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SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE

INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN SNH Purpose of paper 1. This paper provides an overview of some core areas of international leadership from a scientific perspective in SNH. It seeks advice and comment on some specific areas, with a view to developing this paper for the Board. Action 2. The Scientific Advisory Committee is asked to: i. Note the historical perspective on international leadership by SNH and its predecessor bodies; ii. Note the wide range of current international activities; iii. Advise on areas of work which may be lacking and should be recognised further; and iv. Advise and comment on some areas for development, possibly through contributing to a sub-group to contribute to business planning for 2019 onwards.

Preparation 3. This paper was prepared by Des Thompson and Sue Marrs, with additional inputs from Colin Bean, Ed Mackey, Clive Mitchell, Lynne Clark and a large number of other colleagues across SNH. The paper is sponsored by Sally Thomas.

Background 4. In the Committee paper SAC/2017/03/03 we explored science and evidence needs in SNH. That paper and the ensuing discussion considered in detail particular areas of work we wish to develop further, and ways of engaging with the scientific communities in . Since that paper was written there have been significant changes in SNH, with recent Ministerial approval given for the new Corporate Plan 2018-22, the appointment of a new Chair and CEO, and other changes to our Senior Leadership Team. The organisation is taking some important new courses of action, and some areas of work will clearly be given much higher priority. 5. As part of this, our Chair has commented that he wishes SNH to be one of Europe’s best environmental organisations. We recently held a joint Board- Committee event at the Royal Society of Edinburgh (29th January 2018) which also raised the importance of SNH leading internationally by example. 6. We have drawn together examples of international work undertaken in SNH which can be termed loosely as ‘international leadership’. This is the beginning of a stock take of expertise and experience, which should contribute to the core implementation of the new Corporate Plan, but which should be used to energise

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and support some real and potential strength across staff and associated partnerships. 7. The paper is intended to stimulate discussion by the Committee in order that we can develop the synergies between our international leadership and the ambitions of the Corporate Plan. A legacy of international leadership in caring for and promoting the natural heritage 8. SNH and its predecessor bodies the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland (NCCS), Countryside Commission for Scotland (CCS), Red Deer Commission (RDC), Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) and Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) have a proud record of international achievements. Some of the more recent work has been detailed in SNH publications1. Historically, excellence in science and the reliance on evidence have been crucial to this work, and some of it has been internationally significant. A few highlights include:

 Development of nature conservation evaluation principles (notably by Derek Ratcliffe and Norman Moore), with much of the foundation work undertaken in Scotland2

 Development of bird monitoring, significantly as a result of research on the impacts of pesticides on peregrines and other raptors, and on seabirds, and long-term population studies, and wider biodiversity monitoring and surveillance programmes3

 Devising habitat classification and survey methods, notably for upland and woodland vegetation, mosses and ferns, and marine and coastal habitats4

 Geodiversity and the foundations of the Geological Conservation Review5

 Ground-breaking earth and biological scientific research (some on-going) by a wide range of researchers in universities and research institutes such as the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (formerly, the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology) and British Geological Survey on National Nature

1 Natural Heritage of Scotland book series (beginning with the Islands of Scotland: a Living Marine Heritage (1994) and ending with The Changing Nature of Scotland (2011, the 17th book in the series published by TSO). 2 Ratcliffe, D.A. ed. (1977). A Nature Conservation Review. Vols 1 and 2. CUP, Cambridge. See also Thompson, D. B A, , W J and Birks, H J B 2015). Nature conservation and the Nature Conservation Review: a novel philosophical framework. In: Thompson, D.B.A, Birks, H.H., and Birks, H.J.B. (Eds.) Nature’s Conscience: the life and legacy of Derek Ratcliffe. Pp. 331-358. Langford, Peterborough. 3 E.g. https://www.bto.org/science/monitoring and https://nbn.org.uk/about-us/where-we-are/in- scotland/ 4 http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1425 and e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plants-Habitats-Introduction- Britain- Ireland/dp/0957608101/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=Z6V8E6TA667093 1NB71Z , https://www.amazon.co.uk/Illustrated-Guide-British-Upland-Vegetation/dp/1784270156, http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/science/atlas 5 http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2947

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Reserves (NNRs) in Scotland e.g. on , , , , , Rum and St Kilda6

 Development of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and the research and partnership working devoted to developing this, now viewed as an international leader7

 Development casework management, notably in response to renewable energy developments, including the establishment of the ‘Band Model’ (devised by former colleague Dr Bill Band) to assess bird collision risks, and other guidance produced by colleagues and research associates8

 Approaches to species conservation and management, including multi- partner conservation and management, translocations, reintroductions, non-native invasive species control, conservation frameworks, and advice sought internationally9

