Post-covid nature recovery plan set out
● Environment groups propose moves to benefit people and planet
Restoring peatlands, cutting deer numbers and planting native trees are among a number of moves required to help Scotland bounce back after the coronavirus crisis.
The findings come from a new report that sets out an 11-step recovery plan that will create jobs, boost local economies and improve health while benefiting nature.
Launched by environmental charities RSPB Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust and WWF Scotland, the paper details “transformative” actions that will help Scotland’s nature and “build a fairer future for all”.
It highlights five areas for immediate action from the Scottish Government – restoring and protecting Scotland’s globally important peatlands; replacing and expanding native forests; improving deer management; creating a new system to support ecofriendly farming; and linking up wild places through a new Scottish Nature Network.
Other proposals include introducing new laws to achieve sustainable, lowimpact fishing; licensing grouse shooting businesses; ensuring all new development is net-positive for nature; and ending burning on peatland.
Creating new rules to improve nitrogen use, establishing a Scottish inspectorate to tackle invasive non-native species, and implementing high-level protection of at least 30 per cent of Scotland’s seas round out the measures.
Jo Pike, chief executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “Nature is our life support system, but it is in trouble. Time is running out to secure the transformative recovery needed to address the crises facing our natural environment, our climate and our economy.
“Despite welcome recognition by the Scottish Government that investing in nature is an essential step towards a new economy based on improved well-being, we still need a plan that sets out what action will be taken to support nature’s recovery.”
WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: “We need to wake up to the fact that many species are increasingly under threat from climate change.
“Even small increases in temperature threaten many of the plants and animals that give Scotland its iconic landscapes, but that we also depend on for food, protection from flooding, and absorbing carbon pollution.
“The fact is that we cannot tackle the climate crisis without also addressing the emergency facing our natural world.”
Anne Mccall, director of Scotland for the RSPB, said: “We must do a lot more to ensure that nature can thrive across Scotland and to ensure that everyone can access the delights and inspiration that wildlife can bring.
“Delivering this suite of actions and prioritising investment in habitat restoration as part of a green recovery will help to build a more resilient, naturerich Scotland.”