Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Corporate Plan Plana Corporra 2015 – 2018

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 Contents Clàr-innse

Foreword 1 Facal tòiseachaidh Introduction 4 Ro-ràdh The natural environment and us 5 An àrainneachd nàdarra agus sinne Who we are, what we do 6 Cò sinn, Na tha sinn a’ dèanamh Supporting the Scottish Government’s purpose 7 A’ cur taic ri Rùn Riaghaltas na h-Alba Emerging political and environmental priorities 9 Prìomhachasan poilitigeach is àrainneachdail a tha a’ nochdadh Becoming smaller, smarter and more influential 11 A’ fàs nas lugha, nas gleusta is nas buadhaiche Outcomes and priorities 13 Toraidhean is prìomhachasan Organising our work 14 Ag eagrachadh ar n-obrach Caring for the natural world 14 A’ gabhail cùram dhan t-saoghal nàdarra Enriching people’s lives 15 A’ leasachadh beatha dhaoine Promoting sustainable economic growth 16 Ag adhartachadh fàs seasmhach eaconamach Delivering a high-quality public service 17 A’ lìbhrigeadh sàr sheirbheis phoblach Indicative spend by portfolio 18 Caitheamh taisbeanach a rèir cùram-roinne Outcome Measures 20 Ceuman Buileachaidh

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 Foreword Facal tòiseachaidh

Ian Ross, Chairman Iain Ros, Neach-cathrach Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba

Many of the things we rely on to prosper as a nation Tha mòran de na nithean sa bheil earbsa againn gus depend on the quality and abundance of nature and soirbheachadh mar dhùthaich an urra ri càileachd natural resources. Nature and landscapes are some is lìonmhorachd nàdair agus goireasan nàdair. ’S e of Scotland’s most wonderful and valued assets. This nàdar is cruthan-tìre cuid de na so-mhaoinean as bounty is part of our public domain: it enriches our mìorbhailiche is as prìseile a th’ aig Alba. Tha an lives and the management of natural resources is the toirbheartas seo na phàirt de ar raon poblach: tha basis for sustainable economic growth. We inherit e a’ beairteachadh ar beatha agus tha riaghladh nature from previous generations and gift it onto ghoireasan nàdarra na bhunait airson fàs seasmhach subsequent ones. Whether we own and manage land eaconamach. Tha sinn a’ sealbhachadh nàdar bho na or our seas, or influence them through what we buy ginealaichean a chaidh romhainn agus ga shìneadh and our lifestyles, we are all stewards of nature. sìos gun fheadhainn a thig nar dèidh. Tha sinn uile nar stiùbhardan nàdair co dhiubh a bheil sinn ann Strategy and policy is, quite rightly, increasingly an seilbh no a’ ruith fearann no ar cuantan, no a’ centred on public benefits and where most difference toirt buaidh orra tro na tha sinn a’ ceannach is tro ar can be made through our actions. In SNH we must dòighean-beatha. consider how our activities relate to surrounding land or seas and the benefits to people. This ‘ecosystem Tha ro-innleachd is poileasaidh, gu ceart, a’ approach’ involves the integrated management cùimseachadh air sochairean poblach agus air of land, water and living resources and promotes nithean a nì an diofar as motha tro ar gnìomhan. conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. Ann an SNH feumaidh sinn beachdachadh air mar

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 1 The approach takes account of how nature works, the a tha ar gnìomhan a’ buntainn ris an fhearann no benefits that nature provides to people and crucially na cuantan mu ar timcheall agus ri sochairean dha involves people in making decisions. daoine. Tha an ‘dòigh-obrach eag-shiostamach’ seo a’ gabhail a-steach riaghladh aonaichte air fearann, We believe that working in this way and with others in uisge is goireasan beò agus tha e ag adhartachadh shared endeavours, makes best use of our resources glèidhteachas is cleachdadh seasmhach ann an and talents. This Plan signals opportunities for dòigh cothromach. Tha am modh-obrach a’ gabhail joint planning and delivery with many public sector sùim dhan dòigh sa bheil nàdar ag obrachadh, dha bodies. In practice delivery will need to go much na sochairean a tha nàdar a’ toirt dha daoine agus further than this to include the NGOs, vibrant voluntary gu deatamach a’ cur daoine an sàs ann an co- organisations and the entrepreneurialism of the private dhùnaidhean. sector. Working together we are more likely to achieve the creativity and innovation that we need to be good Tha sinn a’ creidsinn gu bheil a bhith ag obair san stewards of nature. dòigh seo agus còmhla ri càch ann an oidhirpean roinnte, a’ cleachdadh ar goireasan is ar tàlantan I believe that this approach is the right one for our san dòigh as fheàrr. Tha am Plana seo a’ tabhann times. Working collaboratively we need to take chothroman airson co-phlanadh is co-lìbhrigeadh forward this challenging agenda and address issues le mòran bhuidhnean san roinn phoblaich. Sa so that nature continues to be a vital part of a chleachdadh feumaidh lìbhrigeadh a dhol nas fhaide successful, flourishing Scotland. na seo gus buidhnean neo-riaghaltasach, buidhnean beòthail saor-thoileach agus iomairteachd na roinne prìobhaidiche a ghabhail a-steach. Ag obair còmhla ri chèile tha sinn nas buailtiche an cruthachaileachd is an ùr-ghnàthachadh a dh’fheumas sinn airson a bhith nar deagh stiùbhardan nàdair a choileanadh.

