Response to e-action from Scottish Green Party


Many thanks for writing to me on the protection of Scotland’s uplands for people, climate, and wildlife. 

The Scottish Greens manifesto for the recent election contained the commitment to delivering the system change needed to tackle the climate and nature emergencies, as well as the bold and urgent measures we need to protect and enhance our uplands now and for future generations. Our manifesto includes strengthening and establishing new protected areas, introducing legally binding nature-recovery targets, supporting community-led rewilding, creating a nature network for Scotland, and creating more woodland for people, climate, and wildlife. You can read the full manifesto chapter on Restoring Scotland’s Environment here.

We recognise the impacts of the twin emergencies of climate breakdown and a collapse in biodiversity on our uplands. As valuable carbon sinks and homes to a wealth of important wildlife and ecosystems, our uplands are a crucial part of our response to the climate and nature emergencies. We want to see our upland communities thrive and will take the bold action needed to protect, restore, and manage our uplands while stopping unsustainable land management and ending the persecution of raptors. 

We are currently exploring ways to take forward our manifesto commitments in the coming parliamentary session, and pursuing protection for Scotland’s uplands will be a high priority. The Scottish Greens’ Spokesperson for the Environment, Climate, and Transport, Mark Ruskell MSP, has already been in contact with organisations working toward tackling raptor persecution and reforming our uplands (incl. Revive , Scottish Raptor Study Group, Scottish Environment LINK, and RSPB Scotland) to deliver rapid action on these issues. The Scottish Greens have created a £10m Nature Restoration Fund in the previous session, and are planning to invest a further £150m in the fund over the next five years. Mark Ruskell MSP alongside fellow Scottish Greens, are committed to scrutinising the government’s responses to unsustainable land management and raptor persecution, while putting pressure on Ministers to make faster progress toward extending the powers of the SSPCA to investigate wildlife crime.

This is an extremely important issue and I would like to thank you for continuing to bring it to the attention of politicians and keeping the pressure on. 

Many thanks,