Biodiversity and the economy

It is easy to take biodiversity for granted - dappled water, a dawn chorus, the scent of the sea - they are simply there without question. Yet without them angling, walking, tourism and the fishing industry would not be the same. Scotland is a great place to live and work but it would not be Scotland without its rich wealth of species and habitats.

Recent research  commissioned by a partnership led by Scottish Natural Heritage estimated that output from activities that depend upon the natural environment is worth about £17.2 billion a year to the Scottish economy!

For more information on why a healthy environment is economically important visit the valuing the environment page.