It’s in our Nature: Year TwoSNH Business Plan 2019/20

#NatureForAll

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Contents Introduction 3 Part One 4 Our Vision 4 Our Outcomes 5 It’s in our Nature – Our Plans for 2019/20 5 Outcome 1: More people from across Scotland are 6 enjoying and benefiting from nature Outcome 2: The health and resilience of Scotland’s 8 Nature is improved Outcome 3: There is more investment in the 11 management of Scotland’ natural capital to improve prosperity and wellbeing Outcome 4: We have transformed how we work 13 Our Resources 14 Measuring and Reporting Progress 15

Part Two 16 Delivering our work in 2019/20 16 Organising our work and our resources 18 Activity Plans – Outcome 1 19 Activity Plans – Outcome 2 22 Activity Plans – Outcome 3 26 Activity Plans – Outcome 4 31

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Introduction SNH is Scotland’s nature agency. For all of us within the organisation that means our role is to improve our natural environment in Scotland, and inspire everyone to care more about it. This is our core purpose and reflects the role given to us in Delivering for Today, Investing for Tomorrow: The Government’s Programme for Scotland. We recognise the important contribution that nature makes to a successful Scotland, and have set out our ambition in Connecting People and Nature, our Corporate Plan for 2018-22.

It’s in our Nature: Year Two is our second annual Business Plan and shows the progress we are making in delivering on that ambition. During Year One we highlighted the changes and the connections we wanted to make by organising our work around four Outcomes. We also set out our ambition for leadership on biodiversity.

In Year Two, we will build on this work by focusing on our priorities: biodiversity and wildlife management. To achieve these priorities we will continue to develop a range of new ways of working: from harnessing new technologies; to engaging in place-based approaches to ensure the successful delivery of all our Outcomes.

This Business Plan focuses on our priorities but cannot cover all of the diverse work delivered by the organisation. We invest in projects across the length and breadth of Scotland. From the Orkney Native Wildlife Project in the north, to the South Scotland Golden Eagle Project in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway, to the Central Scotland Green Network. Our work delivers benefits for people and nature across rural and urban Scotland.

Working in partnership helps encourage greater investment in nature, delivering projects that achieve far more than we could deliver on our own. A great example of this is the Biodiversity Challenge Fund. With backing from the Scottish Government, we have launched this in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund to provide up to two million pounds for large-scale projects across Scotland that are focussed on creating and improving habitats for key species and improving access to nature.

SNH is proud to deliver for Scotland: It’s in our Nature.

Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive and Accountable Officer

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Part One Our Vision Our vision is that all nature in Scotland – our key habitats, all our greenspace and our native species – is maintained, enhanced and brings us benefits. It’s our job to achieve a balance in the sensitive management of our natural world in order to maintain and enhance biodiversity. A healthy environment is the basis of our quality of life and underpins our economy so it is vital that it is improved to benefit us now and for future generations.

By 2030, Scotland is recognised as a world leader in looking after and improving nature. Everyone is involved; everyone benefits. Scotland is greener, healthier and more prosperous.

Scotland’s nature is majestic and unique; an asset that provides us with a strong sense of identity and national pride and underpins our economic growth. Our natural environment is a vitally important part of what makes Scotland special. Our role is to promote, care for and improve Scotland’s nature. The promotion of understanding and enjoyment of nature will result in increased ownership, aiding the connections to a stronger sense of identity, increased levels of wellbeing and a stronger desire to tackle the impact of climate change. Across SNH, our people are safeguarding Scotland’s nature, living the values we represent: passion, inspiration and expertise.

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Our Outcomes We have identified, and are focusing on four key Outcomes, which put people and places, investment, nature and transforming the way we work at the heart of all we do. In shaping these, we listened carefully to our stakeholders, reflected on their views and considered the priorities of Scottish Government. Our Outcomes cover areas of work we have been delivering for many years but they also provide us with an opportunity to take stock, to re-focus and to make sure that the work we do connects people and nature, reduces inequalities, tackles disadvantage and promotes fairness.

More people across Scotland are enjoying and benefiting from nature Over 81% of Scots live in towns and cities but not everyone has access to good quality greenspace near where they live, and less than half of us have regular contact with nature. Everyone has a right to enjoy and benefit from the nature around us. Good quality nature encourages people to get outdoors, to get active and healthier and to become champions of nature.