Tha mi a’ creidsinn gur e seo an dòigh cheart aig an àm seo. Ag obair còmhla feumaidh sinn an clàr- gnothaich dùbhlanach seo a thoirt air adhart agus dèiligeadh ri cùisean gus am bi nàdar a’ leantainn na phàirt dheatamach ann an Alba a tha soirbheachail is fallain.

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 2 One Scotland, the Scottish Government’s programme for Scotland 2014 – 2015 highlights social justice through ‘prosperity, participation and fairness’ with a focus on success through delivering a strong economy and supporting a fairer society. The Scottish Government’s draft budget for 2015 – 2016 states that it will:

‘continue to protect and enhance our world class environment. We will maintain our efforts to halt the loss of biodiversity and to restore and enhance our ecosystems. We will invest in our natural resources, focusing on optimising the way that we use our land resources and ensuring that their role in health and wellbeing and in supporting Scotland’s economy is fully recognised and taken into account.’

These aims are the basis of our Corporate Plan.

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 3 Introduction

This Plan describes how, from 2015 through to 2018, People value nature both for its own sake and for the We believe that this focus will help us – and we shall support the Programme for Government benefits derived from it. For many people, a strong Scotland’s natural assets – to make an even stronger and implement our Corporate Strategy vision, that connection with nature is part of their understanding contribution to the Scottish Government’s purpose Scotland’s natural capital generates wealth for all, of the world. At the same time, the whole of human and the Programme for Government. This approach sustaining us and improving our health, lifestyles history is characterised by people shaping nature will secure greater alignment of objectives for the and culture. In doing so, we shall play our full part to their own advantage. In the long run, nature and environment, land management, social and economic in delivering the Scottish Government’s purpose of landscapes will best be protected where they are sectors. creating a more successful country, with opportunities popular, seen as relevant to everyday concerns and for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing central to decision-making across society. sustainable economic growth. Scotland’s natural capital plays an important role in Scotland’s public services – nationally and locally – supporting economic growth, improving people’s are increasingly focused on working together to tackle health and wellbeing, adapting to climate change fewer, larger, shared challenges: securing economic and strengthening communities. This is reflected in recovery and growth; increasing employment and Scottish Government policies, including the reducing youth unemployment; giving young children Government Economic Strategy, Scottish the best possible start in life; building safer and Biodiversity Strategy, National Planning stronger communities and reducing offending; tackling Framework 3, Scottish Planning Policy, Land Use health inequalities and increasing physical activity; and Strategy, Scottish Climate Change Adaptation improving outcomes for older people. Public bodies Programme, marine planning, Equally Well and A must collaborate, achieve better engagement and More Active Scotland. promote early intervention and prevention. This will improve people’s lives and their sense of social and Whilst our natural assets already provide a wide range environmental justice by addressing the inequalities of benefits, investing in their health and resilience that exist within populations and between areas. generates more benefits for more people. We shall work with a wide range of partners to So, how do Scotland’s nature and landscapes help to address these challenges? –– get the most from nature by improving the public benefits generated by the sustainable use of All of our wildlife, geology, landscapes, seascapes Scotland’s natural capital; and and ecosystems constitutes Scotland’s natural capital. Our natural capital defines the character of Scotland –– improve the health and resilience of natural assets and can be a sustainable economic, environmental so that they can support more public benefits now and social resource for the nation. There is growing and in the future. evidence that it supports a wide range of benefits This assets-based approach builds on what we (see The Natural Environment and Us) that are vital to have and is the essence of the 2020 Challenge for solving the shared challenges. Scotland’s Biodiversity.

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 4 The natural environment and us Many of the things we need to flourish rely on the quality and abundance of nature and natural resources. This diagram illustrates just some of the benefits (ecosystem services) we get from nature in Scotland.

Products A clean and healthy environment Culture and quality of life

Food and drink Drinking water Pollution, dilution Flood regulation Recreation Physical and and detoxification and amenity mental health Energy Timber Climate regulation Pollination Landscape Education and art and seascape

Mountain, moorland and peatland ecosystems

Woodlands Freshwater and forestry ecosystems ecosystems

Farmland Urban green ecosystems infrastructure

Coastal and estuarine ecosystems

Marine ecosystems

e.g. e.g. e.g. e.g. e.g. e.g. e.g. Timber Wind power Fish farming Drinking water Gardens and allotments Crops and livestock Wind and wave power Wood fuel Wild venison Wind power Hydro electricity Orchards Biomass energy Commercial fishing Carbon storage and grouse Carbon storage Carbon storage Water quality Carbon storage Carbon storage Walking and Carbon storage Boating Kayaking Air quality Walking Sailing and boating cycling Hillwalking Swimming Swimming Walking and cycling Horse riding Transport Mushrooms Skiing Playing Fishing Running Bird watching Wildlife watching Bird watching

Scottish Natural Heritage CorporateCoastal Plan 2015 protection – 2018 DualchasWhisky Nàdair na h-Alba PlanaPlaying Corporra 2015-18 what do we get from the environment? http://www.environment.scotland.gov.uk/media/60171/sepa_ecosystems.jpg After Scottish Environment Web, Wildlife tourism Who we are, what we do

