at an all-time low, with a recent survey finding that most people feel they have no influence in planning decisions that impact on their day-to-day lives and environment.

Key to fixing the planning system is meaningful community engagement and equal rights of appeal to help level the playing field between communities and developers. However, the Scottish Government’s proposed new Planning Bill doesn’t go nearly far enough in embedding sustainability and community engagement. In fact, it risks making matters worse.

Members of the public are encouraged to support our e-action and help give Scotland the world class planning system it deserves!

This is the time to write to your MSPs and ask them to support a planning system that delivers for our communities and the environment!  Support our e-action and let’s make our voices heard!

For more information, please contact:

Daphne Vlastari, Advocacy Manager Scottish Environment LINK | daphne@scotlink.org |0131 225 4345

Editors’ Notes:

  • Scottish Environment LINK is the forum for Scotland’s voluntary environment community, with over 35 member bodies representing a broad spectrum of environmental interests with the common goal of contributing to a more environmentally sustainable society.
  • To support our e-action, please visit: https://act.foe.scot/help-plan-better-scotland
  • To read detailed views from Scottish Environment LINK members on the new Planning Bill, click here.
  • To read more about the National Trust for Scotland survey on public engagement and the planning system, click here.
LINK is a Scottish Charity (SC000296) and a Scottish Company Limited by guarantee (SC250899). LINK is core funded by Membership Subscriptions and by grants from Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Government and Charitable Trusts.
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www.savescottishseas.org
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Marine: Scottish Parliament votes to support iconic mobile species

January 31st, 2018 by

Scottish Parliament vote to support iconic mobile species

Scottish Environment LINK members welcomed today’s Scottish Government announcement to provide additional resources for the development of four nature conservation Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) including for some of Scotland’s most iconic mobile species. Following a call from the Scottish Green Party, the Scottish Government has committed additional funding to support the designation of these important sites in a revised budget proposal that was put to a vote in Scottish Parliament. If designated the MPAs would be the world’s first sites designated for the protection of basking sharks, Risso’s dolphins and minke whales, and would see the introduction of area based measures that should provide greater protection than surrounding areas of sea.

The four MPAs – Sea of the Hebrides MPA, Shiant East Bank MPA, North-East Lewis MPA and Southern Trench MPA –were first proposed in 2012, but were not taken forward at the time as more evidence was needed. Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Government’s conservation advisory body, provided this additional information and formally recommended the designation of all four sites in 2014 towards completion of the MPA network.

Basking sharks are currently listed as officially endangered in the North East Atlantic on the IUCN Red List of species, and are a species of conservation importance in Scottish and wider UK waters. Whilst the EU Conservation Status of UK minke whale is ‘favourable’, Risso’s dolphin is ‘unknown’.

 

Calum Duncan, Marine Conservation Society, Convenor LINK Marine Group: We commend the Scottish Government’s commitment to speed up progress on Scotland’s MPA network, which along with welcome existing commitments, will help ensure healthy seas now and tomorrow. These four MPAs are urgently needed to fill gaps in the network, particularly for the endangered basking shark and other iconic species, but also for sandeels, seafan and sponge habitats and landscape-scale features important for the wider health of Scotland’s seas, provided they become well-managed.

 

Sarah Dolman, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, vice-convenor LINK Marine Group: We are delighted with this news! We were proud to provide Scottish Government with more than 36,000 postcards supporting whale and dolphin MPAs, alongside our own scientific evidence back in 2012. These MPAs will be world-firsts – including for Risso’s dolphins, where WDC have been studying their little-known calving and feeding behaviour off Lewis since 2010. Once designation and management are in place, these MPAs will ensure the protection of Scotland’s much loved marine wildlife, including minke whales and Risso’s dolphins.

