Scottish Environment LINK
@scotlink.bsky.social
The voice of Scotland's #environment community. Over 50 organisations working together for the environment. www.scotlink.org
Today Scottish Environment LINK members gave evidence to Parliament’s Rural Affairs Committee on marine priorities. As Scotland’s seas continue to decline, we need inclusive management and well-resourced Marine Protected Areas to deliver win-wins for nature, fishing, and coastal communities.
This Wednesday, MSPs will debate how Scotland can build resilience to climate shocks – including the role nature recovery can play. We’ll be outside Parliament before the debate, making sure the urgency of preparing for climate shocks is visible outside as well as inside Holyrood. 🧵3/4
Kelp forests play a vital role in supporting healthy marine ecosystems. Their presence creates a complex habitat that provides shelter & feeding areas for many animals. Their #NatureChampion is Sanne Dijkstra-Downie MSP in collaboration with Marine Conservation Society & Scottish Wildlife Trust
We have just a few tickets left for Sea Scotland on 27 October! Join us at the Discovery in Dundee to explore the big issues facing Scotland's marine environment. 🌊 Grab your ticket before they're gone: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sea-scotla...
Along with 14 of our member organisations, we've published a statement today on why we're not persuaded of the case for merging NatureScot and other public bodies into a single environmental agency. Read our statement: shorturl.at/51Ow2 📷Sandra Graham
LINK is calling for calling for effective, science-led protections for Scotland’s seas as the Scottish government launches its long-overdue public consultation today on protections for wildlife in inshore marine protected areas. Read our press release: shorturl.at/B9P3v 📷 Cath Bain/WDC
We are so excited to be back in Dundee at #DiscoveryPoint to celebrate our 10th anniversary - who was there at the first Sea Scotland conference at this fantastic venue? Discovery Point - Dundee Heritage Trust share.google/EaZxmeiTB1aM... @scotlink.bsky.social @mcsuk.bsky.social @wwf.org.uk
Discovery Point - Dundee Heritage Trust
Dive into history on the Royal Research Ship Discovery in Dundee and experience Captain Scott & Shackleton's Antarctic journey.
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The results of our @survation.bsky.social survey on the state of nature and government performance add to the evidence that there's a high level of concern for the environment and a strong political incentive for government to act. Dan Paris looks at the findings in a new blog post shorturl.at/jmy7g
Today, LINK’s @danparis.bsky.social spoke to @parliament.scot's Climate Action Committee, highlighting nature as one of our most important assets and as a first line of defence against climate change. Restoring biodiversity goes hand in hand with climate action. Full meeting: shorturl.at/qtgO9
Natural woodland regeneration and colonisation could help Scotland meet its net zero targets. But to do so, we must change how we fund & support forestry. Read LINK's latest report to find out more about natural woodland regeneration & our policy proposals for the Scot Gov. 🔗 shorturl.at/ObxiV
4 in 10 planning departments in Scotland’s local authorities have no in-house ecological expertise. We need properly resourced experts to assist with informed decision-making to protect Scotland’s nature. Read The National's article: shorturl.at/kO9eD Explore LINK's Scorecard: shorturl.at/ecQG2
How can we know nature protection is working if we aren't properly monitoring it? Scotland signed up to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030, but a new Nature Protection Scorecard reveals a critical gap. Read The Ferret's article: shorturl.at/XhGvF Explore Scorecard: shorturl.at/ecQG2
NEW ARTICLE! 🚨 Scotland can’t afford to wait to protect its seas. Over a decade after the Marine (Scotland) Act, key inshore protections are still missing. The government must act to protect marine life & support local fishers. Read our latest article published in The Herald: shorturl.at/uNdaH
#DYK the Common pipistrelle is so small it can fit into a matchbox?! But don't let its size fool you. They can easily eat 3000 insects per night! Their #NatureChampion is Clare Adamson MSP @clareadamsonmsp.bsky.social in collaboration with The Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social