Established in 1992 by an Act of Parliament, since Our vision Our organisational values 1999 we have been responsible, through Ministers, to the Scottish Parliament, and are funded by the Our vision defines what we want to achieve, and The value statements guide the expected behaviours Scottish Government. Our core purposes, as stated in ensures that all of us understand how our work of all of us as we deliver our work within SNH and with our Corporate Strategy, are to contributes towards achieving our long-term our partners. They are: objectives. –– secure the conservation and enhancement of –– we do what we say we’ll do; nature and landscapes; Our vision is: –– foster their understanding and facilitate their ‘People value Scotland’s natural assets –– we communicate clearly and honestly; enjoyment; and because they generate benefits for all, –– promote their sustainable use and management. –– we take the initiative and are willing to adapt; sustaining us and improving our economy, We do this firstly by providing advice to Scottish health, lifestyles and culture.’ –– we listen to and respect others’ views; Ministers and Local Authorities. We also work in partnership with others in the public, private and The vision reflects the fact that SNH must work –– we treat everyone with dignity and respect; voluntary sectors to help secure the enhancement of, in partnership with others to achieve our statutory and benefits from, our natural assets for society. purpose of conserving and enhancing Scotland’s –– we encourage people to deliver their best; and natural heritage. In August 2010 we merged with the Deer Commission –– we work together and learn from each other. for Scotland, reinforcing our purposes to also secure sustainable wildlife management in Scotland. Our mission

Our mission states our purpose, including what, where and how we work. It gives us the context for decision- making about our work and helps us prioritise our resources.

Our mission is: ‘SNH is the leading organisation in Scotland that seeks to inspire, enthuse and influence others to manage our natural resources sustainably.’

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 6 Supporting the Scottish Government’s purpose Our aims and objectives, together with those of others across the public, private and voluntary sectors, combine to deliver the Scottish Government’s National Outcomes. Outcomes emerge from many direct and indirect actions; they are not ‘delivered’ through simple discrete outputs. It is not a simple matter to link the contribution of a single activity or objective to an outcome or outcomes.

Working with our partners, we shall help to address the wider challenges outlined in the introduction. In doing so, we shall especially support delivery of the following National Outcomes in Scotland Performs For example…

1 We live in a Scotland that is the most attractive place for doing business in … the health of ecosystems underpins their ability to support a range of Europe National Outcomes. Protecting and enhancing local habitats and landscapes 6 We live longer, healthier lives through positive management helps people to value and enjoy nature in their neighbourhoods. A high-quality environment makes a direct contribution to 10 We live in well-designed, sustainable places where we are able to access everyone’s quality of life and increases the viability of primary industries such as the amenities and services we need farming, forestry and fisheries. It can also enhance mental health and wellbeing. 11 We have strong, resilient and supportive communities where people take Volunteering to carry out this work helps to build stronger communities and develop responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others individuals’ skills. The physical activity involved also contributes to health outcomes and high-quality local environments encourage more visits to the outdoors and 12 We value and enjoy our built and natural environment and protect it and provide incentives for inward investment. Good-quality nature and landscapes also enhance it for future generations provide a local curriculum resource for schools. As these outcomes emerge, so 14 We reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption they also reinforce other outcomes in tourism, enterprise and health. and production 16 Our public services are high quality, continually improving, efficient and responsive to local people’s needs

Aspects of the National Performance Framework are currently under review, including the national indicators and purpose targets. We shall respond to this after the results are available in autumn 2015. Caring for the natural world Diagram to show some of the main ways in Safer and stronger Healthier which our four portfolios (see Organising our Greener work) contribute to the Delivering a Enriching A successful, flourishing Scotland Scottish Government’s high-quality people’s iives Wealthier five strategic objectives public service Smarter and purpose. and fairer

Promoting sustainable economic growth

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 7 ‘A relevant environmental health agenda for the 21st century is as much about the creation of places which engender good physical and mental health, as it is about protection from hazards.’ (Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, 2006)

‘Scotland is defined very much by its nature and this is reflected in a wealth of references to nature in our literature and rich cultural heritage…. We must respect the intrinsic appeal of nature too, because where we lose species or natural habitats we are diminished as a nation and our nature is the poorer. Reversing such changes and restoring nature is a challenge, but it is a hugely rewarding feat.’ (Ministerial Foreword, 2020 Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity)

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 8 Emerging political and environmental priorities

During 2015 – 2018 we shall respond strongly and –O– n wildlife management we will support deer positively to a wide range of drivers. As a public body management groups to achieve the sustainable we management of deer, and we will tackle wildlife –– respond to changes in our operating environment crime as part of the Partnership Against Wildlife (defined by our resources together with the Crime. We will advise on the management of wild Scottish Government’s priorities and associated fisheries and the new Bill. change in policy and public service delivery); –W– e will help to implement the National Marine –– continue to improve our understanding of Plan, advise on the identification and management trends and changes in our natural assets, likely of protected areas in the marine environment and causes and the potential social, economic and obtain and share data on the marine environment. environmental consequences; and –I– n addition to management, the system and –– work in partnership with others to establish a structure of land ownership and associated shared understanding of problems and identify rights are significant factors in social justice, outcomes and solutions to achieve them. environmental sustainability and economic success for Scotland. The proposed new Land Public service reform follows the 2011 report of the Reform Bill is expected to bring opportunities in Christie Commission expressed in terms of four terms of sustainable management of deer, public key factors – people, prevention, partnership and access, sharing data, community involvement performance – and involving communities in the and maximising the role of publicly owned land. design and delivery of services. The Programme We welcome the framework that the Land Use for Government develops this through prosperity, Strategy provides to develop and implement participation and fairness. SNH will focus on the shared land management and biodiversity following areas: objectives, through collaborative approaches, at a landscape scale. We will contribute to its review –W– e will lead on the 2020 Challenge for and implementation. Scotland’s Biodiversity, act as a delivery partner for the Scottish Rural Development –W– e will continue to focus on better regulation, Programme and contribute to the development including reform of the planning system and the of the Plant Health Strategy – safeguarding new Regulators Code. agriculture, horticulture, forestry and the wider environment from pests and diseases. –W– e will continue to play our role in helping to Reinforcing an emphasis on physical activity deliver the Scottish Government’s renewables and health, we welcome the focus on increased target and associated developments onshore and levels of participation through the More Active offshore. Scotland agenda and the scope of Good Food Nation to include the environmental and health –W– e will maximise the contribution we make to consequences of what we buy, serve and eat. improving people’s health and wellbeing through preventative spend and delivering the

