Third of land to be reserved for nature
Plans to protect at least 30 p er cent of Scotland's land for nature by 2030 have been announced by Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham.
The pledge is part of the Scottish Government' s Statement of Intent on Biodiversity, which sets out its priorities for tackling biodiversity loss.
Currently, 22.7 per cent of land in Scotland is protected and the new document commits to increasing this to 30 percent by 2030.
Further commitments includeplans to support new, locally driven projects aiming to improve ecological connectivity.
Plans to protect at least 30 percent of Scotland' s land for nature by 2030 have been announced by Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham.
The pledge is part of the Scottish Government's Statement of Intent on Biodiversity, which sets out its priorities for tackling biodiversity loss.
Currently, 22.7 p er cent of land in Scotland is protected for nature and the new document commits to increas - ing this to 30 per cent by 2030 and commissioning advice on whether this could be extended.
Further commitments include developing a new national strategy on biodiversity by June 2022 and plans to support new, locally driven projects aiming to improve ecological connectivity.
The paper also endorses the Leaders' Pledge for Nature presented at this year's United Nations General Assembly and pledges to take a combined approach to ending Scotland's contribution to climate change and ecological decline.
Ms Cunningham launched the statement at a summit on peatland restoration. She said: "Dealing with the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss is one of the most important challenges of this generation.
"It requires global action and Scotland has played a key leadership role in international negotiations, agreeing the Edinburgh Declaration with international partners.
"We have committed to maintaining or exceeding EU environmental standards and we are determined to continue to play our part in global efforts - co-operating with friends in Europe and around the world in the run up to the UN Biodiversity COP15 in China next year."
She added :" The recent addition of 16 new sites to our Marine Protected Area (MPA) network demonstrates Scotland's commitment to lead by example on marine environmental protection too.
"Thirty-seven percent of our seas are now protected, exceeding the proposed international target to achieve 30 per cent of global MPA coverage by 2030.
"As we begin to emerge from the pandemic, nature based solutions such as woodland creation, peat land rest or ation, urban green infrastructure, regeneration, and a great range of sustainable enterprises will not only help the environment but create jobs helping us build a greener, more inclusive economy."
Frances ca Osowska, chief executive of Naturescot, formerly Scottish Natural Heritage, said: "We need nature for our survival-but our nature is in crisis. We have to work quickly and at a scale not seen before.
"These plans are an excellent step to transforming how we interact with, and care for, nature in ever y aspect of our lives."
Conservation charity WWF Scotland welcomed aspects of the statement but called for more action. Its food and environment policy manager Sheila George said: "There are some welcome commitments in this document, including securing net-positive effects for biodiversity in development and increasing the area of land protected for nature.”