Natural Capital

In this episode, we are joined by Lorna Cole, Louise Bond and Alistair McVittie to discuss their collaboration on the newly published CREW report; Natural Capital and River Basin Management Planning, and what its findings could mean for the future of Scotland’s water environment and land use. We explore the report's recommendations, including taking a whole-catchment, natural capital approach to river basin management, to consider the wider landscape and the many benefits healthy ecosystems provide. The conversation covers the evidence behind nature-based solutions as well as the opportunities, trade-offs and challenges associated with implementing them at scale. We also examine the economic implications of changing land use, how the value of environmental improvements can be measured, and what future funding models, including public and private investment, blended finance, and emerging environmental markets could mean for farmers and land managers. Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producer Kirstyn Blackwood Timestamps: 0:53 – 3:44 intros to speakers and CREW 3:45 – 9:08 The report, its recommendations, 5 key elements and why this research is crucial 9:09 – 17:05 Different nature-based solutions, co-benefits, and trade-offs 17:06 – 21:06 how to quantify costs and value of managing land for wider societal good and future markets 21:07 – 32:40 Nature based solutions at scale, stakeholders, and mechanisms Resources: FAS Water management resources for farmers: https://www.fas.scot/environment/water-management/ FAS Natural Capital podcast: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/ CREW Natural Capital and River Basin Management Planning - Protecting and Improving Scotland’s Water Environment: https://www.crew.ac.uk/publications/natural-capital-and-rbmp FIRNS - The Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland: https://www.nature.scot/funding-and-projects/firns-facility-investment-ready-nature-scotland Scottish Forum on Natural Capital: https://naturalcapitalscotland.com/ Nature Finance Exchange: https://naturefinancex.nature.scot/ Farming & Water Scotland: https://www.farmingandwaterscotland.org/ For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: [email protected]

In the first episode of the new series, we speak with Donya Davidson and Sophie Manson from NatureScot about their Natural Capital Tool and find out what it is, the challenges it addresses, and how it supports land managers in Scotland. We have a walk through showing how the tool works in practice and how it allows decision makers to identify strategies that maximise positive outcomes.The Natural Capital Tool is a free, easy-to-use spatial decision support tool designed to enable a natural capital approach to land management. Considering the full range of benefits and ecosystem services nature provides, it helps users plan land use in ways that deliver multiple benefits for both people and the environment. Developed by NatureScot in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University and EOLAS Insight, it is tailored specifically to Scotland’s landscapes and needs.Host Harry Fisher, Producers Iain Boyd & Fiona Salter, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kirstyn Blackwood & Kerry HammondKey Timestamps:1:06 – 6:59 intro and background to the tool7:00 – 18:34 the data, functions and design of the tool18:35 – 35:30 how to use it and target audiences35:30 – 44:19 run through of tool and next stepsResources:FAS Environment: https://www.fas.scot/environment/FAS Natural Capital podcast: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/Natural Capital Tool: https://natcaptool.nature.scot/Natural Capital Tool | NatureScot: https://www.nature.scot/doc/natural-capital-toolBiodiversity Audits for Whole Farm Plan | Helping farmers in Scotland: https://www.fas.scot/article/biodiversity-audits-for-whole-farm-plan/Farm Biodiversity Scotland: https://biodiversity.scot/For more information, visit www.FAS.scotTwitter: @FASScotFacebook: @FASScotNational Advice HubPhone: 0300 323 0161Email: [email protected]

