Section 4 – Biodiversity
At the end of 2024, The Scottish Government outlined its Biodiversity Strategy to 2045. This sets out the government’s clear ambition for Scotland to be nature positive by 2030, and to have restored and regenerated biodiversity across the country by 2045.
Everyone has a part to play in reducing their impact on nature and actively working to restore our biodiversity, including events. If your event has outdoor elements, how do you ensure that the natural environment is protected during your event and/or restored afterwards? If there are no outdoor elements to your event, actions could be considerations when making decisions about procurement and carbon offsetting.
If you wish to see the guidance for a specific question, please use the question list below.
4.1. What actions did your organisation take to reduce the impact on biodiversity and nature from this event?
Provide details of the actions taken for your event this year to protect biodiversity and nature. This could be a decision to protect certain areas of outside space, increasing staff awareness of biodiversity issues or choosing more nature-positive suppliers.
Please use this space to talk about any key achievements and milestones, but also any barriers or difficulties you faced.
This question should be used to report what has already happened. 4.2 is where you can talk about future actions.
Reason for question
As stated in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045, ‘There is international consensus around the urgent need to act decisively to address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change together […] the action needed is both urgent and transformative’.
We therefore want to know what action you have already taken to give you the opportunity to reflect on your event and celebrate success, but also to let us know about the barriers faced so we can provide support.
4.2. What actions is your organisation taking to reduce the impact on biodiversity and nature of this event throughout its multi-year funding period?
Please use this space to detail your actions for biodiversity and nature in the planning, preparation and delivery of your event.
You will see a row for each delivery year for which your event is funded (as selected in 1.4). You may wish to report different actions each year or one overarching action across the whole period.
Reason for question
As stated in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045, ‘There is international consensus around the urgent need to act decisively to address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change together … the action needed is both urgent and transformative’.
Setting a plan of actions can focus an organisation’s behaviour in a clear and accountable way.
We are interested to know whether your event has started taking actions to protect and restore biodiversity. Information reported here will inform our support offering in this area with a growing legislative focus.