 Marine, coastal, freshwater and land management advice and guidance10

 Protected Areas designations and networks, with some sites awarded international awards for management and promotion (e.g. Beinn Eighe, Britain’s first NNR, , St Kilda, , Flow Country and )11

 Leadership through chairing of some key international groups and committees (e.g. IUCN Protected Areas, Convention on Migratory Species (CMS, Bonn Convention) Scientific Committee and TAG, European Committee for Standardization (CEN) on freshwater aspects), writing and editing international overviews as books and papers, organising international conferences, and editorial work for international journals (Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems was established by a staff member, and he and another colleague are Editors- in-Chief)12 9. There are literally hundreds of such examples, testified by partnerships, publications, work on designated features and sites, and by some exceptional

6 http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/ 7 https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/ 8 https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/planning-and-development/renewable-energy- development/types-renewable-technologies/onshore-wind-energy/wind-farm-impacts-birds 9 E.g. https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/safeguarding-protected-areas-and-species/reintroducing- native-species/scottish-code-conservation-translocations, https://www.nature.scot/species-action- framework-handbook , http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/commissioned_reports/193.pdf 10 https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/land-and-sea-management/managing-land https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/safeguarding-protected-areas-and-species/safeguards-beyond- protected-areas/water-framework-directive https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/safeguarding- protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/national-designations/marine-protected-areas-mpas 11 https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/safeguarding-protected-areas-and-species/protected- areas/international-designations 12 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-0755 http://www.cms.int/en/meetings/scientific-council http://www.cms.int/raptors/en/legalinstrument/birds- prey-raptors https://www.rse.org.uk/roger-crofts-awarded-world-commission-on-protected-areas-packard- award/

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individuals. Scotland has a special standing internationally for its work on the natural heritage, and much of this is due to staff and partnership working in SNH. Importantly, these examples of international leadership have provided a benchmark for approaches to surveys, monitoring, conservation and management processes and practices, and wider engagement and communication activities.

Current examples 10. Some of the above examples are current and on-going. In Annex 1 we list a number of ‘international’ activities provided by staff (this is not an exhaustive list, and we have given the activities rather than names of staff as this listing is still being prepared). We have grouped activities under four headings:

 Policy development;  Scientific work;  Management and good practice; and  Wider communications. 11. Much of our international leadership is founded on strong and effective partnership working. It is striking that our leadership covers a very broad range of work, covering the earth, natural and social sciences. 12. Reflecting on the examples given, the Committee is asked to comment on any areas of work which may be lacking and should be recognised further. Looking ahead

13. We wish to develop this paper for the Board, which both reflects the breadth and impact of our international activities and leadership, and work we wish to develop (balanced against the key operational work we are required to undertake under statute). The Corporate Plan 2018-22 provides a framework for this with its four outcomes: a) More people across Scotland are enjoying and benefiting from nature;

b) The health and resilience of Scotland’s nature is improved;

c) There is more investment in Scotland’s natural capital and its management to improve prosperity and wellbeing; and

d) We have transformed how we work.

14. Before we set about proposing allocations of international activities under these headings, we wish to draw on the experience of Committee members and to involve some staff in this. The Board-Committee meeting held earlier this year identified some important opportunities which we need to build on. We also note the Cabinet Secretary’s priorities in the Programme for Government, notably:

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 Climate change – the Climate Change Programme and a new Bill (with new targets to be devised)

 Protection of nature – keeping to statutory duties (maintain – protect – enhance)

 Brokering solutions – finding common ground in long-running conflicts of interest (e.g. uplands, deer, woodlands, raptors, geese, wildlife crime)

 Packaging issues - moving away from single issue work to a more holistic approach to problem solving, and getting the right balance between a focus on rural versus urban issues.

15. Looking therefore at how we work internationally we need to give careful consideration to those areas where we can have the greatest impact. Several are emerging and were highlighted at the Board-Committee meeting:

 Conflicts in conservation – considering alternative viewpoints, and the co-design and co-production of evidence founded on an eco-socio sciences approach to conflict resolution.

 Molecular ecological advances - there are key needs for the development of e-DNA and related molecular techniques for survey, surveillance and monitoring. We have some leaders in this field in SNH, and could take the initiative in forming a cross-agency/research capability to develop this work.

 Applications of satellite imagery and related technological advances - Just 10 years ago the mapping of UK land cover required 3 years-worth of satellite images from different sources to create a jigsaw mosaic of a near cloud-free image of summer (leaf on) and winter (leaf off). Time, cost and variations in image quality constrained the quality and utility of the resultant map. The difference now is that satellites carry improved sensors, at higher resolution and with more frequent overpass. The European Space Agency (ESA) Copernicus programme is a constellation of 6 satellite-pairs for land, sea and atmosphere surveillance. Two platforms which are now in orbit for land mapping are the RADAR imaging Sentinel 1 satellite, and the multi-spectral optical Sentinel 2 satellite. In combination they provide near global coverage at around10m pixel resolution and 5 day overpass. With an image swath width of 290 kilometres, much of Scotland is covered in a single pass.

