Scotland's Wildlife – an assessment of biodiversity in 20

As well as being an integral part of the UK assessment, Scotland has a distinctive
biogeography and political identity, with a biodiversity strategy and indicators associated
with it 6 . The indicator framework is summarised in Annex 1. Among the 22 biodiversity
indicators for Scotland, first published in 2007, 17 describe wildlife trends:
Increased / positive trends
5. Between 1994 and 2008, 50 of 65 terrestrial breeding bird species in Scotland
increased in abundance, by 31% overall. Woodland birds increased by 64%;
farmland birds by 26%; and upland birds remained unchanged.
6. Wintering waterbird numbers (38 species) peaked at 120% in 1996/97 and
remained relatively stable prior to declining in recent winters. The recent decline
may suggest that waterbirds are becoming less reliant on the security of
overwintering in Scotland, and therefore less abundant, as mild winters become
commoner on continental Europe. Nevertheless, in 2006/07 the indicator was
107% of the 1975/76 baseline value. Goose numbers (6 species) increased to
311% in the winter of 2003/04, before falling back to 294% in 2006/07; wildfowl
numbers (15 species) have remained relatively stable at 99% in 2006/07; wader
numbers (13 species) peaked at 109% in 1996/97 but then declined to 78% in
2006/07.
7. Habitats and species are notified for their national or international importance on
1,451 protected areas, covering around 12% of Scotland. By October 2010:
- 62% of 2,971 assessed habitat features (inc. 601 geological) were in
favourable condition; 7% were unfavourable recovering; and 31% were
unfavourable.
- 70% of 370 species in 2,093 assessed populations were in favourable
condition; 3% were unfavourable recovering; and 27% were
unfavourable.
- When newly-established remedial action is taken into account, 77% of
notified habitats and species are in favourable / recovering condition 7 .
8. Environmental improvements have reduced air, land and water pollution, allowing
wildlife to re-colonise parts of Scotland that had become degraded by
industrialisation and dereliction. By 2005 fish diversity was being restored in the
catchments and estuaries of the Forth and Clyde. Otter occupancy rose from
57% of Scotland in 1979 to 92% in 2004.
Baseline assessments
6 The indicators were first published in 2007 and are maintained and updated on the SNH web site (see
http://www.snh.gov.uk/publications-data-and-research/trends/scotlands-indicators/).
7 Results elsewhere in this report incorporate this adjustment (i.e. to overcome the time-lag between
assessments, as does the National Indicator), as well as the latest survey results and revisions to the
number of notified features on SSSI under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 review.
Indicators S10 (notified species) and S11 (notified habitats) on the SNH website are updated in March
and so may not match exactly with the latest updated figures here.
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