Chamber
Plenary, 24 Jan 2008
24 Jan 2008 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Biodiversity Strategy
The debate has been worth while and a number of members have made important suggestions that I hope the minister can take forward in the months ahead.
Many members spoke about the importance of land managers and farmers in the process. I agree, and I have a number of questions for the minister—which he can respond to when he sums up or in correspondence. How much money can be spent on agri-environment schemes and biodiversity projects through the new Scottish rural development programme? After next year's CAP health check, will there be any changes in the funding that is available? Does he see any future changes in voluntary modulation to help stimulate agri-environment schemes? When will the SRDP schemes be implemented, following EU approval? When will that work begin?
This is an important debate because, for many people, biodiversity can be an anodyne concept. They might appreciate how important it is only when things go wrong or—which is more important now—when they are given appropriate and accurate information.
The growth in the number of eco-schools and the increased quality of their work has been one of the most important and encouraging developments in recent years. Almost every primary school in Scotland is engaged in environmental questions and in changing environmental practices in the school. Perhaps the minister will outline how we can encourage many more secondary schools to participate in that worthwhile venture. There can be few better vehicles for increasing awareness and knowledge of our natural environment.
I have seen at first hand superb projects that involve the whole school in studying, for example, the return of salmon to the Clyde, waste and recycling in the school and the creation of natural wildlife havens in the school grounds. Practical projects allow young people to experience the environment in all its richness, to develop attitudes that promote positive stewardship and to gain insights that are likely to influence their behaviour for the rest of their lives. Those projects are all part of an important programme that supports a key plank in the biodiversity strategy.
We must of course remember the vital importance of the health of our seas. The coming marine bill will allow us all to focus on that much more. I welcome the cabinet secretary's decision to get more baseline information on the health of our seas and the sea bed. Peter Peacock called for that in one of his first speeches after the election. I welcome the fact that the minister has responded so positively, and I hope that he will do so to some of my suggestions, too.
One Government bill in the making relates to flooding, and we in the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee are currently involved in a flooding inquiry. There are opportunities in the Government's proposed bill to make progress with biodiversity arguments relating to the re-creation of wetlands, the planting of more woodlands and the encouragement of scrub and trees along our riverbanks. Those can all form part of a more natural and sustainable approach to flood management, and they can help improve habitats for a variety of species.
There are also opportunities in our urban environments, where the pressure to develop land can so often compromise environmental quality and biodiversity. We need new thinking about flood management. We should be opening up green wedges and corridors and spaces for water to flow and for people to interact with their environment. As Marlyn Glen said, protecting and enhancing green spaces in urban areas is vital to ensuring that people have access to high-quality open spaces that they can enjoy and explore.
As we continue to deal with the pressure for affordable rural housing and to develop sustainable rural communities, we must ensure that we do not sacrifice biodiversity at any cost. The overall health and well-being of our communities partly depends on access to open spaces. It is clear that those who are most vulnerable and least able to fight back are excluded most from healthy environments. That impacts on all aspects of their lives and on the health inequalities from which Scotland suffers far too much. We have a chance to change that. Indeed, we have an obligation to do so.
The cities growth fund that Labour created allowed our cities to fund improvements in streetscaping and to help manage and enhance their green spaces. I hope that the Government will continue to work with local authorities in developing that. People who live in our urban environments deserve protected green spaces. They deserve opportunities for recreation and enjoyment.
As Nanette Milne said, the clamping down on wildlife crime has a contribution to make. I look forward to the report from Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary for Scotland, which supports more action by police forces throughout the country. It is unimaginable that we might not see our magnificent golden eagle, our red kite, our hen harrier and many other species that are under threat from people who do not seem to care or understand how their actions work against the rich diversity that we all want to see and to leave for our children and their children in turn.
As the progress report shows, improving biodiversity is, without doubt, challenging. It is helped by joined-up thinking and cross compliance. We have moved far in the right direction and I encourage the Government to ensure that it pushes that progress further in the next four years. As the Labour Party's amendment suggests, we must make available the resources that are needed to make that happen.