 

Dr Sam Collin, Marine Planning Officer, Scottish Wildlife Trust said: “There is wealth of research pointing to the significance of these areas for species including basking sharks and minke whale so we’re very pleased that the Scottish Government has now committed to moving these new Marine Protected Areas forward. The designation of these sites would reinforce the Scottish Government’s commitment through the UN Sustainable Development Goals to conserve and sustainably use Scotland’s seas.”

 

Dr Lauren Hartny-Mills, Science and Policy Officer, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust: “We are absolutely thrilled to hear that the Scottish Government plans to progress these important MPAs which will help protect Scotland’s iconic mobile species. Our research on cetaceans and basking sharks on the west coast of Scotland has helped provide the scientific evidence needed to support these sites. These MPAs will protect important feeding and breeding grounds for charismatic species such as minke whales in the Sea of Hebrides, where some individuals have been returning every year for over a decade! With our marine environments under increasing pressure from human activity and the effects of climate change, we need to act now to provide the protection they need.”

 

MPAs are recognised as an effective conservation tool globally, and with the right management measures in place can provide much needed spatial protection to highly mobile species as well as seabed habitats. Although cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) are strictly protected under European Law, MPAs can help protect areas that contain significant numbers of animals, or are essential to key life cycle stages – such as calving, feeding or breeding.

Most minke whales are seasonal visitors, leaving in the winter months and returning to feed in Scotland’s rich coastal waters, like those in the Sea of the Hebrides and the Southern Trench, through to the autumn. People come from all over the world to watch minke whales off Scotland’s coastline, with more than 51,000 people taking part in whale watching boat tours on the west coast of Scotland in 2015.

Risso’s dolphins can be found in Scottish waters year round and many young calves have been spotted off the Isle of Lewis. They are typically an offshore species, favouring the seas around remote islands for feeding.

Recent research by the University of Exeter, in collaboration with the Marine Conservation Society, demonstrated the global significance of the Sea of the Hebrides MPA for basking sharks in 2016. Wherever they roam in our waters, basking sharks have protection from disturbance under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, but these gentle giants would benefit from MPA protection in hotspots where they are known to congregate.

 

 

**************ENDS******************

Contact details

Emilie Devenport, Marine Policy and Engagement Officer, emilie@scotlink.org, M: 07726 362727

Calum Duncan, Convenor of LINK Marine Group, calum.duncan@mcsuk.org, M: 07841985595

Editors’ Notes

 

Scottish Environment LINK is the forum for Scotland’s voluntary environment community, with over 35 member bodies representing a broad spectrum of environmental interests with the common goal of contributing to a more environmentally sustainable society.

 

LINK is a Scottish Charity (SC000296) and a Scottish Company Limited by guarantee (SC250899). LINK is core funded by Membership Subscriptions and by grants from Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Government and Charitable Trusts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Marine: It’s time to invest in the future of Scotland’s young people by investing in healthy seas

January 10th, 2018 by

Don’t let our legacy be their burden – 2018, Scotland’s Year of Young People, must be the year Scotland invests in healthy seas for the benefit of current and future generations.

With just two years until 2020, the year by which Scotland has committed to halting biodiversity loss, and also the Year of Scotland’s Coast and Waters, environmental groups say investment is urgently needed to put Scotland’s seas firmly on the road to recovery. The call builds upon the growing interest of Scotland’s young people in protecting and recovering marine life.

Recovering Scotland’s amazing marine life will benefit the environment and people alike. Scotland’s seas are vital to its society, culture and economy – they provide jobs (79,000 in 2017), encourage tourism, provide unique opportunities to develop innovative technologies, and play a vital role in mitigating climate change. More than 40% of Scotland’s population live within 5km of the coast, which also homes thousands of amazing, unique and occasionally bizarre marine animals and plants.

As highlighted on the BBC’s Blue Planet 2, and Scotland’s own Marine Atlas, Scotland’s seas are in a poor state, and increasing pressures from human activity and climate change further threaten their health. Without adequately investing in our seas now we risk undermining the wealth of benefits that they can provide.

