27th March 2025, by sm_admin

A few weeks ago, the Sustainable Land Connectors hosted an insightful update from the Scottish Government and NatureScot, shedding light on Scotland’s ambitious plans to restore biodiversity by 2045. Ross Johnstone (Scottish Government) and Martin Faulkner (NatureScot) shared key developments on the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS), the upcoming Natural Environment Bill, and how landscape-scale projects will drive change.

You can view the full presentation here: SBS policy and legislation update -March 2025

Here’s what we learned—and why it matters for Scotland’s future.

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Scotland’s Biodiversity Vision: Restoring Nature by 2045

The goal is clear:

“By 2045, Scotland will have restored and regenerated biodiversity across land and sea.”

To get there, the government has laid out a Delivery Plan with six core objectives, 31 Priority Actions, and 136 interconnected measures. While the scale of the plan may seem daunting, the good news is that many actions reinforce one another—progress in one area often supports others.

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Key elements of the Delivery Plan 

1. The Natural Environment Bill (February 2025) – This forthcoming legislation will provide the legal framework for biodiversity protection and enhancement.
2. Ecosystem Restoration Programme – Six large-scale landscape projects will be established, each incorporating significant woodland components.
3. Nature Network Expansion – Improving ecological connectivity across Scotland’s habitats.
4. National Park Enhancements – Strengthening protections and management of these important areas.
5. Urban Green and Blue Space Development – Increasing biodiversity in built environments through parks, waterways and wetlands.
6. Priority Species and Habitat Protection – Targeted conservation measures for vulnerable wildlife.

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Questions & challenges 

Attendees at the Spring meeting had a few questions:

1. How Will Progress Be Tracked?

A publicly available Biodiversity Planning Document outlines each action, including:

• Who’s leading it
• Who’s supporting it
• Key deadlines

This transparency will help hold stakeholders accountable.

2. Which Landscapes Will Be Restored?

NatureScot has a shortlist of six projects, with consultations underway. A final decision is expected by mid-2025.Some questions have been raised about whether selecting already-established projects demonstrates sufficient ambition, or if this pragmatic approach increases chances of success.

3. Will Scotland Align with EU Restoration Plans?

While the EU’s National Restoration Plan hasn’t been fully reviewed, Scotland aims to sync up where possible, especially on landscape-scale approaches.

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