Nature is in crisis, and Scotland must work ‘with urgency and at large scale’ to restore it, claims the country’s nature agency, NatureScot, as it sets out its ambitious vision for the next four years, writes Ann Wallace

The situation is stark. Recent UK Government analysis concludes there is a high risk of global ecosystem degradation and collapse threatening UK national security and prosperity. “But” says NatureScot chief executive Nick Halfhide, “nature can be our insurance policy.”

“We have focused on resilience in our 2026-2030 plan because Scotland is not immune from that collapse,” he explains.