There is a significant level of interest among Scotland’s youth in taking part in environmental projects aimed at safeguarding and recovering marine life. These range from campaigns to reduce our use of plastic to surveying whales and dolphins. Environmental groups expect that this level of interest will only grow as our awareness of the threats facing Scotland’s seas increases.

To help secure Scotland’s vital marine resources, environmental groups say that the timely completion of a network of Marine Protected Areas is urgently needed, and that the development and implementation of integrated regional-scale marine plans will ensure sustainable management of all activity within Scotland’s inshore waters.

Supporting the recovery of Scotland’s seas will help to secure the benefits of Scotland’s seas for young people now and into the future, and ensure that 2020, the Year of Scotland’s Coast and Waters, is a milestone year for marine conservation.

 

Suggested quotes

Calum Duncan, Marine Conservation Society, Scottish Environment LINK Marine Group convenor “When we talk about marine conservation and the enhancement of our seas, we are also talking about securing future opportunities for Scotland’s young people. Whilst recognising that budgets are tight and tightening, now is the time to capitalise on the progress made to date and the growing interest in our seas. We have a responsibility to reduce the burden for future generations, and a unique opportunity to invest in the future of Scotland’s young people by investing in our seas.”

Alison Lomax, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust “Through our work in schools and with youth groups it’s clear that young people are becoming increasingly aware of environmental issues and that they want to do something about it. Involving young people in caring for our seas is crucial, providing opportunities to learn about and experience marine life and culture will provide them with the skills they will need to work in and nurture our seas into the future. But we must also act now to make sure we leave them with a marine environment they can still work with.”

Sarah Dolman, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Scottish Environment LINK Marine Group vice-convenor “Scotland’s seas are home to amazing megafauna including minke whale, basking shark, the unusual Risso’s dolphin and the most northerly population of bottlenose dolphins. Unfortunately, some of these and other iconic marine species, such as harbour seals are in decline, and we need to do all we can to support their recovery before it is too late. Scotland has made great progress on Marine Protected Areas for vulnerable seabed habitats and we hope this year sees sufficient funding in place to fill vital mobile species gaps in the network”.

Sam Collin, Scottish Wildlife Trust “Marine planning will play a vital role in sustainably managing human activity in Scotland’s seas and protecting its valuable wildlife. Scotland’s Regional Marine Plans will be a key component in the recovery of our seas and will help establish a healthy foundation that future generations can benefit from and build upon. It is essential that sufficient funds are made available now to support the development and implementation of these plans over the coming years.”

 

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EU environmental principles sit at the heart of Scottish policy-making, says Secretary for the Environment Roseanna Cunningham

November 6th, 2017 by

6 November 2017 – Speaking to over 200 delegates attending the European Environmental Bureau’s annual conference, co-organised with Scottish Environment LINK, Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham said that:

“The creation of a European Union has been about recognising shared values that bring us together across national boundaries. A robust and effective approach to protecting our environment has proved, for many of us, to be one of those key shared values. So, my ambition is to carry through not just the letter of EU environmental law but also the underlying principles of precaution, prevention and rectifying pollution at source, as well as the ‘polluter pays’ principle. Not doing so means we risk lagging behind and diverging from the ambitions of our European allies as well as missing key tools that can help us to meet international ambitions such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals”.

Later today, at a meeting between the UK Government and devolved administrations, Mrs Cunningham will urge UK Ministers to support those principles and seek to clarify their approach to preserving them.

Mrs Cunningham’s commitment was warmly welcomed by the environmental community in both Scotland and across Europe who expressed support for the Scottish Government position.

Jeremy Wates, Secretary General of European Environmental Bureau said:

“We strongly welcome the commitment of the Cabinet Secretary today to preserving not only EU environmental law but also the principles which underpin them. Our commitment has always been to securing the highest standards of environmental protection in Scotland and across Europe. We know that Brexit challenges this and we are heartened that leaders in Scotland are working to preserve these hard-fought protections and stop a race to the bottom”.

