Meeting of the Parliament 11 February 2026 [Draft]
thank John Mason for bringing this important debate to the chamber. The nature champions initiative encourages members of the Scottish Parliament to champion threatened and iconic species and habitats, raising awareness and promoting action to protect our environment. I am proud to be involved with the initiative as the champion for rivers, and my contribution will focus on why rivers matter and why they need our urgent attention.
The Parliament should be proud that more than 100 MSPs are currently nature champions, and debates like this are essential to highlight the importance of environmentalism. That context matters, because the scale of the challenge that is facing our natural environment is stark.
The motion for debate refers to a worrying report
“that one in nine species are at risk of national extinction”.
More work must be done, and initiatives such as nature champions are a step in the right direction. That is why I am proud to be the champion for rivers: one of the most vital parts of our ecosystem, and one that we must recover if we are to reverse biodiversity loss.
At a local level, I see both the challenges and opportunities for improvement at first hand. I currently convene the Esk river improvement group in my constituency, where we bring together stakeholders to investigate how we can further improve and advance the quality of water for river users and wildlife. That work has only reinforced for me how central rivers are as biodiversity hotspots across Scotland, and their huge role in supporting a range of insects, fish, birds and mammals. One often-overlooked part of the picture is freshwater invertebrates. Invertebrates are an essential part of the ecology of our freshwater system. They play a vital role in maintaining water quality, breaking down organic matter and balancing the food web.
Freshwater invertebrates depend on a healthy river to survive and are sensitive to pollution, shifts in temperature and habitat degradation. That makes them useful as an early warning system, indicating a river’s health. Unfortunately, our rivers are under threat, and it is important that we understand the impact of those threats in order to tackle them.
On top of those long-standing pressures, climate change is now accelerating the damage that is being done. Extreme weather events alter rainfall patterns and rising temperatures are putting our freshwater ecosystem at risk. Those changes do not just affect wildlife but increase risks for communities. Flooding is a growing concern, with increased rainfall and river flow straining natural flood defences.
I hope that members of the Parliament will continue to support the programme and, with a large number of my colleagues standing down at the next election, I encourage future members to become nature champions and advocate for a stronger environment that will benefit us all.