30 by 30 and National Parks
Shockingly, Scotland ranks 212th out of 240 countries and territories in how intact its biodiversity remains. We have seen huge historical losses and species have declined by 15% on average since 1994, with 9% at risk of extinction nationally. As nature underpins our economies, lives and wellbeing, the downward trajectory urgently needs to be reversed.
Later this year, the Scottish Government is set to bring forward a Natural Environment Bill which could include amendments to the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 with the intention of increasing the effectiveness of National Parks in addressing the nature and climate emergency. Also expected to be included in the Bill are nature restoration targets, and to put the commitment to protect at least 30 percent of Scotland’s land and sea for nature by 2030 in statute. This target, known as ’30 by 30’, was agreed at COP15 in 2022 and Scotland is one of 196 signatories making plans to deliver on it, both through areas officially protected for nature by designation and via “Other Effective Area Based Conservation Measures” or OECMs.
OECMs are said to provide a more grassroots and collaborative means of identifying and ongoing management of important nature sites. They are not intended to be lighter touch, but a model that has landowner consent and enthusiasm for nature at heart, and could give due recognition to those landowners leading on nature restoration as well as securing long term benefits for nature. Ahead of the Natural Environment Bill, NatureScot are leading on the development of how OECMs can work in practice over the longterm.
Earlier this year, Scottish Environment LINK released a report called “Protecting 30 per cent of Scotland’s land for nature” which SCNP and APRS contributed to. It includes coverage of how National Parks can contribute to biodiversity recovery and meeting 30 by 30. In the past the Scottish Government sometimes included the entire area of Scotland’s National Parks when it reported on protected area extent, bringing the coverage from 18% to around 23% of Scotland’s land. But it is widely accepted that not all of the area within National Park boundaries is considered protected for nature. The LINK report sets out some steps that could be taken to improve National Parks’ contribution to 30 by 30 and the potential for OECMs to help reverse the loss of nature in Scotland.