The health and resilience of Scotland’s nature is improved SNH is uniquely placed to lead the improvements Scotland must make for nature on both land and sea. This is in order to meet international obligations to restore degraded ecosystems, and to help both nature and

people adapt to a changing climate. That way we ensure that Scotland’s nature retains its status among the best in the world.

There is more investment in Scotland’s natural capital and its management to improve prosperity and wellbeing Scotland’s land, coasts and seas are always changing, both naturally and in response to choices we make about how we use them. The consequences of these choices can be complicated and they affect nature and people in many different ways and not always as desired. We will work in partnership to encourage businesses, communities and government to make more informed decisions, using evidence-based and innovative ‘nature-based’ solutions that work for people, nature and climate.

We have transformed how we work Achieving our vision and delivering our outcomes means that we must transform the way we work with others, and within SNH. We’ll do this by increasing the reach, visibility and influence of our communications. We will work collaboratively, listen and be responsive to others in pursuit of our ambition to connect people and nature.

It’s in our Nature: Year Two – Our Plans for 2019/20 It’s in our Nature: Year Two is our second Business Plan in support of Connecting People and Nature. It sets out the priorities our Board have chosen to represent our ambition. This Business Plan is in two parts. Part One sets the context for each Outcome, where we want to be by 2022 and our focus for delivery in 2019/20. Part Two is more operational and sets out what we will do, how we are changing and prioritising our work, provides detail on how we organise ourselves by Activities, explains how we will invest our resources – both money and people – in support of those Activities, and how the work we will undertake contributes to our Outcomes.

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Sally Thomas, Director of People and Nature The benefits that nature provides for us all reflects how well we as a society invest in and care for it. This depends on our relationships and contact with nature. Access to nature and high-quality places, including greenspace, supports direct benefits such as, opportunities for active travel and providing locally produced food as well as additional benefits, including improved physical and mental health and wellbeing and reduced inequalities. Our national remit and local presence means we are uniquely placed to ensure that nature’s benefits are prominent in policy, strategy and delivery on the ground. We will develop and drive forward a wide range of place-based partnerships across education, health and planning. For example, our work with Community Planning and Health & Social Care Partnerships enables us to champion the benefits of nature and through the provision of funding and advice, ensuring that people and nature are firmly at the centre of place-based approaches to a low-carbon economy. The more people enjoy and benefit from nature the more they are likely to champion it. This in turn helps investment in and improvement of nature across Scotland.

Where we want to be by 2022 We will be actively involved in creating better places for nature and people, enabling more local communities across Scotland to enjoy health and wellbeing benefits. We will be assisting more communities to be involved in the planning, management and use of local places, adopting the principles of the Scottish Government/COSLA statement on place-based working in our approach. We will be working with new funding streams such as City Deals, Regional Economic Partnerships and the Scottish Futures Trust to secure more investment in greenspace in areas where it will have the greatest impact. Our National Nature Reserves (NNRs) will be inspiring people to love nature, providing opportunities for all, and actively engaging more people in the care and enjoyment of these special places.

Outcome 1: More people are enjoying and benefiting from nature

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We will be supporting and working with a range of partnerships and projects to encourage more people to get outdoors more often, supporting key Government priorities for public health, early years and attainment.

Our focus for 2019/20 Our focus is on place making, targeted investment in green infrastructure and strategic path networks, and helping more people to connect with and benefit from nature through outdoor learning, volunteering and recreation. We will strengthen our support for place-based approaches, identifying a suite of local projects we will provide sustained support to and building the capacity of our organisation to help local communities put nature at the heart of placemaking activity across Scotland. Through evidence, learning and demonstration projects, we will continue to make the case for preventative spend on greenspace to support key Government priorities for public health, early years and attainment. NNRs are at the heart of connecting people and nature, and we plan to reinvigorate them by significantly elevating their role in our communications, highlighting their value for nature and encouraging more people to visit and volunteer.

Our Highlight Placemaking Complete Phase 1 of the Green Infrastructure Fund Projects and fund new projects through Phase 2. We will also provide advice to local or settlement scale plans and projects encouraging them to look for place-based opportunities to connect more people with nature and facilitate active and healthier lifestyles as part of the transition to a low-carbon economy. We will deliver this by:

• Getting Phase 2 Green Infrastructure Fund projects underway. • Providing specialist support to placemaking activity, focusing our

effort on areas of greatest need and opportunity to enable more people to benefit from nature

• Progressing the key actions and recommendations from ReRoute (Scotland's Youth Biodiversity Panel) to improve young people’s engagement with nature and the environment.