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 9 2020 Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity. The frame our work with communities. a wider international context. Globally, continuing proposed ERDF green infrastructure scheme loss of biodiversity and climate change remain will also help to deliver better greenspace close –W– e will work with others to support the work significant concerns, and Scotland is a signatory to to deprived areas. This will be complemented of the Rural Parliament, help to implement action on international treaties for biodiversity (Aichi by a LIFE+ project on improving ecological the Islands Act and achieve the Scottish Targets) and climate change (Kyoto Protocol). We will coherence, further work to strengthen strategic Government’s aim of making our activities relevant continue to support the UK Joint Nature Conservation routes for walking and cycling and landscape and accessible to island communities. Committee, particularly at the European level, to ensure partnership projects. We will continue to that we are well aligned with these wider agendas, and progress initiatives in partnership with others such –W– e will continue to move towards more efficient share our practical experiences to help shape them. as the NHS greenspace demonstration project ways of working across Scottish Government and green exercise. and public services more generally, including, During the Corporate Plan period, all of the above is for example, meeting the requirements of Digital set in the context of elections to the UK and Scottish –W– e will continue to work with Community Scotland and Audit Scotland requirements on Parliaments in 2015 and 2016, respectively. The Planning Partners and welcome the emphasis workforce planning. Plan is intended to provide a basis for addressing any in the Programme for Government on people and consequential changes to policies and associated place (neighbourhoods). The provisions of the While the main focus of our work is within Scotland, resource deployments. Community Empowerment Bill, once enacted, will the environmental issues we are involved with have

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 10 Becoming smaller, smarter and more influential

We must be able to accommodate the drivers implications for how we work, what we work on and described in previous pages and other changes we the balance of our effort overall. Many are complex cannot yet foresee. and in some we are bound by legislation. Over the Corporate Plan period, our approach will include: In recent years, we have responded to resource constraints by becoming ‘smaller, smarter and more –– Working with people. Everything we do requires influential’. Smaller has been about responding us to work with people. As an organisation, SNH successfully to the challenge of working with fewer must therefore be concerned at least as much of our own resources. Smarter has involved both with people and behaviour change as we are using our information and knowledge as effectively as with nature. This requires a change in our skill we can and working smartly so that we are efficient set, which we are taking forward through our and make the best use of available resources. More Workforce Plan. influential is about having good evidence, good people skills, helping to find solutions, building relationships –– Linking people and nature. Nature is wonderful and allies, and providing information to the right people and important for all of Scotland’s people, but it at the right time. While this Plan assumes similar is out of reach for many. We must increase the resources in each of the Plan years, these principles opportunities that people have to experience are still relevant. and enjoy nature close to where they live. Our approaches and investment should enable us Looking ahead, we must ensure that we finance and to focus on communities experiencing multiple undertake the activities that best serve people, nature deprivation characterised by, for example, and landscapes in Scotland, matched to available high rates of unemployment, low educational resources. Generally, this requires us to work closely achievement, poor diet and health, low life with and through others. We must establish a shared expectancy, low aspirations, limited life choices understanding of issues and the desired outcomes of and poor-quality local environments – often our work. localised and more acute in our urban areas.

To understand trends and changes in natural –– New ways of working. Our resources go further capital and the health of our ecosystems, as well when we work in partnership towards shared as likely causes and potential social, economic and outcomes and use new sources of funding and environmental consequences, we need to ask: other resources. We will need to access new skills, for example in fund-raising, commercial –W– hat are the main changes taking place in contracts and social enterprise. Scotland’s natural capital? –W– hat factors are causing them? –A– s a national body delivering a local service, we –W– hat are the potential consequences of these must work with people to establish how national changes? conservation priorities best fit with local need, –W– hat action is most important, and where? taking account of fairness and prosperity. Our role includes advising on national impacts in These drivers and this assessment have important development planning and responding to local

