Scotland’s Biodiversity Success

2010 is the International year of Biodiversity, a year in which countries around the world celebrate the biological diversity of the planet.

The Scottish Government places Scottish biodiversity as a key priority and has recently published a Scottish Biodiversity Strategy which aims to conserve and enhance biodiversity for the health, enjoyment and wellbeing of the people of Scotland.

Scottish Biodiversity Strategy

Scotland’s natural landscape is celebrated throughout the world and the following aims have been drawn up in order to protect this:

• Species and Habitats
• People
• Landscapes & Ecosystems
• Integration & Co-ordination
• Knowledge

Increasing Awareness

Scotland’s Biodiversity week runs from 15 to 23 May and it aims to increase awareness and enjoyment of biodiversity and encourage many more people to get involved.

Biodiversity week also gives the public the chance to get out and about by enjoying Scotland's countryside and wildlife in the company of countryside rangers, nature reserve wardens and other event leaders.

This year will also see a series of events take place around Scotland, including a discussion on hopes to reverse the decline of rare tree, The Aspen; hands-on experiments for grown-ups with everyday foods such as wheat and cabbage; and the battle between red and grey squirrels in our ecosystem.

Ongoing biodiversity schemes

Along with the organised events there are other events going on to help the Biodiversity of Scotland.

Cairngorm National Park Proposed Extension

In the Cairngorms National Park they continue to reverse previous losses in natural habit by a proposed extension of the park boundary.

The park the largest in the UK was created in 2003 and through a thorough consultation period looks to be extending the boundary to the south of the park. This will further protect the areas natural beauty and safe guard the natural habitats.

Flow Country Regeneration

For the last 200 years Scotland’s peatland has been disappearing. One such area is the Flow Country the name given to the large rolling expanse of peatland and wetland area of Caithness and Sutherland in the far north of Scotland.

The Flow Country is the largest expanse of blanket bog in Europe, and covers about 4,000 square kilometres. The bog has been damaged by years of planting of non-native forests and the cutting of thousands of miles of drains.

In an effort to restore the damage, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), have purchased a large area in the centre of the Flow Country and have created the Forsinard nature reserve. More than 20 km² has been bought back and the young trees felled and allowed to rot in the plough furrow in the hope and expectation that, in 30-100 years, the land will revert to peat bog.

Working with nature

With agriculture and fishing such a large part of Scotland’s past and present, it’s no surprise that there are many jobs and careers available in this area.

From veterinary positions through to working with animals, jobs with Scotland’s forests through to farm management and environmental science, the range of jobs is huge and contributes to the aims of Scotland’s Biodiversity Strategy by encouraging as many people as possible to get involved with nature.

Related Links

• Official 2010 International Year of Biodiversity website
• Scottish Biodiversity Week
• Scottish Natural Heritage 2010 Year of Biodiversity
• Cairngorms National Park
• Renewable Energy in Scotland