As the lead coordinating partner for the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN), the Green Action Trust has welcomed the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill’s ambition to tackle biodiversity loss and improve ecosystem resilience.
Key points from our response include:
- Support for legally binding nature targets, which will drive coordinated, measurable action. The Trust stressed the importance of aligning these targets with climate legislation and the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, and of resourcing delivery and monitoring at regional levels.
- Endorsement of flexible powers to modernise environmental regulations, provided these are subject to transparent consultation and scientific guidance.
- Support for strengthened duties to implement National Park Plans and for enforcement of byelaws via fixed penalty notices—ensuring environmental protections are maintained.
- Strong backing for new deer management provisions, including mandatory deer management plans. We emphasised the ecological importance of deer control for native woodland recovery and ecosystem restoration.
We also called for better integration of this Bill with Scotland’s wider climate and biodiversity frameworks to maximise impact.
Tom Campbell, Green Action Trust CEO, emphasised:
“The CSGN is a key delivery mechanism to further implementation of the Bill once enacted. GAT looks forward to working with local authorities and other partners to develop practical actions that will realise the ambitions of this Bill.”
To read our response in full, use the viewer below, or open the full document.