In this episode of the Natural Capital podcast we are joined by Jayne Ashley, Head of Natural Capital at SOSE to talk about the South of Scotland's Natural Capital Innovation Zone. The Natural Capital Innovation Zone (NCIZ) is a nationally recognised region in Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders focused on tackling the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change. It is a catalyst for innovative natural capital projects, sustainable investment, and partnerships to develop scalable solutions to deliver a wellbeing economy. It provides a collaborative environment for organisations to grow ideas and deliver impact.We discuss why the area is unique, the work, partners and projects they support and their plans for the future. This includes how they are looking to scale up investment in the area and how you can get involved.More information and links about what we have discussed can be found below.This episode was presented by Harry Fisher, produced by Iain Boyd and edited by Kieron Sim, in association with the Scottish Government.Key Timestamps:0:00 – 7:45: Intro to NCIZ, aims and guiding principles7:45 – 13:30: What makes the area special and NCIZ as a catalyst13:30 – 26:00: Projects and innovation NCIZ support25:30 – end: Plans for future, scaling up investment and how to engageResources:FAS Environment: https://www.fas.scot/environment/Natural Capital Innovation Zone: www.investinsouthofscotland.com/ncizVideo - We are the Natural Capital Innovation Zone for Scotland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_frjUpSAyhcSolway Coast and Marine Project (SCAMP): https://www.solwaycoastmarine.co.uk/Natural Capital Podcast Biosphere OPIN episode: https://www.fas.scot/podcast/natural-capital-galloway-and-southern-ayrshire-unesco-biosphere-opin/Tweed Forum: https://tweedforum.org/Carbon Centre: https://www.carboncentre.org/For more information, visit www.FAS.scotTwitter: @FASScotFacebook: @FASScotNational Advice HubPhone: 0300 323 0161Email: [email protected]

In this episode of the Natural Capital podcast, Harry Fisher and Iain Boyd discuss the new report from the Scottish Government; The Importance of Natural Capital to the Scottish Economy – A Regional Analysis. The report estimates that Scotland’s natural capital underpins at least £40 billion of economic output (14% of the total economy) and supports 260,000 jobs.The discussion highlights the sectors of the economy heavily dependent on healthy ecosystems, and explores how reliance varies across regions, the areas most dependent and how to manage the risks. We discuss the many ecosystem services provided which are irreplaceable, the importance of valuing, looking after and investing in nature and how our natural capital assets are fundamental to economic resilience, rural livelihoods and long-term prosperity.If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about what we have discussed, you can find links in the show notes.This episode was presented by Harry Fisher, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Kieron Sim, in association with the Scottish Government.Timestamps:1:11 – 6:36 Overview of report and our valuable assets.6:37 – 16:30 Impact on specific sectors, the role of technology, irreplaceability and risks16:31 – 24:30 Regional analysis and economic reliance24:31 – 33:10 Main takeaways and the importance of valuing and protecting our natural capitalFAS Resources:FAS Environment: https://www.fas.scot/environment/FAS Natural Capital podcast: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/Related Other Resources:Importance of Natural Capital to the Scottish Economy – Regional Analysis: https://www.gov.scot/publications/importance-natural-capital-scottish-economy-regional-analysis/National Security Assessment on Global Biodiversity Loss, Ecosystem Collapse and National Security: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-security-assessment-on-global-biodiversity-loss-ecosystem-collapse-and-national-securityFor more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScotFacebook: @FASScotNational Advice HubPhone: 0300 323 0161Email: [email protected]

We are joined by environmental historian Dr Ian Maclellan as we wind the clock back through Scotland’s long history of land use change: from the ice age to the Romans, clearances, industrialisation and modern pressures. Along the way, we unpack how humans have been part of the landscape – managing it for food, livelihoods and leisure, and the consequences this has had on nature and biodiversity.Scotland’s landscapes are often seen as wild and timeless, but people and the land have shaped one another over thousands of years. We discuss this and how understanding yesterday can help us make better decisions for the future. Challenging us to have more nuanced, informed conversations about land restoration and management today - recognising complexity, positive outcomes, unintended consequences, and the realities of climate, culture and history.Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kerry Hammond & Kirstyn BlackwoodTimestamps:1:25 – 13:38 Introductions and high-level walkthrough of Scotland’s natural history13:38 – 31:00 Management of land and our relationships with it31:00 – 43:55 Our perceptions and misconceptions of the land and challenges for the future43:55 – end. Final comments and where to get more infoRelated FAS resourcesNatural Capital: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/Biodiversity: https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/Other Related ResourcesProf T C Smout: Nature Contested Environmental History in Scotland and Northern England since 1600: https://www.nhbs.com/nature-contested-bookUniversity of Stirling Environmental History and Heritage: https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/faculties/arts-humanities/history-politics/history-research/environmental-history-and-heritage/Prof R Oram: Where Men No More May Reap Or Sow: The Little Ice Age: Scotland 1400–1850: https://birlinn.co.uk/product/where-men-no-more-may-reap-or-sow/Ichnos Heritage: https://ichnosheritage.com/