The UK Centre of Excellence ‘Alpha platform’ provides cleaned images (atmospheric correction and cloud masking) as analysis-ready data (ARD) to specified users in the public sector. Potential business interests that may result from the analysis and interpretation of ARD include: a) Enhancing our habitat mapping ability, notably in the poorly differentiated uplands; b) Peatland mapping and carbon accounting;

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c) Crop mapping and seasonal updates, notably in the lowlands; d) Detecting and tracking habitat condition / productivity / stress through time; e) Detecting widespread and localised damage – and setting timely damage alerts (which contributes to reporting under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy); f) Monitoring change in dynamic environments, such as coasts / woodlands; and g) Developing a new dynamic / risk-based approach to condition monitoring of protected areas, taking account of geographical context and damaging events.

16. We ask the committee to consider these issues with a view to developing priorities for international leadership across SNH. We have highlighted three areas above, but there are others (some of which are prominent amongst on- going activities highlighted under Annex 1). A sub-group of Committee (and possibly Board) members and staff could develop our proposals for enhancing some of the existing work and developing other areas. We envisage a consolidated programme of work, with an international emphasis, beginning in April 2019.

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Annex 1. Examples of international activities of SNH staff. The list is by no means exhaustive, and we have not named the individuals involved.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT  Board members and staff were involved in EU expert working groups preparing the EC Marine Strategy Framework Directive text on pressures and impacts on the marine environment. This has shaped subsequent marine legislation, and continues to draw on staff inputs.  Work on access rights, outdoor learning, landscape character assessment, and the natural heath service have been internationally acclaimed. Our National Parks legislation was innovative (sustainable development role; community engagement in governance etc.). .  The Scottish Fossil Code is the first best practice guidance on the issue of fossil collection and storage; Scottish Core Code is the definitive best practice guidance on the issue of core sampling which threatens many classic sites.  SNH inspired and guided the preparation of Scotland’s Geodiversity Charter which was a world first.  In 2012, Scotland became the first country in Europe to have a presumption of ‘no-release’ for any non-native species and to introduce compulsory powers to control or eradicate invasive non-native species.  Our Climate Change and nature in Scotland plan, with its focus on adaptation principles, and contributions to Adaptation Scotland http://adaptationscotland.org/why-adapt/impacts-scotland have been acclaimed internationally.  Our planning and renewables guidance is used throughout Europe https://scotlandsnature.wordpress.com/2018/01/17/reconciling-renewable- energy-sources-with-their-environmental-impact/  We play a lead role in championing green exercise as a contribution to key public health challenges. Along with Parks & Wildlife Finland and others, we have been instrumental in raising the profile of this work within the EUROPARC Federation network of protected areas e.g. work of the Specialist Group.  We have been invited to sit on the newly established IUCN WCPA Health and Well-being specialist group, and currently chair the Europarc Federation Commission on Health and Protected Areas. We have an elected member of Council of the Europarc Federation – a network of protected areas with over 300 members from 30 counties across Europe.  One staff member recently led an IUCN/ICOMOS Advisory Mission to the Vega Archipelago to provide aquaculture policy advice to the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage and Norwegian Environment Agency to develop operational guidelines for the development of aquaculture in the Vegaøyan for the World Heritage Committee https://www.fylkesmannen.no/PageFiles/854085/2017%20ICOMOS%20IUCN %20Advisory%20Mission%20Vega_Report.pdf  We have played a key role in contributing to the IUCN Peatlands Programme, with the ensuing Peatland Action programme https://www.nature.scot/climate-change/taking-action/carbon- management/restoring-scotlands-peatlands/peatland-action-201718 regarded