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 11 needs through Community Planning. We will seek –– Influencing land use so that resource ‘wider seas’ approach with a focus on ecosystems a better understanding of the values that people management better reflects the natural assets on and the benefits that we all derive from them. This and communities attach to natural assets in which it depends and the range of public benefits is the ‘ecosystem approach’, which involves different situations, supporting the development of that can be derived from them. For example, the integrated management of land, water and solutions for particular local circumstances. the Scottish Rural Development Programme living resources and promotes conservation and (SRDP) is the principal means to improve nature sustainable use in an equitable way. The approach –– Finding solutions to competing objectives for through land management both within and outwith takes account of how nature works, and the nature by working with decision-makers at a more protected areas. However, entry to the scheme is benefits that nature provides to people and involves strategic level. Two examples are: renewable voluntary and the measures implemented on farms people in decision-making. energy developments that help to address climate can be short lived. Significant impacts on land change but bring with them nature or landscape management flow from the much larger spend on –O– ur approach to protected areas must take implications; and where management requirements the so-called ‘Pillar 1’ of the Common Agricultural account of the consequences of a changing climate for certain species or habitats are in conflict. Policy (CAP). We will be working with partners to and other land use and work to secure the widest support the Scottish Government mid-term review range of benefits to society. –M– aintaining our efforts to avoid duplication of the CAP and implementation of the SRDP. and improve alignment as resources tighten Whilst these issues might be perceived as challenging, across public services. This means sharing –– Tackling the appropriate drivers of biodiversity at the same time they present big opportunities to organisational assets (services such as loss. Current legislation gives SNH a strong improve our use of public resources, prevent long- information technology, finance and human locus in advising on development planning. Built term costs, engage with new audiences, generate resources, as well as vehicles, buildings and desk development is an important component of greater public value and improve nature and space) and making sure that we are strategically landscape change, but it is not the most important landscapes across a wider front. and operationally aligned. We welcome and driver of biodiversity loss. A strong plan-led support the recent Scottish Government proposal approach to development builds nature values into to establish a non-statutory Rural, Agriculture, development decisions, works with the grain of Food and Environment (RAFE) Delivery Board the local environment and landscape and, where to drive alignment and joint delivery along these necessary, can achieve good compensation for broad lines. any loss. But for biodiversity, we must address the principal drivers of loss (over-use of natural –– Making sure that decisions rest on good resources, land use change, diffuse pollution, information and evidence, whilst recognising the invasive non-native species) and underlying relative paucity of data that must underpin some factors more directly (such as lack of contact with decisions. Some surveillance and monitoring nature). is expensive and we need to be sure that this is justified and proportionate. One example of –I– ncreasingly, strategy and policy looks to this would be how best we and others work with sustaining or increasing the public benefits from Marine Scotland on potentially very costly survey nature. However, legislation and past strategy and monitoring of the marine environment. We have tended to focus on rare and threatened also work with volunteers and others through species or ‘priority’ habitats. We must consider ‘citizen science’ to gather valuable information that how best to move from where we are, to action helps inform decisions. addressing more of a ‘whole countryside’ and

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 12 Outcomes and priorities This Corporate Plan sets out how we will work with It is important that we are able to demonstrate how our Glossary of public sector business others to work supports delivery of the National Outcomes (see planning partners –– get the most from nature by improving the public Supporting the Scottish Government’s Purpose) and benefits generated by the sustainable use of relates to wider priorities, rather than believing we can COSLA Convention of Scottish Local Scotland’s natural capital; and ‘deliver’ nature and landscapes or benefits from them –– improve the health and resilience of natural assets in isolation. Authorities so that they can support more public benefits now CNPA Cairngorm National Park Authority and in the future. We have identified distinct areas of work that we FCS Forestry Commission Scotland expect will be the focus of our investment and these HIE Highlands and Islands Enterprise Our purpose is to work with the people of Scotland are listed more fully in the following sections. In taking IS Improvement Service to help look after and improve Scotland’s natural these forward, we will work to secure multiple benefits JNCC Joint Nature Conservation Committee capital and enhance the quality of, and access to, the from and between them. benefits it provides.The Natural Environment and Us LA Local Authorities summarises these benefits in a schematic diagram. Throughout the Plan we have emphasised the need LLTNPA Loch Lomond and The Trossachs As a public body delivering a service for Scotland’s to work effectively with and through others. This will National Park Authority people, we must be efficient in how we use resources. increasingly influence our planning and the way in NHS National Health Service Scotland We have particular responsibilities for certain public which we allocate resources. Scottish Government SC Scottish Canals benefits that nature provides: its diversity of wildlife; its requires ever-closer working between organisations, SE Scottish Enterprise amenity, natural beauty and consequent recreational and in the following sections we have signalled other benefits and its scientific interest. public bodies with whom we need to plan jointly. In SEPA Scottish Environment Protection most cases this work involves a host of private and Agency We divide our work into four interdependent portfolios: voluntary bodies too, but for brevity we have not listed SLAB Scottish Legal Aid Board –C– aring for the natural world; them. VS VisitScotland –– Enriching people’s lives; –– Promoting sustainable economic growth; SG Scottish Government –– Delivering a high-quality public service. AS Active Scotland Caring for the natural world produces social benefits ES Education Scotland (enriching people’s lives) and economic ones MS Marine Scotland (promoting sustainable economic growth) – and all SG-AFRC Agriculture, Food and Rural of our work is supported by the way we organise Communities Directorate ourselves, manage data and information, communicate SG-DECC Directorate of Energy and Climate and make decisions (delivering a high-quality public service). Delivering a high-quality public service Change reflects the expectations of corporate governance SG-DPEA Directorate for Planning and required of a public body, as well as the support for the Environmental Appeals delivery of our services. However, in practice most of our work straddles more than one portfolio, reflecting the real world and encouraging collaboration.

