What evidence do we need to support a Natural Capital approach in Scotland?

Background

Question Group: Focused on safeguarding and enhancing Scotland’s natural resources, its air, soils, land, water, plants and wildlife, by addressing the drivers of nature loss and environmental degradation. Emphasises restoration of degraded ecosystems, sustainable use of wild species, minimising of pollution, improving the management of invasive non-native species. Targets sustainable use of resources to support thriving communities, nature, and the economy in a changing climate.

Sub-questions: - What evidence is there that that taking a natural capital approach leads to better decision-making in public policy or elsewhere (e.g. business, other countries)? Looking at work in Scotland and also if any relevant lessons internationally.
- What data and MRV (monitoring, reporting, validation) is required to support an natural capital decision-making framework for public policy and business resilience, and at what scale and granularity?
- What evidence can be gather to enable compatibility with private sector (and public) decision making processes? If not compatible now, what do we need to make it compatible and useful for stakeholders to integrate natural capital in decision making processes? (policy, frameworks, tools). Potential for business sectoral approach

Next steps

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Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

Environment natural resources agriculture research strategy 2027 2032

Related UKRI funded projects


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    Partially relevant as it focuses on natural capital knowledge exchange in England, not Scotland.

  • South West Partnership for Environment and Economic Prosperity (SWEEP)

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    Fully relevant as it addresses the challenges and practical application of natural capital approach in decision-making.

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    Focuses on injecting a Natural Capital Planning Tool into green-blue infrastructure management, which is relevant for supporting natural capital decision-making frameworks.

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