Helen Todd, Chair of Scottish Environment LINK said:

“Today’s statement by the Cabinet Secretary is warmly welcomed by Scottish Environment LINK members. It is testament to the Scottish Government’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and helps address one of the risks of Brexit – namely, that internationally recognised principles of environmental law enshrined in EU treaties will no longer apply once the UK exits the EU. Of course, actions speak louder than words and so we look forward to the Scottish Government providing further certainty regarding the future of these important international principles in Scotland. Our members stand ready to support the Scottish Government in securing the future of our environment and with it that of Scotland as a whole.”

 

For more information please contact:

Daphne Vlastari

LINK Advocacy Manager

daphne@scotlink.org

0757 211 33 79

Editors’ Notes

(1)  Scottish Environment LINK is the forum for Scotland’s voluntary environment community, with over 35 member bodies representing a broad spectrum of environmental interests with the common goal of contributing to a more environmentally sustainable society.

LINK is a Scottish Charity (SC000296) and a Scottish Company Limited by guarantee (SC250899). LINK is core funded by Membership Subscriptions and by grants from Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Government and Charitable Trusts.

ukvps3.ie-dev.co.uk/scotlink-wordpress/

www.savescottishseas.org

(2) For more information about the European Environmental Bureau’s annual conference, please visit: www.eebconference.eu

(3) Environmental NGOs across the UK have been calling on the UK government to convert EU environmental law principles into domestic law. This view is captured in the Greener UK briefing here and in Scottish Environment LINK member contributions here.

(4) Download the press release here.

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Members of Scottish Parliament celebrate Scotland’s marine life

September 27th, 2017 by

On Friday 1st September, members of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee set sail from the Isle of Mull to experience Scotland’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Departing from Tobermory, the Committee members visited part of the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area on the West Coast of Scotland.

The trip was organised by members of Scottish Environment LINK’s Marine Group and hosted by the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) a marine conservation charity and LINK member based on the Isle of Mull. Members were joined by representatives from the Community Association of Lochs and Sounds (CAOLAS), and were lucky enough to see a young minke whale feeding near the boundary line of the proposed Sea of Hebrides MPA, and several harbour porpoises in the Sound of Mull aboard the Staffa tours boat. The excursion recognised the progress that has been made in developing Scotland’s MPA network, but underlined the work still to be done.

Plans to develop a network of MPAs in Scotland are well under way. The Sound of Jura to Loch Sunart MPA is just one of 30 MPAs designated in 2014, as part of a strategic jigsaw of protected areas in both inshore and offshore waters designed to give sealife – such as corals, seabirds and fish – a chance to return to better health.

Recent additions to the MPA network include a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in the Inner Hebrides and Minches for Harbour Porpoise announced last September, and the Loch Carron emergency MPA for the recovery of flame shell beds.

Yet, there is still more to be done, say environmental groups, who underlined the importance of there being sufficient resources to get the job done. Among the measures outstanding are management measures for remaining inshore sites including seven MPAs and 14 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Additionally, the LINK Marine Group urged the timely designation of 15 Special Protection Areas for marine birds, and a further four nature conservation MPAs first proposed in 2014, to provide much needed protection for mobile species including minke whale and basking shark.

Calum Duncan, Convenor of Scottish Environment LINK’s marine group and Marine Conservation Society, Head of Conservation Scotland said: “We are delighted that members of the ECCLR Committee and local groups were able to join us to celebrate Scotland’s marine life and recognise progress towards developing Scotland’s MPA network. We are at a critical point on this journey and more still needs to be done. If the MPA network sufficiently represents all of Scotland’s marine life, is reliably resourced and well-managed, alongside effective marine planning and modernised fisheries management, it will help reverse decades of environmental decline and boost the many benefits our seas provide for current and future generations”.