• Developing recommendations for post-EU support mechanisms to deliver green infrastructure and benefits for people and nature.

Adding value for people and nature in Scotland Our work will:

• Promote the multiple benefits of nature to Scotland’s people. • Inspire Scots to love nature by providing opportunities for people to

engage directly with nature on our National Nature Reserves. • Increase opportunities for active travel by extending and upgrading

the National Walking and Cycling Network. • Encourage more people to get outdoors more often, supporting key

Government priorities for public heath, early years attainment and addressing inequalities

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Sally Thomas, Director of People and Nature Scotland's rich and diverse natural environment is a national asset which contributes hugely to our economy and to our wider sense of wellbeing. However, competing pressures for use of our land and sea will continue to have a significant impact on the condition and range of Scotland’s nature – markedly so in the next 10 years as we move towards the low-carbon pathway required to address climate change. Building resilience for the future includes restoring ecosystems, reversing considerable declines from the 1950s to the early 2000s, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and moving towards a low-carbon economy by 2030 to avoid dangerous levels of climate change. These actions will also help nature and people adapt to a changing climate in order to deliver the widespread benefits healthy and resilient nature brings to all parts of our society. Investing in nature can also contribute to mitigating some of the effects of climate change. We will lead delivery of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and associated Route Map to 2020, and develop a plan for action beyond 2020 to address new international obligations and ensure that Scotland’s nature continues to flourish. Working with partners in Government and wider stakeholders we will help to develop a shared evidence base to provide clearer priorities for land and sea and to enhance stewardship of the environment, including protected areas. We need to tackle the state of nature and climate change together, in light of our changing relationship with Europe from where much of the current statutory and policy framework stems.

Where we want to be by 2022 By 2022 we will be leading a programme of work to ensure that Scotland meets the new challenges set by the international community with regard to biodiversity and climate. Scotland’s nature will be protected and enhanced and recognised as a key asset for the health and wellbeing of our country. We remain committed to safeguarding and enhancing the most important and vulnerable areas for habitats, species populations and geology. We

Outcome 2: The health and resilience of Scotland’s nature is improved

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also recognise the need to ensure that these are not managed in isolation, and that they make a positive contribution to, and enrich the state of, nature in Scotland. We will develop new approaches for improving the health of our seas, providing advice on the protection of Priority Marine Features and Marine Protected Areas (MPA), and working to take a collaborative approach to the integrated management of marine and coastal resources. We will work in partnership to develop a new ecosystem based approach to the management of protected areas; while delivering a new fit for purpose surveillance and monitoring approach that makes use of new technologies such as Earth Observation, to inform it.

Our focus for 2019/20 We will lead Scotland’s delivery against the Aichi targets, prepare for the new challenges arising from new international targets for biodiversity in 2020 and ensure that we are maintaining, protecting and enhancing Scotland’s nature. Addressing habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss through a network approach will complement our work on protected areas, viewing them not in isolation but as functioning parts of the wider landscape and tackling climate change and nature together. We will continue to support large-scale restoration works for peatlands and wetlands, which are great for nature as well as delivering a wide range of social benefits including reducing flood risks and the costs of water treatment. We will draw on international expertise to guide and showcase our work in this field, and work with communities of place and interest to define problems and to design and implement solutions. We will trial co-production of a regional MPA management plan in the Outer Hebrides.

Our Highlight Biodiversity Lead implementation of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and manage the Biodiversity Challenge Fund to protect and promote nature. We will deliver this by:

• Managing the Biodiversity Challenge Fund to invest up to £2m in projects that will deliver progress towards the Aichi targets.

• Demonstrate how better investment in nature based solutions can contribute to targets for climate, health, education, active travel and supporting a low-carbon economy

• Targeting our funding towards larger, more impactful projects that deliver on our four Outcomes.

Adding value for people and nature in Scotland Our work will:

• Provide strong leadership on biodiversity and inspire Scots to love nature.

• Working with partners to take forward the IUCN recommendations on wildcat populations.

• Provide funding, through Peatland Action, to continue the restoration of damaged peatlands across Scotland, as part of our contribution to the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan.

• Support Marine Scotland in completing a well-managed Scottish MPA network and completing the review of Priority Marine Features

• Create a coherent programme of monitoring for Scotland’s nature, including considering the potential offered by new technologies

• Advise Scottish Government on the role of nature-based solutions within the Climate Change Adaptation Programme, emphasising that nature is part of the toolkit for climate change adaptation.