I am confident that, if we work together across this chamber and across Scotland, we will leave a biodiverse future for those who come after us.
Many members spoke about the importance of land managers and farmers in the process. I agree, and I have a number of questions for the minister—which he can respond to when he sums up or in correspondence. How much money can be spent on agri-environment schemes and biodiversity projects through the new Scottish rural development programme? After next year's CAP health check, will there be any changes in the funding that is available? Does he see any future changes in voluntary modulation to help stimulate agri-environment schemes? When will the SRDP schemes be implemented, following EU approval? When will that work begin?
This is an important debate because, for many people, biodiversity can be an anodyne concept. They might appreciate how important it is only when things go wrong or—which is more important now—when they are given appropriate and accurate information.
The growth in the number of eco-schools and the increased quality of their work has been one of the most important and encouraging developments in recent years. Almost every primary school in Scotland is engaged in environmental questions and in changing environmental practices in the school. Perhaps the minister will outline how we can encourage many more secondary schools to participate in that worthwhile venture. There can be few better vehicles for increasing awareness and knowledge of our natural environment.
I have seen at first hand superb projects that involve the whole school in studying, for example, the return of salmon to the Clyde, waste and recycling in the school and the creation of natural wildlife havens in the school grounds. Practical projects allow young people to experience the environment in all its richness, to develop attitudes that promote positive stewardship and to gain insights that are likely to influence their behaviour for the rest of their lives. Those projects are all part of an important programme that supports a key plank in the biodiversity strategy.
We must of course remember the vital importance of the health of our seas. The coming marine bill will allow us all to focus on that much more. I welcome the cabinet secretary's decision to get more baseline information on the health of our seas and the sea bed. Peter Peacock called for that in one of his first speeches after the election. I welcome the fact that the minister has responded so positively, and I hope that he will do so to some of my suggestions, too.
One Government bill in the making relates to flooding, and we in the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee are currently involved in a flooding inquiry. There are opportunities in the Government's proposed bill to make progress with biodiversity arguments relating to the re-creation of wetlands, the planting of more woodlands and the encouragement of scrub and trees along our riverbanks. Those can all form part of a more natural and sustainable approach to flood management, and they can help improve habitats for a variety of species.
There are also opportunities in our urban environments, where the pressure to develop land can so often compromise environmental quality and biodiversity. We need new thinking about flood management. We should be opening up green wedges and corridors and spaces for water to flow and for people to interact with their environment. As Marlyn Glen said, protecting and enhancing green spaces in urban areas is vital to ensuring that people have access to high-quality open spaces that they can enjoy and explore.
As we continue to deal with the pressure for affordable rural housing and to develop sustainable rural communities, we must ensure that we do not sacrifice biodiversity at any cost. The overall health and well-being of our communities partly depends on access to open spaces. It is clear that those who are most vulnerable and least able to fight back are excluded most from healthy environments. That impacts on all aspects of their lives and on the health inequalities from which Scotland suffers far too much. We have a chance to change that. Indeed, we have an obligation to do so.
The cities growth fund that Labour created allowed our cities to fund improvements in streetscaping and to help manage and enhance their green spaces. I hope that the Government will continue to work with local authorities in developing that. People who live in our urban environments deserve protected green spaces. They deserve opportunities for recreation and enjoyment.
As Nanette Milne said, the clamping down on wildlife crime has a contribution to make. I look forward to the report from Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary for Scotland, which supports more action by police forces throughout the country. It is unimaginable that we might not see our magnificent golden eagle, our red kite, our hen harrier and many other species that are under threat from people who do not seem to care or understand how their actions work against the rich diversity that we all want to see and to leave for our children and their children in turn.
As the progress report shows, improving biodiversity is, without doubt, challenging. It is helped by joined-up thinking and cross compliance. We have moved far in the right direction and I encourage the Government to ensure that it pushes that progress further in the next four years. As the Labour Party's amendment suggests, we must make available the resources that are needed to make that happen.
I am confident that, if we work together across this chamber and across Scotland, we will leave a biodiverse future for those who come after us.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S3M-1204, in the name of Mike Russell, on the Scottish biodiversity strategy report.
