biodiversity duty reporting 2012 - 2014 (case studies) taking … · 2017. 10. 24. · biodiversity...

Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba

Biodiversity Duty Reporting 2012 - 2014 (Case Studies)

Taking Care of Nature & the Benefits to People


Biodiversity means nature:

animals, plants and the places in which

they live.

Scottish Natural Heritage


The Nature Conservation Scotland (2004)Act placed a duty on all public bodies tofurther the conservation of biodiversity incarrying out their duties.

The Duty seeks to secure the public sector’scommitment and good practice towards theenvironment so that it can be an example toeverybody else and help inspire people acrosssociety to take active care of nature.


• The Wildlife and Natural Environment Scotland 2011 Actplaced a duty on all public bodies to report on how theyhave been implementing this duty.

• The first time public bodies were required to report onwhat they had done to fulfil their Duty was 1st January2015.

• Out of those 2015 reports, the following case studieshave been identified as good practice.

• These examples have been selected to help share ideasand inspiration on actions that can be taken.


• Scottish Water has a Volunteering Programme through which about 2,000staff members have taken part. Every employee is entitled to 2 dayspaid leave for volunteering each year.

• Scottish Water identifies several benefits to staff of environmentalvolunteering. This includes the fact that the experiences enable staff toleave their usual role, go into a different environment with different tasksand challenges, an opportunity to learn and grow.

Scottish Water’s Environmental Volunteering Programme Benefits its Staff


NHS Shetland has worked with the localauthority to help community groups identify andraise awareness of the health benefits ofallotments which helped to secure funding forthe provision of allotments (i.e in Sandwick)

https://www.facebook.com/lerwick.community.allotments/

One in four adults will experience mental healthproblems at some point in their lives. Outdooractivity and contact with nature can help sleeppatterns, reduce stress, improve mood andself-esteem & provide meaningful socialcontact. You can find out more about the healthbenefits of nature here.

NHS Shetland: Recognising Nature Improves Health


The SCTS has specified in its procurement policies it will:

“…purchase and specify sustainably produced products (such as joinery,fittings, furniture and veneers). The SCTS has stated that they requiredocumentary evidence that the materials being supplied by contractors havebeen lawfully obtained from sources which are managed to sustain theirbiodiversity, productivity and vitality, and to prevent harm to other ecosystemsand any indigenous people.”

Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) requires its suppliers to take account of the environment when sourcing goods and services.


• The Care Inspectorate is the onlypublic body that is not a local authoritythat reached out to its to local (Tayside)Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership to“register.”

• This will allow the public body toreceive the Tayside newsletter; hearnews about nature events/festivalstaking place, find out about learningopportunities that would help makeoffice grounds more nature friendly andto discover opportunities to getinvolved/volunteer with caring for theenvironment.

• Local Biodiversity Action PlanPartnerships are found in each localauthority area. Find out about yourshere.

The Care Inspectorate: Making Links with Local Nature Organisations


Scottish Natural Heritage Offices: Making Office Grounds Nature-Friendly

Scottish Natural Heritage has created action plans for several of its offices and carried out work to make the grounds more attractive for wildlife and plants.

Bird feeding station in the grounds of Great Glen House

This SNH office car-park is subdivided using native hawthorn hedging as hedgerow trees. Over the winter of 2014-15 GGH staff enjoyed hedge-laying as a demonstration of habitat management.


Scottish Water: helping farmers prevent pollution to water courses to protect the quality of Scotland’s water for its people.

Scottish Water works with farmers andlandowners to identify best practice, and,where necessary, finances measures suchas installation of specialist equipment toreduce the likelihood of pollution enteringwater courses. You can read more aboutthis work in the separate highlight ScottishWater case study.


• Skills Development Scotland, is the national careers andskills body for Scotland.

• It provides guidance on training and educationopportunities.

• It helps people access learning and training opportunitiesin the land-based, aquaculture and environmentalconservation industries – which enhance the quality oflife for everyone in Scotland.

Skills Development Scotland: Education and Training


• An action plan to make office grounds more wildlife and plantfriendly has been developed with the help of the BusinessEnvironment Partnership and is taken forward by the agency’sEnvironmental Steering Group.

• The plan sets out actions and measures to improve and conservenature in and around their site. Following the new intake of staff theEnvironmental Steering group is to be reconstituted and will look atdeveloping and adapting the current plan.

Accountant in Bankruptcy: Scotland’s Insolvency Service – Making a Difference by Making Office Grounds Nature-Friendly

biodiversity duty reporting 2012 - 2014 (case studies) taking … · 2017. 10. 24. · biodiversity...

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