The document discusses implementing an ecosystem approach across government agencies in Scotland. It defines an ecosystem approach as one that considers how nature works at various scales and accounts for the benefits nature provides. It argues that an ecosystem approach is needed to align policies around priorities like climate change, biodiversity, and sustainability. The document proposes applying the approach at a catchment scale using ecosystem health indicators to assess problems, inform solutions, and allow for adaptive management across agencies and levels of government.

1. An Ecosystem Approach:
The Route to Alignment Across
Government and its Agencies?
Dr Roddy Fairley
Programme Manager
Scottish Natural Heritage

2. An Ecosystems Approach
+ What is it?
+ What do we need it for?
+ How do we apply it?

3. What is an Ecosystems
Approach?
• “integrated” “cost/benefit”
“landscape scale” “multiple
benefits” “sustainable”
• Ecosystem – what it says on
the tin!
• Interacting dynamic systems
…. complexity, emergence

4. What is an Ecosystems
Approach?
• Take account of how nature works:
scale, interaction, capacity,
thresholds, non linearity,
uncertainty
• Take account of the benefits nature
provides: supporting, regulating,
provisioning, cultural
• Engage with all the people who
enjoy these benefits - values

5. What do we need an
Ecosystems Approach for?
+ Already embedded (Marine (Scotland)
Act, Climate Change (Scotland) Act.
+ Land Use Strategy – Objectives,
Guidance
+ Convention on Biological Diversity; EU
Biodiversity Strategy
+ UK National Ecosystems Assessment
(UKNEA)
+ The Economics of Ecosystems and
biodiversity (TEEB)

6. What do we need an
Ecosystems Approach for?
+ BUT - As an “approach” it only has
traction when applied to a problem
and delivers a solution.
+ Priorities; National and Local
+ Shared agenda across Government
+ Unified agenda across outcomes:
climate change adaptation, water framework
directive, biodiversity targets, forest expansion,
NATURA 2000, ecosystem resilience, green-
space, green networks, green infrastructure,
sustainability.

7. How do we Apply an
Ecosystem Approach?
+ Scale
+ Data / information
+ Process – engagement
+ Dealing with uncertainty
+ Direction rather than
destination
+ Learning rather than reporting

8. Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem Health / Ecosystem Function
Environmental management
Physical Environment Biodiversity
Geodiversity Habitats
Water species
Air

9. Applying an Ecosystem
Approach to build a new
agenda
+ Build on what has gone before:
catchment management (existing
institutional structure, stakeholder engagement,
comprehensive cover, shared problems, integrative,
river “systems”)
+ Ecosystem measures –
ecosystem health
+ Adaptive Management (uncertainty,
learning)

10. Applying an Ecosystem
Approach to build a new
agenda
+ Ecosystem Health
+ Evidence to make diagnosis
+ Analysis to inform prognosis
+ Proposals for Treatment

11. Applying an Ecosystem
Approach to build a new
agenda
+ Ecosystem Health – a simple health
check? Accept complexity – but need
simple place to begin.
2. soil quality,
3. water quality,
4. habitat quality,
5. extent of semi-natural land,
6. an index of connectivity,
7. a measure of diffuse pollution,
8. the presence or absence of functional groups,
9. some measure of species diversity, and
10. a measure of penetration by invasive non-native
species.

12. Applying an Ecosystem
Approach to build a new
agenda
+ Assessment of ecosystem health to
inform
+ National priorities: which in greatest
need of remediation/treartment
+ National priorities: what is most
prevalent/ systemic problem
+ Local priorities – what issues matter
most in individual catchments
+ Local priorities – how do we add
value locally

13. CONCLUSION
+ Defined clear priorities – the shared
agenda for all of government and its
agencies (roles and responsibilities;
joined-up)
+ Health indicators – assess success
of treatment; inform adaptive
management
+ One simplified agenda for land
managers. Increased confidence
and success.
+ Opportunity for reduced regulation