A NEW report published today has revealed the potentially devastating consequences Scotland could face if accelerated action is not taken to protect and restore nature.
The report Act now, save later is a collaboration between the Scottish Wildlife Trust and The University of Edinburgh’s centre for sustainable forests and landscapes.
This new collaboration examines two potential scenarios for the future of Scotland and the environment in 2045 and is funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
The report is based on desk-based research and information discussed workshop with stakeholder working in economics, biodiversity and wider environmental issues.
The first scenario looks at a future where there has been no effort made to tackle nature loss.
It was agreed that it would lead to the economy declining with rising prices and uncertainty around food production.
It also indicated that the benefits we get from nature, such as clean water, would be reduced, rural areas would face depopulation and social inequalities would have worsened.
In the second scenario the report looks at how Scotland will look if nature restoration policy, action and funding in stepped up considerably.
Findings suggest that this would result in a Scotland that is well on the way to nature recovery with a stable economy, as well as all parts of society fully understanding the value and the importance of wildlife.
Ruchir Shah, director of external affairs at the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “This report brings together so many different issues and lays bare just why nature restoration is so vital to all of them.
“We can see in its findings just how much nature underpins and connects all aspects of society, from health and wellbeing to the economy, and how important it is to act now and unlock future opportunities for growth.
The Trust are calling for action taken at all levels of society, starting with the Scottish Government’s upcoming budget, to be announced on 4 December.
Alys Daniels-Creasey from the University of Edinburgh said: We hope to see significant commitments made to nature in Scottish Government’s upcoming budget, to support meaningful progress towards this vision.”
