Biodiversity Audit

NatureScot has been asked by the Scottish Government to develop a biodiversity audit for farmers and crofters. Maintaining and improving biodiversity on farmland is a key part of the Scottish Government’s Agriculture Reform Programme to deliver its Vision for Scottish Agriculture.

To deliver the biodiversity audit we are piloting the use of a digital tool, Farm Biodiversity Scotland. The Scottish Government recognises the significant value in co-production and testing this approach which we started in 2024 with over 200 farmers and crofters, allowing them to produce a habitat map of their farm and croft.  Some also tested the habitat assessments and added species found on their farms. 

We have now taken on board the feedback and the next release will continue the pilot through co-production. This will also allow us to further understand user needs and usability for biodiversity auditing. 

The biodiversity audit that NatureScot is developing, takes a four-step approach:

Step 1 – map the existing habitats and features on farms and crofts

Step 2 – measure the condition of a range of the habitats

Step 3 – manage through options to maintain or increase the condition of the habitats

Step 4 – monitoring the habitats

Throughout 2023 and 2024 we tested the first two steps of the NatureScot biodiversity audit, working with a range of farmers and crofters on different farm types across Scotland. We have developed and tested these through the digital tool Farm Biodiversity Scotland. The feedback we received from the testers, particularly those new to biodiversity, has been crucial to making it simple and accessible to use. These responses from farmers and crofters formed an important part of the continuing advisory role we play with the Scottish Government.

We also tested step 2 by looking at a basic and a more advanced habitat condition assessment. At present it is not mandatory to have a condition assessment for habitats as part of the Whole Farm Plan, and we will continue to develop these for the future as part of this project.

Step 1 – Mapping

We created a list of habitat and feature types, which is very similar to the Farm Environment Assessment approach in the current Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS). Farmers and crofters can create a habitat map for the whole of their farm or croft, allocating a habitat category for all the land within their business and including boundary and other linear features where present.

Step 2 - Measuring the condition

In the same way that we developed habitat assessment scorecards for our POBAS project (Piloting an outcome Based Approach in Scotland), we developed a simpler version to give us a broad-based condition assessment of key habitats and features on each farm. They have a rating based on ‘red, amber, green’ to represent poor, moderate or good for biodiversity; these are our basic assessments. We have tested a range of these during 2024. Not all habitats will have an assessment; some habitats will just be recorded as a presence or not.  We also tested some advanced assessments which look at habitat condition in more depth. Simple recommendations for improving habitat condition are also provided. 

Species on your farm or croft

The Farm Biodiversity Scotland platform also allows farmers and crofters to record the presence of key species they see on their land. We will be developing this further having had feedback from those that have tested it that it is a welcome addition to the NatureScot biodiversity audit.

The next stages of the Biodiversity Audit development:

Step 3 – manage through options to maintain or increase the condition of the habitats. We plan to look at how the biodiversity audit can direct farmers and crofters to the series of management options that are relevant to their habitats and features. This will provide further insight to the Agricultural Reform Programme Tiers.

Step 4 – monitoring the habitats

As the cycle of mapping and measuring continues, monitoring the impacts and success of measures that are put into place should be simple and clear. The Biodiversity Audit will provide guidance and advice on how this might be completed, as part of the Agricultural Reform for the future.

If you need more information you can email biodiversity.audit@nature.scot