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 13 Organising our work – Caring for the natural world Outcome: to maintain and, where possible, our knowledge of biodiversity and the natural deliver the EU2020 target of restoring at least improve the condition of natural assets world and our understanding of, and changes 15% of degraded ecosystems. (FCS, SEPA, SG- where it is most needed so that ecosystems in, behaviours towards nature (sometimes called AFRC) ‘citizen science’). (CNPA, FCS, LLTNPA, SEPA) continue to support community wellbeing and –L– eading conservation effort on key species economic success. –– Maximising the benefits from our protected such as red squirrel, sea eagle and freshwater areas to take account of a changing climate, the pearl mussel – although we expect the emphasis Get the most from nature by: Land Use Strategy and the 2020 Challenge for on single species management to decline as Scotland’s Biodiversity. We will develop this the ecosystem approach develops or, where –W– orking with others and engaging the public with interested parties so as to secure the widest necessary, for such a focus to be embedded in a to build and maintain the evidence base that range of public benefits from our resources overall broader ecosystem approach. (FCS, MS, SEPA). supports our advice. We will monitor and (CNPA, FCS, LLTNPA, SEPA, SG-AFRC) survey natural assets so that we can report on –H– elping the Scottish Government to develop how nature is doing. This includes developing Improving Scotland’s natural assets by: Marine Protected Areas, including marine measures of ecosystem health and assessing the Natura sites, and contributing to a framework to condition of protected areas; developing a habitat –H– elping to reduce the pressures on manage Scotland’s seas to achieve the Scottish map for Scotland to inform strategies for nature; ecosystems and so to increase the resilience Government’s vision of ‘clean, healthy, safe, and gaining a better understanding of how climate of our most vulnerable and valued wildlife by productive and diverse seas; managed to meet and other environmental changes are affecting making space for natural processes for example, the long-term needs of nature and people’ and biodiversity. (CNPA, FCS, LLTNPA, MS, SEPA, by creating opportunities for species to disperse contributing to the ‘good environmental status’ of SG-AFRC) by improving habitat connectivity and, as far as the Celtic Seas and Greater North Sea. (JNCC, possible, allowing coasts and rivers to flood and MS, SEPA, SG) –C– ontinuing to develop our understanding of the taking a planned adaptive approach. (CNPA, FCS, impacts of climate change on biodiversity and LLTNPA, SEPA, SG-AFRC) –– Supporting the Scottish Rural Development ecosystems. Implementing measures to reduce Programme as a delivery partner, so that it emissions of greenhouse gases (mitigation) and –L– eading a wide range of organisations to sustains natural assets and delivers public guiding adaptation so that nature can, as far as implement the action plan (or ‘route map’) for benefits from the Common Agricultural Policy possible, adapt to a changing climate, and so that the 2020 Challenge for Biodiversity and thereby overall. (CNPA, FCS, LLTNPA, SEPA, SG-AFRC) people can make best use of natural processes in tackling the most important drivers of biodiversity preparing for climate change. (All) loss (p11). (All)

–W– orking with partners to take better account –– Trialling new approaches at a landscape scale of the services that ecosystems provide, in National Parks on sustainable moorland so that nature and landscapes continue to management, native woodland expansion, provide benefits for people and that these can peatland restoration and species conservation. be incorporated into national accounting and (CNPA, FCS, LLTNPA, SEPA) reporting systems. (CNPA, FCS, LLTNPA, MS, SEPA, SG-AFRC) –– Improving the condition of sites protected for nature, so that they contribute to ecosystem health –– Involving people so that together we improve in key catchments, and focusing effort to help

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 14 Organising our work – Enriching people’s lives Outcome: to improve health and wellbeing –– Helping communities to become stronger and reduce inequalities by creating better and more resilient by connecting with issues places for people and nature and helping a that relate to nature and landscapes. We will do this by providing support, building capacity wider range of people to experience, enjoy and developing leaders within our target groups and help look after nature and landscapes. and areas. We will also work with Community Planning Partnerships to help make the most of Get the most from nature by: nature’s contribution to local social and economic priorities. (CNPA, COSLA, FCS, IS, LA, LLTNPA, –H– elping a wider range of people to participate in SEPA) outdoor recreation and physical activity. We will focus our investment on physical and mental Improving Scotland’s natural assets by: health-related projects in partnership with the health sector; on opportunities for young people, –I– mproving the quality and accessibility of people on low incomes, people in poor health and greenspaces and green networks in urban people who are experiencing exclusion; and in areas, particularly in more deprived areas. If areas where people are less likely to experience successful, we will lead delivery of the European nature and landscapes at first hand. We will work Green Infrastructure scheme and support the with partners to promote Scotland’s access rights Central Scotland Green Network. (FCS, LA, NHS, and responsibilities and to improve related online SG) information. (CNPA, FCS, LLTNPA, NHS, SG-AS) –L– eading a partnership to develop and implement –H– elping people to enjoy and understand nature an action plan to deliver the National Walking at first hand through volunteering and outdoor & Cycling Network, one of the national learning. We will focus on helping to improve developments in the National Planning places for people and nature, particularly close Framework 3. (CNPA, FCS, LA, LLTNPA, SC, SG- to more deprived areas; on helping young people AFRC, VS) from our target groups to learn outdoors; and on helping to build the knowledge, skills, confidence –E– nhancing the condition and management of and employability of young people. (CNPA, ES, Scotland’s landscapes and places, particularly in FCS, LLTNPA) National Scenic Areas, National Nature Reserves, and areas of wild land, and through Landscape –O– perating our own National Nature Reserves Partnerships. (CNPA, FCS, LLTNPA) to enhance some of the best of Scotland’s nature that everyone can enjoy and helping us to connect with nature. We will do this in a way that supports improving ecosystem health, enthuses our target groups about nature and provides a positive visitor experience.

