Scotland's wildlife struggling to recover from Climate Change and Biodiversity loss

Scotland's wildlife struggling to recover from Climate Change and Biodiversity loss - NatureScot

New figures from NatureScot show Scotland’s birds, mammals, butterflies and moths are struggling to recover as the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change take effect.

Official statistics published today by Scotland’s nature agency show that the abundance (number of individuals in a species) and occupancy (number of sites where a species is present) of 2,803 Scotland’s marine and terrestrial species have stabilised at levels similar to the 1990s, well below historic populations. The figures, which are mixed with winners and losers across many species, come as Scotland steps up efforts to restore and regenerate biodiversity across land, freshwater and seas by 2045 in the face of the nature and climate crisis.

With the Scottish Government recently announcing its ambitious plans to halt the loss in Scotland’s biodiversity with a draft Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS), the Marine and Terrestrial Species Indicator provides a key measure. The biodiversity strategy also brings together other wildlife conservation programmes, including Scotland’s Pollinator Strategy, Species on the Edge and the Plant Biodiversity Strategy for Scotland.

The average abundance for 337 terrestrial species (birds, mammals, butterflies and moths) was stable over the long term (1994-2019). In the short term (2016-2019), this indicator increased by 14%. This indicator is mainly driven by moths and birds as they contribute the most species (170 and 133, respectively).

Recorded terrestrial bird species abundance has remained relatively stable since 2004 – between 13% and 20% above their 1994 value. Garden bird species such as goldfinches are showing positive signs of recovery, in part due to bird feeders and as a result of Scotland’s changing climate.

The average abundance for 14 species of breeding seabirds fell by 41% over the long term (1994-2019). In the short term (2016-2019), this indicator declined by 9%. While the data presented does not capture the effects of last year’s outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in Scotland, it is clear that it has had a sizeable impact on some of our seabird populations, particularly great skua. Seabirds, such as kittiwakes, were already declining in Scotland due to scarcity of food and climate change, and experts believe indicator updates this spring will help quantify the further effects of HPAI.