Policy makers

"We value and enjoy our built and natural environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations."  This Scottish Government National Outcome  challenges us in all sorts of ways.

Policy makers can make a difference to the quality of our built and natural environment.  Within the biodiversity duty pages of this website you can find advice on how you can incorprorate biodiversity into your day to day work. 

The national outcome requires more that "ticking boxes"; it requires a recognition of why biodiversity is important to Scotland and a sense of pride in what we do.  For more information on the benefits associated with biodiversity check out our pages on why biodiversity is important.

Incorporating biodiversity thinking into policy is a "win win" situation.  Biodiversity can benefit from policy.  Policy can benefit from biodiversity. 

Targeted towards policy makers, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has published its report "What nature can do for you. A practical introduction to making the most of natural services, assets and resources in policy and decision making  ".  The report includes a self-assessment to help identify what you are doing already, how you might help biodiversity and how to get started.