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 15 Organising our work – Promoting sustainable economic growth Outcome: to generate economic benefits from delivering the Marine Tourism Strategy. (HIE, –– Leading improvements in wildlife management the sustainable management of natural assets. MS, SE, VS) practices – particularly in the management of deer by supporting delivery of the vision for Get the most from nature by: –W– orking with fishing, deer management and other Scotland’s wild deer, and fisheries – to ease wild food interests to secure a lasting impact from pressures on nature and to reflect our changing –– Promoting management approaches that deliver Scotland’s Year of Food & Drink 2015 – 2016. climate. A priority is to help tackle wildlife crime. multiple benefits in line with the Land Use Strategy (FCS, MS, SE, SG-AFRC, VS) We will help to shape the management of wild and marine planning. Important challenges fisheries and the new Bill. (FCS, MS, SG) include: water quality and flood management in Improving Scotland’s natural assets by: priority catchments; coastal erosion especially –L– eading the delivery of the LIFE+ ecological where natural defences have been degraded; CAP –– Establishing demonstration sites and case coherence project, which seeks to improve and the wider public benefits associated with food studies to show how an ecosystems approach connections between habitats in central Scotland. and drink production; and nature in protected areas can enhance resilience and offer long-term (FCS, LLTNPA, SEPA, SG-AFRC) and surrounding land and sea. (FCS, MS, SEPA, solutions to current issues. (FCS, LA, MS, SEPA) SG-AFRC) –L– eading work to improve the resilience of our –– Delivering better regulation. We will perform natural assets and their capacity to sustain us. our regulatory functions in ways that help the We will promote management to reduce carbon people who need them, are proportionate and loss and increase the amount of carbon stored focus on solutions. When providing advice to in vegetation and soils to contribute to Scottish help decision-makers such as the Minister and Government’s climate change targets. We will Local Authorities in the Planning System, we focus our work on the EU2020 15% ecosystem will help them to make good decisions, making restoration target on drained or damaged peat- sure that the right development occurs in the forming habitats and on increasing Scotland’s right place. We will focus on providing advice forest cover and identifying marine and coastal on developments that raise matters of national carbon sinks and activities that affect them. (FCS, interest and support the plan-led approach. (MS, MS, SEPA) SEPA, SG-DECC, SG-DPEA) –L– eading work to resolve competing priorities –– Providing advice to help decision-makers and in wildlife management so that species are other stakeholders on renewable energy. (MS, managed more sustainably. We will work in areas SEPA, SG-DECC, SG-DPEA) where these are most acute to promote good practice and to develop better ways of working –– Supporting the promotion of Scotland as a together; notable examples include geese, tourism destination based on the quality of its challenging issues of predation and moorland natural assets. Our priorities include promoting management. As with management of species the benefits of Scotland’s outdoor access, for conservation, we would expect our emphasis using opportunities available in remote rural on single species management to decline as the areas and protected places, such as National ecosystem approach becomes adopted more Nature Reserves and Scotland’s great trails, and widely. (CNPA, SG-AFRC)

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 16 Organising our work – Delivering a high-quality public service Outcome: to be a well-run organisation, use of our resources, putting in place the policies delivering a high-quality public service and processes to deploy our staff and develop focused on the needs of our customers, to the skills needed to support the organisation’s aims, objectives and way of working. (CNPA, FCS, improve our services and to make sure that LLTNPA, MS, SE, SEPA, SLAB, SG-AFRC, VS) every public pound is spent wisely thereby helping to free up resources to invest in Improving Scotland’s natural assets by: Scotland’s natural assets and the benefits they support. –M– eeting the expectations on SNH to deliver a high-quality public service as efficiently as possible, by reducing our running costs. We will Get the most from nature by: make it easier for people and organisations to work with SNH and ensure that our systems and –– Providing easy access to information about processes are efficient, cost effective and easy nature, through facilities such as our website, to use. Wherever possible we will encourage our SNHi, Scotland’s Environment Web and the contractors to pay at least a living wage, we will National Biodiversity Network and by adopting report publicly on our employee relations, work high standards of knowledge and information to encourage an equal gender balance on our management. In doing so, we will align our Board, and promote the fairness agenda and our work with the implementation of the Scottish public equalities duties through our relations with Government Digital Strategy. (CNPA, FCS, all partners and with our own staff. (CNPA, FCS, LLTNPA, MS, SEPA, SG-AFRC) LA, LLTNPA, MS, SEPA, SG-AFRC) –– Making the most of our assets, such as –– Reducing our carbon footprint. We will deliver buildings, vehicles, electronic equipment, by on our Low Carbon Vision and contribute to the working more closely with our partners. (CNPA, Scottish Government’s target to cut emissions FCS, LLTNPA, MS, SEPA, SG-AFRC) by 80% by 2050 and adapt to climate change. (CNPA, FCS, LA, LLTNPA, MS, NHS, SEPA, SG- –– Maintaining our capacity to work at a local level DECC) using appropriate new technologies and sharing services and resources with our partners. (CNPA, FCS, LLTNPA, MS, SEPA, SG-AFRC)

–– Engaging and communicating with people and organisations throughout the country about Scotland’s nature and landscapes and their value. We will use a range of ways to do so, in both English and Gaelic, including our corporate website, social media and media relations and through partnerships with other organisations. We will improve staff deployment to make better

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 17 Indicative spend by portfolio

This Corporate Plan is presented in terms that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate the uncertainties in resource planning outlined under emerging political and environmental priorities, including shifts in priority arising from the elections to the UK Parliament in 2015 and the Scottish Parliament in 2016.

A planning projection of no change in our grant-in-aid (‘flat-cash’ of £53.1m each year for the Corporate Plan period) has been adopted, recognising that public expenditure decisions for the later years have not yet been made.

In Figure 1 we show the current distribution of effort to secure the best possible outcomes across the four portfolios. It represents a starting point from which we re-balance effort during the Plan period. Delivering a high quality public service occupies the inner circle because it supports all of the others, for example enabling us to manage the data, information and evidence to support our advice to Ministers. It also includes workforce planning, which is about improving the way we deploy our staff resource and retaining, developing and attracting people with the right skills.

In the Table on the following page we present indicative allocations for expenditure across the four portfolios over the Plan period. This shows how we plan to adjust the balance of our work. Because existing commitments are already pressing in year one, there is (currently) more scope to re-balance our effort in years two and three of the Plan. More specific allocations detailed by activity within each portfolio are presented in our annual business plans.