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as internationally leading edge in supporting peatland restoration to combat climate change. The national peatland plan is possibly a European first https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2017-07/A1697542%20- %20150730%20-%20peatland_plan.pdf). More recently, we led the preparation of the IUCN river restoration https://iucnuk.wordpress.com/2017/11/04/iucn-ncuk-river-restoration-and- biodiversity-project-expert-workshop/  We play various roles in the CMS Bonn Convention work in support of policy work on migratory species e.g. http://www.cms.int/en/news/second-meeting- technical-advisory-group-tag-raptors-mou . SCIENTIFIC WORK  We currently influence marine management at an international level through roles in OSPAR working groups such as the European Project on Ocean Acidification Reference User Group, and Protected Species and Habitats Group  In partnership with the ClimateXChange programme SNH has developed the first national assessment of the risks of climate-change to nationally and internationally important geoheritage features. We led a project with ClimateXChange developing a methodology for assessing the susceptibility of earth science sites to climate change – a world first  Work by a colleague with JNCC on Assessing the Global Impacts of Scottish Consumption was promoted through the Stockholm Institute to showcase how Scotland had made the first biomass Material Flow Account (MFA) for Scottish biomass production, imports and exports http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-6847  Staff have devised a new method of habitat mapping in the uplands based on the semi-automated classification of sCIR (stereo colour infra-red) aerial photography, and are leading on its use in a CANN-INTERREG project  We have represented the UK Government in: the UN FOA –sponsored European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Committee; on the CBD SBSTTA relating to mountain ecosystems; as representative and Chair of the Technical Advisory Group devising action plans for African and Eurasian raptors under the UN Convention on Migratory Species Raptor MoU); and providing specialist advice to the European Environment Agency, and European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity.  We have carried out expert academic promotion evaluations for the Association of Commonwealth Universities; been members of expert scientific grant evaluation committees for EU Framework funding programmes, and been recruited by the EU to join the External Expert Advisory Board of the Horizon2020 . Some are members of IUCN specialist groups.  Several staff are members of the NERC Peer Review, external examiners for universities abroad, are on Editorial Boards for international journals, and serves as referees for in excess of 30 international journals.

MANAGEMENT and GOOD PRACTICE  The Scottish Marine Protected Areas (MPA) process has been widely highlighted as an example of good practice at UK level and beyond. Aspects

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of this work (led by SNH, JNCC and MS) are now being considered for broader application by the OSPAR Group on MPAs.  The Survey, Deploy and Monitor Policy was developed by Marine Scotland with SNH input and support to assess the risk of deployment of novel marine renewable energy developments, and to allow for lower-risk schemes to be implemented more rapidly alongside an impact monitoring plan to inform future consenting. This approach has been subsequently shared with other EU partners through the EU-RiCORE project.  Wild Deer Best Practice Guidance is praised in other countries as an exemplar  The National Species Reintroduction Forum and the The Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations is acclaimed internationally, and is influential within the IUCN (staff in SNH and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh were instrumental in this work).  Staff led other UK country agencies and European government research and fisheries management bodies to recognise the need for an international approach to the spread of pink salmon into European waters and initiated and international workshop on this. On-going work with colleagues from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) in Norway and Marine Scotland is developing an international policy view on the potential impact of this species on Atlantic salmon and other freshwater species of high conservation importance. We are leading an IUCN project on river conservation techniques  The EU funded, SNH–led Hebridean Mink Project is one of the largest and most ambitious island eradication projects in the world.  The Scottish Mink Initiative and Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrel Project are two of the largest examples of coordinated control INNS (Invasive non native species) projects involving community-based volunteers.  Our work on Islay with the sustainable goose management strategy is seen by some other European countries as exemplary in addressing conflicts between people and geese. We are key partners, on behalf of the UK and Scottish governments, in the AEWA European Goose Management Platform, and provide representation on behalf of government to the Bean Goose Task Force and the wider AEWA Agricultural Task Force. We have also provided support to the development of a Barnacle Goose Flyway Plan through a contribution to the data modelling centre.  The creation of a standardised Habitat Map of Scotland based on the European EUNIS classification for pan-European / international collaboration and inter-operability.  NBN Atlas, originally developed as Atlas of Living Scotland through SEWeb. This is a global open data platform for biodiversity that can be replicated outside of the UK (e.g. for dependent territories and in the British Isles already adopted by the Isle of Man) – which shares content with GBIF.  Our staff are also asked to provide professional services for the wider scientific community through membership of ‘expert lists’ – scientists who may be called upon to provide advice to a wide range of international customers (individuals, academic research institutions or governments).

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REPORTING/ COMMUNICATION  The development of Scotland’s Marine Atlas (2011) - with significant SNH input – is widely recognised as a ground-breaking publication . It has influenced the format and content of subsequent marine assessment reports, including at the EU level.  In partnership with the other UK conservation agencies and the Geologists’ Association, Earth Heritage promotes geodiversity conservation and interpretation. This is the only landscape and geological conservation periodical of its type. The Scottish Geodiversity Forum, instigated by us, is the first nation-wide voluntary organisation of its type that promotes geodiversity promotion and conservation.  In partnership with the other UK conservation agencies we lead the world in devising criteria and methods for selecting sites for conservation, and provision of information about nationally and internationally important geodiversity sites through the Geological Conservation Review.  SNH along with the British Geological Survey devised and authored many of the books in the Landscape Fashioned by Geology Series, which is recognised internationally as an excellent example of public communication about geoheritage.  We led in devising and managing the Dynamic Coast project http://www.dynamiccoast.com/ which has a high profile and is being watched with interest from afar in terms of tackling coastal erosion and climate change impacts.  The Natural Capital Asset Index for Scotland, published in 2011, was a world first https://www.snhpresscentre.com/news/scotlands-natural-capital-asset- index-published-2

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