Biodiversity & Ecosystem Resilience

The natural environment is one of Scotland’s greatest assets. For a country of its size Scotland has a vast array of different landscapes supported by diverse and complex ecosystems.

In addition to their basic cultural, environmental and economic benefits Scotland’s ecosystems provide an extensive range of essential services of direct benefit to people. Changes in climate will directly impact ecosystems and their ability to continue to provide these services. Changes in biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, triggered by recent past changes in climate, have already been observed, these changes are expected to accelerate as the climate changes in the future.

Much work is required in order to increase the resilience of ecosystems to climate change and to help maximise the potential benefits of vital ecosystem services that have a significant role to play in contributing to society’s overall resilience to climate change.     

Key Impacts

• Changes in climate will alter the way that many species interact. For example milder winter temperatures and earlier spring weather mean that young birds may not hatch at the same time as their prey affecting their ability to survive;
• Changes in climate are likely to influence the competitive balances between species, resulting in radical changes to landscapes and potential changes in land use;
• Species native to Scotland are likely to be lost as climatic conditions alter, impacting cultural heritage and ecosystem biodiversity;
• Some coastal habitats may be lost due to sea level rise;
• Peatland soils and habitats may be damaged by drying out and erosion;
• Habitats will need space to adapt to climate change, fragmented isolated habitats will be the most vulnerable to changes in climate; and
• The natural habitat makes a significant contribution to Scotland’s economy, reductions in the quality and diversity of ecosystems will undoubtedly have significant economic impacts.

Key Opportunities

• Wetland habitats and appropriate tree planning can provide natural flood defences in both coastal and inland areas;
• Ecosystems provide a vital climate regulation mechanism essential for moderating the impacts of increased temperatures;
• Appropriate ecosystem management can help to reduce and manage soil erosion;
• Healthy and productive ecosystems significantly impact the productivity of soils with positive impacts for food production; and
• Diverse and healthy ecosystems have been shown to significantly contribute towards the health and wellbeing of people.

What’s happening?

The Scottish Government, together with Scottish Natural Heritage, local authorities and Scotland’s Environment and Rural Delivery Services, is working to better understand and the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity.  Adaptation action plans are being developed that will work to implement measures to increase the resilience of ecosystems to changes in climate and facilitate planned adaptation.

The information below outlines some of the key policy drivers and practical action that is taking place:

Scotland’s Climate Change Adaptation Framework

The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience sector action plan within Scotland’s Climate Change Adaptation Framework provides an overview of how the sector will address climate change adaptation requirements. The sector action plan will be developed on an ongoing basis through consultation with key stakeholders and information provided by ongoing research and policy implementation.  

Scottish Biodiversity Strategy

Scotland's biodiversity strategy, Scotland's Biodiversity: It's in Your Hands, was published in 2004 and sets out how the government will conserve biodiversity for the health, enjoyment and wellbeing of the people of Scotland now and in the future. The strategy sets out an aim to halt biodiversity loss by 2010, and of Scotland being recognised as a world leader in biodiversity by 2030. Climate change is considered as a key aspect within each of the five ecosystem groups covered by the strategy. The Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Framework Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience sector action plan will consider actions relating to some of the ecosystem groups in greater detail and will add further value to the biodiversity strategy.

Scottish Soil Framework

The Scottish Soil Framework was published in May 2009 and describes key pressures on soils, with particular emphasis on climate change. The framework identifies relevant policies to combat threats and identifies the future focus for soil protection, key soil outcomes, and actions across a range of sectors.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is funded by the Scottish Government to promote care for and improvement of the natural heritage. SNH aims to: help people enjoy the natural heritage responsibly, enable greater understanding and awareness of it and, promote its sustainable use, now and for future generations.

SNH has a critical role to play in raising awareness of, and helping increase resilience to, the impacts of climate change. Their Climate Change action plan, ‘Climate change and the natural heritage, SHN’s approach and action plan’ highlights SNH’s view that climate change is the most serious threat to Scotland’s natural heritage. The plan sets out the organisations role in better understanding and helping others adapt to climate change. 

Adaptation action

Strategic Environmental Assessments

Strategic Environmental Assessments (a method of considering and broadly evaluating the likely impact of a public plan, programme or strategy on the environment) provide a mechanism for ensuring that climate change impacts, including impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity, are considered as part of the planning process. SNH is a statutory consultee for all Strategic Environmental Assessments, providing an opportunity to ensure that impacts on the natural environment are appropriately assessed and quantified.

Green network partnerships

Green network partnerships such as the Central Scotland Green Network, Edinburgh and Lothians Forest Habitat Network Partnership and the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network are working to promote the development of green networks across Scotland. These networks will provide an essential mechanism for species migration and adaptation, improving the resilience of landscapes to climate change. A key priority for these partnerships is to increase the quality of green spaces available for people to enjoy.

More information

Scotland’s Climate Change Adaptation Framework: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience Sector Summary

Scottish Natural Heritage

Guidance on Strategic Environmental Assessments and Climate Change

The Forestry Commission Scotland