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 18 En h ric wt hin Indicative allocations across the four portfolios combining staff time and project spend are: ro g g p ic eo m p o le n ’s Project and paybill spend (£m) o c li e v -qual e gh ity s le hi p 2014–2015 2015–2016 2016–2017 2017–2018 a ub b g lic a in s n r i e e v r Caring for the natural world 8.8 8.5 8.5 8.6 a li v t i e c s e D u

s

Enriching people’s lives 8.0 8.3 8.7 8.9

g

n

i

t o

Portfolio

m Promoting sustainable economic growth 11.9 12.3 12.0 11.8

o

r P Delivering a high-quality public service 16.9 16.8 16.7 16.6

ld or Total project and paybill 45.6 45.9 45.9 45.9 w al tur e na Project funding 19.6 20.1 20.1 20.1 Caring for th Paybill 26.0 25.8 25.8 25.8 Biodiversity Monitoring and Advice JNCC contribution 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 Marine Management Protected Areas SRDP 1.8 1.5 1.5 1.5 Scottish Rural Development Programme Creating Better Places Depreciation and impairment 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 Increasing Participation Capital 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 Managing National Nature Reserves Wildlife Management Total grant-in-aid 53.1 53.1 53.1 53.1 Planning and Development Additional (grant-in-aid) income 5.7 1.0 0.4 0.4 Natural Resource Management Climate Change Total available funds 58.8 54.1 53.5 53.5 Asset Management

People Management Notes Finance Management 1. We continue to explore other funding streams beyond grant-in-aid, both from Scottish Government and beyond. Enriching people’s lives is particularly focused on levering European Funding (ERDF) towards Green Infrastructure. Corporate Governance The total investment represents £36m over the next 6 years. Where we already know the value of these other funds they have been shown above (see Additional (grant-in-aid) income, which currently includes peatland restoration Figure 1. Pie chart showing the current distribution of effort moving to SRDP from 2015) and we plan to grow these sources where possible. across the four portfolios, in proportion. Arrows show 2. Depreciation and impairment is a non-cash item. We expect this to be somewhat lower, but until the figure is agreed indicative direction of resource allocations. we have preserved the published figures; this change would not release more funds for expenditure.

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 19 Outcome Measures

Our Outcome Measures are intended to summarise –– Restore peatlands, native woodlands and Delivering a high-quality public service the evidence informing progress towards our portfolio freshwaters in line with Scotland’s Biodiversity –C– ontinue to reduce carbon emissions in line outcomes. These will form the basis of reporting our – a Route Map to 2020 with an 80% reduction by 2050 progress, for example to Scottish Government, over –C– ontribute to clean, healthy, safe, productive –E– ngage effectively with other national and the Plan period. and diverse seas local partners, especially through the Rural –D– evelop and apply a set of measures of Affairs, Food and Environment Delivery Where appropriate, we use existing National ecosystem health to help inform steps required Board, to align joint working to the National Indicators from the National Performance Framework (NPF) for this purpose. During the Plan period we to maintain and/or enhance their health Outcomes shall accommodate changes to the environmental –S– hare more services (accommodation, data indicators in the NPF because they are a focal point Enriching people’s lives management, information technology and for the current review of the framework. The review is –E– ncourage an increase in weekly visits to the operational services) with other public bodies expected to be completed by autumn 2015. outdoors for our target groups (young people, –S– how progress to creating a multi-skilled, people living in the 15% most deprived flexible workforce to improve the delivery of The additional high-level measures listed below are areas, people with poor health or people the Corporate Plan outcomes intended to complement the National Indicators. In experiencing exclusion) –I– mprove the management and accessibility our annual business plans these will be supported –I– mprove the quality and increase the extent of natural heritage and internal business by measures of success: more detailed outputs and of accessible, well-managed greenspace in information deliverables informing assessments of progress. urban areas, especially for people living in the –R– aise awareness of the benefits and services 15% most deprived areas supported by nature and landscapes and the Our outcome measures focus on ‘state’. An element –I– ncrease the percentage of adults who are of judgement, negotiated with others, will be required practices required to sustain them to establish levels of concern and required action. engaging with environmental issues While the outcomes are mainly beyond our scope to –I– ncrease the number of community planning ‘deliver’ them, they remain the focal point for what we partnerships whose activities reflect the do. Only by working with others, as outlined in this benefits of nature for people Plan, can we contribute to the positive outcomes we want to see. Promoting sustainable economic growth –M– aintain or enhance natural capital as measured by the Natural Capital Asset Index Caring for the natural world –– Engage proactively with developers and –C– ontribute to an effective network of planning authorities to help ensure that the protected nature sites by maintaining and right developments are in the right places improving their condition, having regard to –I– ncrease the wider public benefits associated their potential contribution to wider ecosystem with the management of wildlife resources health and functionality –– Reduce the loss of public benefits associated –I– mprove understanding of, and action to, with invasive non-native species and, where address declines in Scotland’s terrestrial necessary, be more effective in controlling breeding birds them

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18 page 20 www.snh.gov.uk

Photography All images by Lorne Gill/SNH, except p1 (left) John Paul Photography/SNH; p1 (right), p10, p17 Beckyduncanphotographyltd/SNH; p2, p13 Chris Gomersall/2020VISION; p8 Lorne Gill/2020VISION; p16 George Logan/SNH

ISBN 978-1-78391-306-0

Scottish Natural Heritage Corporate Plan 2015 – 2018 Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba Plana Corporra 2015-18