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Nick Halfhide, Director of Sustainable Growth Through our strategic leadership we will ensure the economic benefit of Scotland’s natural assets is sustained. Our focus will be on the economic benefits that people derive from development and good management of our land, sea and wildlife. Well-made investment increases prosperity and underpins the nation’s future wellbeing. We will use our influence and expertise, to build consensus and partnerships to deliver for Scotland’s nature and climate goals. We will develop our relationships with the Scottish Government and other funders, economic development agencies, key business sectors and primary producers to deliver this. Through these relationships we will seek greater consensus on how our natural resources, particularly in our extensive uplands, can be managed to improve outcomes for nature and a low-carbon economy.

Where we want to be by 2022 Our strategic approach to wildlife management will better reflect a changing world, and integrate the needs of people and land management by pursuing more consistent, adaptive and affordable approaches. This will require us to provide leadership for change, through ongoing dialogue and clear communication, challenging practice which may not be sustainable, and promoting alternatives that equip and empower wildlife managers in their role. The value our services provide in supporting business and development through the Planning system and other regulatory regimes will be enhanced by an increasingly enabling and targeted approach, helping developers identify opportunities for investment that will sustain future prosperity. This will require us to invest more of our own resources in developing tools, processes and skills to support the change and manage any risks. We will be actively engaged in shaping and supporting the transition to a new national land use support framework that better secures multiple benefits for people, climate and nature in the most efficient way. This will require flexibility in the resources we deploy.

Outcome 3: There is more investment in the management of Scotland’s natural capital to improve prosperity and wellbeing

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We will have built new partnerships and strengthened existing ones that have the reach within key sectors that can best help fulfil the full breadth of our ambitions for this outcome. This will require strategic judgement and outreach skills and that we look closely at those which no longer merit the same level of involvement

Our focus for 2019/20 The focus for this outcome is to demonstrate how people, the climate and the economy can benefit from investments in nature, to pursue opportunities for investment and to maximise the benefits and impacts that this brings. We will deliver this ambition through our work with enterprise, rural and marine development, and wildlife management interests. We will maintain our role as a delivery partner for the SRDP as the transition to a new programme begins We will build on this to shape replacements for the Common Agricultural and Fisheries Policies so that they maximise the benefits for Connecting People and Nature. We will continue to encourage the development of partnerships for delivering these policies at a more local, landscape scale. We will maintain our more active, targeted approach to deer management, and report on progress to Ministers alongside the findings of their independent Working Group. We will continue to deliver our licensing functions, alongside other mitigation measures for wildlife impacts including the INNS control projects to which we are already committed. Our work on Planning for Great Places will continue to support Scottish Government’s commitment to plan-led development and the transition to a low-carbon economy through the development of renewable energy resources on land and at sea.

Our Highlight Wildlife Management We will work to ensure healthy populations of our native wildlife, reduce the impacts of invasive non-native species, and balance this to achieve the best combination of benefits for a low-carbon economy, environment and people. We will deliver this by:

• Running existing goose management schemes and developing strategic approaches including flyway plans and self-help adaptive management.

• Providing effective, timely advice on sustainable deer management, backed by targeted use of our regulatory powers of intervention, and report on progress to the Cabinet Secretary in autumn 2019.

• Implementing the Scottish Beaver Mitigation Scheme and working closely with the Scottish Beaver Forum.

Adding value for people and nature in Scotland Our work will:

• Secure improved management of wildlife by working closely with land and wildlife managers to identify shared objectives, managing conflicts by focusing on adaptive management approaches.

• Help society to understand and accept where wildlife management is necessary to balance the needs of people and nature.

• Provide decision makers with advice on marine and terrestrial development proposals that helps them to balance the interests of nature, people and a low-carbon economy.

• Closely support Marine Scotland on fisheries management and aquaculture.

• Raise the profile of the marine and freshwater environment during Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters in 2020.

• Provide leadership on natural capital by publishing the annual Natural Capital Index and developing natural capital accounts for SNH.