The Minister for Environment (Michael Russell):
SNP
I am sure that we will hear much science and some confusing terms this afternoon. Biodiversity is not a simple matter, so I thought that it might be best at ...
Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP):
SNP
The minister mentioned red squirrels and salmon. I am sorry that he did not mention the Scottish wildcat, which he knows is under enormous threat. Would he c...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I am not sure whether I can meet the final request. I was planning to say that, whenever I think of Roseanna Cunningham, I think of course of the Scottish wi...
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green):
Green
Will the minister give way?
Michael Russell:
SNP
I am sorry, but I do not have time.I welcome the amendment in the name of Jim Hume and confirm that we are happy to support it. I am happy to say that we wil...
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
The 1992 earth summit in Rio was a defining moment in global history. Apart from the carnival atmosphere and the culture, music and dance that we would expec...
Robin Harper:
Green
Does the member agree that although there are 27 biodiversity action plans, among the first of which were from Dumfries and Galloway Council, the City of Edi...
David Stewart:
Lab
The member makes a strong point and I am sure that he will tell me that those five are Labour authorities. It is important that those authorities sign up and...
Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD):
LD
I, too, welcome the biodiversity report and the improvements that are outlined in it, but I share the minister's concerns. There are concerns about crayfish ...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I have said that I intend to support Jim Hume's amendment, but I want to put something on the record. Attempts have been made to invite many of the organisat...
Jim Hume:
LD
I appreciate that, and we must take it into consideration. We need at the helm people who work in the environments that we are trying to change and improve.E...
John Scott (Ayr) (Con):
Con
I begin, as ever, by declaring my interest as a farmer. I will also start by saying how important Scotland's biodiversity is to Scotland. Indeed, it is almos...
Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Historically, strategies that favour long-term benefits have been championed by environmentalists, and those that favour short-term ones by politicians—with,...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I am glad that the member mentioned BEETLE, which is the best landscape and wildlife information system. I had the pleasure of being involved with launching ...
Bill Wilson:
SNP
I suspect that it will come as no surprise to members that I agree with the minister.I am pleased that the Scottish Government is aware of the danger of wood...
Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab):
Lab
I am pleased to take part in this debate, and I welcome the fact that the Scottish Government is continuing with the previous Executive's biodiversity strate...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
Does the member agree that we might be able to do as she suggests if we ensured that all houses were planned with back gardens?
Marlyn Glen:
Lab
Indeed. I have already said that we need to avoid building concrete jungles. Too many people these days do not appreciate the importance of gardens and expec...
Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Mike Russell said at the beginning of the debate that he was concerned that he might hear a lot of scientific terms and complicated words. I suspect that his...
Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
I recall a helicopter trip that I once made with Michel Barnier, who was then the European Commissioner responsible for regional development. We left from Ed...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
The debate has been interesting. I have enjoyed it. It has not been as controversial as the debates that I normally enjoy, but I have enjoyed it nonetheless....
Michael Russell:
SNP
I did mean that phrase. Strong evidence suggests that the change in climate that we are now talking about has been taking place for at least 40 years. That c...
Mike Rumbles:
LD
I remember the 1970s, when everybody was talking about the coming onslaught of the next ice age.David Stewart focused on the key role played by biodiversity ...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
Although short, this has been an interesting and wide-ranging debate that has clearly demonstrated the richness of Scotland's biodiversity and the importance...
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab):
Lab
The debate has been worth while and a number of members have made important suggestions that I hope the minister can take forward in the months ahead. Many m...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
I call Mike Russell to wind up the debate. Minister, if you could aim to sit down at five to five, that would be ideal.
Michael Russell:
SNP
I shall do my best, Presiding Officer, to ensure that you live an ideal world.This has been a good and positive debate. Ministers usually say that when they ...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
I am sure that the minister agrees that the flow country in Caithness and Sutherland is the most important peatland habitat in the world. Will he actively pr...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I will promote that case as vigorously as I can once the process of assessing the full detail of the case has concluded. I am keen for the peatlands to be re...