Alison Lomax, Director at Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust added: “The waters of west Scotland are an important feeding hotspot for minke whales in the summer months. Thousands of visitors come to see these animals each year in our waters. It was fantastic that members of the ECCLR Committee got to experience some of Mull’s amazing marine wildlife during the visit.”

Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee Convener, Graeme Dey MSP, said: “The conservation of Scotland’s seas is hugely important for the protection of marine life as well as our coastal communities and marine industries.

“Our Committee will examine Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across Scotland in the future, and that’s why our visit to Scottish Environment LINK to find out more about the operation of Loch Sunart and Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura MPAs was incredibly valuable.”

ENDS

 

 Notes/links for editors:

Scottish Environment LINK’s marine group – a coalition of environmental charities campaign to protect and recover Scotland’s seas – and comprises the following nine organisations: Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust, Marine Conservation Society, National Trust for Scotland, RSPB Scotland, RZSS, Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust, WWF Scotland, Whale& Dolphin Conservation. (http://www.scotlink.org/workareas/marine/) The members campaign for Marine Protected Areas via www.savescottishseas.org

Find out more about the work of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee.

  • Scotland’s MPA network can be seen here:

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/marine-environment/mpanetwork  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/marine-consultation/

http://www.savescottishseas.org/news/whales-dolphins-and-basking-sharks-need-mpas-now/

Ø  Related information on MPAs can be found at www.savescottishseas.org/why-we-need-mpas

 

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2017-2018 Programme for government green commitments an important first step towards UN Sustainable Development Goals

September 6th, 2017 by

5 September 2017 – Scottish Environment LINK members warmly welcome measures to safeguard Scotland’s environment outlined in the Scottish Government’s programme for government. Clean air and transport, tackling climate change and reducing waste as well as promoting eco-innovation are key areas of action that can deliver benefits for everyone in Scotland.

“Scotland’s pledge to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals needs to be backed up with real actions and the programme for government announced today is a very important first step towards putting in place much needed reforms”, said Helen Todd, Chair of Scottish Environment LINK.

“We hope that this programme for government will mark the beginning of even further bold action to make our vision for a sustainable and low carbon Scotland a reality. The environment cannot be seen in isolation or as separate to policies for the economy, agriculture, fisheries, transport, innovation or planning. Our environment is – quite literally- the air we breathe, the food we grow and eat, the water we drink and the land we live in and enjoy”, added Helen.

Today’s environmental challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and resource scarcity illustrate all too clearly that we can no longer afford to legislate in silos. This is why LINK members have been calling for the strengthening of the National Performance Framework as a tool for ensuring that policies are fit for purpose. We hope that the upcoming review of the Framework will not only align it with the UN Sustainable Development Goals but that it will also launch a debate about how it can be used as a useful metric for how our policies match up against our vision for Scotland.

As the First Minister stated, to protect human rights, we need to safeguard environmental rights. Legislation that takes into account the environment and environmental limits is essential for our future prosperity. LINK members will continue working with government and elected officials towards this end.

Contact details
Daphne Vlastari, LINK Advocacy officer
0131 225 4345/0757 211 22 79 or daphne@scotlink.org

Scottish Environment LINK is the forum for Scotland’s voluntary environment community, with over 35 member bodies representing a broad spectrum of environmental interests with the common goal of contributing to a more environmentally sustainable society.

LINK is a Scottish Charity (SC000296) and a Scottish Company Limited by guarantee (SC250899). LINK is core funded by Membership Subscriptions and by grants from Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Government and Charitable Trusts.

Visit us at ukvps3.ie-dev.co.uk/scotlink-wordpress/ or follow us on @ScotLINK

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Administrations must Work Together to Stop Seas Unravelling

August 3rd, 2017 by

As part of a joint marine campaign, Scotland’s leading marine environment groups are calling on close collaboration between all UK administrations to ensure the UK Marine Bill makes it into the November Queen’s speech, so that Scottish and UK Marine Bills can be taken forward in tandem.

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