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Jane Macdonald, Director of Business Services & Transformation Through transforming how we work, we will enable achievement of our corporate plan ambitions to connect people and nature. To build a successful, sustainable and resilient organisation, we will increase our investment in our workforce talent and wellbeing, build our leadership capacity and go on evolving our ways of working. We will continue our efforts to be inclusive and diverse, and ensure that we promote equality and fairness in all that we do. We will continuously improve how we perform, achieving greater simplification and further efficiencies by being more innovative, investing in digital technologies, diversifying our funding and sharing services with other public bodies. We will work closely with communities and partners to achieve the best for Scotland’s nature, so that our services to the people of Scotland are locally responsive, and designed in a citizen-centred and collaborative way. We will further develop our outcome-based approach so we are clear on the impact we are having, and the contribution we are making to the Programme for Government and the National Performance Framework outcomes. As we transform how we work, we will also keep focused on delivering services, facilities and infrastructure internally to underpin the day to day work of all our Outcomes.

Where we want to be by 2022 As we look to 2022 and beyond we will be a creative, innovative, enabling and inspiring organisation; digitally confident and responsive to the needs of Scotland’s people. We will have developed new approaches using technology to ensure our evidence base and the knowledge and expertise of our staff is available to the right people at the right time to inform and shape decisions about nature.

Outcome 4: We have transformed how we work

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Our internal processes will increase efficiency and make use of new technologies to support the full breadth of our ambition. This includes helping us to further reduce our carbon emissions and to deliver in more innovative, inclusive and empowering ways. Scotland’s nature and climate change mitigation relies on the support of Scotland’s people. We will increase the visibility and influence of our communications, concentrating on the benefits that nature provides for Scotland; and build trust and confidence through listening to the needs of people and our partners. We will be confident in promoting our successes and leadership role, inspiring and influencing others to invest in nature as part of Scotland’s inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.

Our focus for 2019/20 We will ensure that our workforce is fit for the future, through a new Organisational Development Framework; focussing on workforce wellbeing and skills development, organisation design, innovation through technology and working in partnership. We will transform our workplaces to encourage smarter, more flexible, dynamic and collaborative working. We will continue our journey of digital transformation improving engagement with the people of Scotland; and investing in technologies including Earth Observation and Remote Sensing. We will increase the sharing of our knowledge, information and data, making sure we provide information at the right time to inform decisions about nature, and work to further enhance our evidence base. We will strengthen our corporate identity to extend our influence and demonstrate the value and relevance of SNH’s work for people, nature and climate. We will identify alternative funding streams to achieve greater investment in nature and support delivery of Connecting People with Nature

Our Highlight Harnessing technology to benefit nature Develop our capacity to utilise new technologies to improve environmental monitoring, particularly Earth Observation and remote sensing, to better inform decisions about the management of nature and to create a stronger public profile for the role and work of SNH. We will deliver this by:

• Investing in the skills and capacity that will allows us to utilise new technologies. The investment we make over the remaining 3 years of Connecting People and Nature offers the opportunity to deliver significant savings for reinvestment in delivery of our priorities.

• Using social media to increase the reach of our communications and awareness brand and corporate identity.

Adding value for people and nature in Scotland Our work will:

• Make the best use of our resources to maximise investment in nature.

• Deliver a national service through a local presence across Scotland. • Contribute to a low carbon economy by taking a leadership role in

reducing our carbon emissions. • Improve our leadership capacity and develop a more resilient and

inclusive workforce. • Make more of our information about nature available to the public. • Take a more strategic approach to communications by developing a

clear ‘call to action’ based around our key priorities: biodiversity and wildlife management.

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Our Resources Our funding comprises our Grant-in-Aid of £46.5m plus additional funding that we receive or administer to support and deliver strategic projects. Together this provides us with around £70m to invest in nature. This investment will contribute to a range of Government priorities, and deliver across all our Outcomes. Through our role in administrating the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) we expect to administer, in 2019/20, the distribution of around £12m of SRDP investment in agriculture and rural development, and around £5.5m ERDF funding, providing investment in green infrastructure and tourism.

% of project budget % of paybill budget

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Measuring and Reporting Progress We have developed a series of key deliverables that represent the most significant areas of work to be delivered this year. We will use these to measure and report our progress. We will measure progress at regular intervals throughout the year and report our progress to SNH’s Senior Leadership Team. This provides assurance that we are making progress towards delivery of the Business Plan. We will report our progress to SNH’s Board, demonstrating that we are making progress towards achieving the four Outcomes of Connecting People and Nature. We’ll use our Annual Report to present a combination of case studies and survey data to show the progress we’re making towards the Outcomes in Connecting People and Nature, noting any evidence gaps where appropriate.