An ecosystem approach: contributing to human well-being and quality of life in Scotland

Scottish Natural Heritage

An ecosystem approach: contributing to human well-being and quality of life in Scotland

Nature – what’s in it for me?IUCN UK Conference Edinburgh April 2010

Ian JardineChief Executive

Scottish Natural Heritage

Scotland’s soil carbon• more than 3000

megatonnes • more than half of this in

peat (organic) soils• equivalent to more than

180 years of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions

Scottish Natural Heritage

Scottish Natural Heritage

Nature, landscapes and

• health

• culture

• economy

Central Scotland Green Network - an example

Scottish Natural Heritage

National Performance Framework

• Outcomes include– We live longer, healthier lives– We value and enjoy our natural and built

environment and protect it for future generations

– We live in well designed and sustainable places …

– We realise our economic potential…

Scottish Natural Heritage

National Performance Framework

• Targets & Indicators include (summarised)– Increase the proportion of adults visiting the

outdoors each week– Increase the index of abundance of terrestrial

breeding birds– Increase the percentage of adults who rate

their neighbourhood as a good place to live– Improve people’s perceptions, attitudes and

awareness of Scotland’s reputation

Scottish Natural Heritage

Scottish Natural Heritage

Percentage meeting the recommendations for Physical Activity in 2008 by gender and age,

Scottish Health Survey

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+

Age

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Men

Women

Scottish Natural Heritage

Linking ecosystems and health• Understanding the contribution of

nature to public health• Linking natural heritage policy and

advice to improved health and well-being outcomes

• Increasing participation and designing places to meet health and well-being outcomes

Scottish Natural Heritage

Linking nature, landscapes and culture

Scottish Natural Heritage

Scottish Natural Heritage

http://www.placebookscotland.com

Scottish Natural Heritage

• Economic output & jobs• Wide range of sectors• Location, location,

location• ‘Free’ services - water

treatment and flood regulation

• Understanding function as well as values

Linking ecosystems and economy

Scottish Natural Heritage

Central Scotland Green Network

By 2050, the environment of Central Scotland has been transformed by the creation of a high quality green network, which will enrich people’s lives, promote economic prosperity, allow nature to flourish and help Scotland respond to the challenge of climate change. Draft Vision

Scottish Natural Heritage

6,305 km2

3,200,000 population

19 local authorities

Central Scotland Green Network

Scottish Natural Heritage

CSGN Themes• Enterprise and

regeneration• Climate change and

environmental management

• Health and well-being• Stronger communities• Natural heritage and

landscape

Scottish Natural Heritage

Challenges and opportunities

• Making the links between ecosystems and health, culture and economy

• Bringing together organisations and individuals with different skills and perspectives

• Finding new ways of achieving multi-functional and sustainable use of land and sea

• Building understanding of ecosystem function – how biodiversity and natural processes contribute to ecosystem services