In a new guest blog LINK’s former Chair James Curran @jamescurranhere.bsky.social discusses how we can best measure Scotland's path to a sustainable future & looks at how an index of sustainable development could help track our economic, social & environmental progress. Read here: shorturl.at/A0oCT
Take two minutes to help save Scottish seas 👇 Scotland's marine protected areas need specially tailored fishing restrictions to protect the amazing wildlife within them. Join the call for a public consultation in the first 100 days of parliament. Write to your MSPs before Aug 22! shorturl.at/Nzo5w
As reported in The Herald yesterday, a major Scottish environmental watchdog found that the govt failed to meet legal duties to protect the seabed. Their recent June 2026 report cites critical policy gaps and issues formal recommendations, legally requiring a response within 6 months. Links below👇
As the new session of the Scottish Parliament progresses, we have outlined our key asks for the 2026 Programme for Government. To tackle the climate and nature crises, we call on the Scot Govt to take bold action to protect our environment and support our communities. Read more 👉 shorturl.at/F6Zsa
Did you know that Water Voles are keystone species and expert ecosystem engineers whose presence indicates a healthy wetland ecosystem and generates greater biodiversity? Their #NatureChampion is Fulton MacGregor MSP in collaboration with @rspbscotland.bsky.social ! 📸 Ben Andrew | rspb-images.com
Scotland has achieved seven consecutive years of growth in organic farming, but we still lag behind our EU neighbours. Looking towards the 2026–2031 parliament, we are asking the Scot Gov to set a new target to double organic land cover over the next five years. Read more: shorturl.at/FOfnY
If you’re aged 18–30 and joining us at Sea Scotland, you’re invited to attend our exclusive pre-conference youth workshop and social, designed to help you make the most of your Sea Scotland experience. The ticket includes access to Sea Scotland on 27th October! Book your place now shorturl.at/9eybK
Blue mussels are habitat-forming ecosystem engineers that provide many vital ecosystem functions, including seafloor stabilisation, water filtering, & boosting biodiversity! Their #NatureChampion is Kate Campbell MSP @kate-c.bsky.social in collaboration with Young Sea Changers Scotland 📸 ©JPrescott
Few industries are as woven into Scotland’s coastal identity as fishing, yet our seas face an increasingly complex management crisis. So why is current marine policy stalling, and how can spatial management be crucial for marine recovery? 👉 Read the full article: www.scotlink.org/the-elephant...
Did you know that Peregrine falcons can reach speeds of 200 mph as they plunge out of the sky to catch their prey, making them the fastest animal?! Their #NatureChampion is Holly Bruce MSP @hollybruce.bsky.social alongside RSPB Scotland @rspbscotland.bsky.social & the Scottish Raptor Study Group
Want to know some turtly awesome facts about Leatherback Turtles? They can grow up to 2 metres long and have been around for over 65 million yrs, since the Jurassic Period! Their #NatureChampion is Ross Greer MSP @ross-greer.bsky.social, working with Marine Conservation Society @mcsuk.bsky.social
Take two minutes to write to your MSPs to call for action to give Scotland's seas the protections they deserve! Join our call for a public consultation within the first 100 days of the new parliament on finally implementing the protections our oceans need. Act now! scotlink.eaction.online/100days/
Are you aged 18–25 & heading to Sea Scotland 2026? 🌊 Don’t miss the Sea Scotland Youth Event! 📍 Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre 📅 26 Oct 2026 Join us for a free workshop & dinner to connect, discuss ocean justice, and build confidence before the main conference. Eventbrite coming soon! 🎟️
The Ferret reports that some Scottish councils spent £4m from the Nature Restoration Fund on general admin. Diverting millions from these flagship environmental funds undermines critical efforts to address the nature emergency. Read more: shorturl.at/lCSpT @theferret.scot
Councils were given millions to tackle the nature crisis. Some spent it on office costs
The Scottish Government gave local authorities £20m to tackle a "nature emergency". But we found that around £4m of that sum was spent on fixing cars and office equipment, among other non-environmenta...
theferret.scot
The Ferret@theferret.scot · 3mo agoThe Scottish Government gave local authorities £20m to tackle a "nature emergency". But we found that around £4m of that sum was spent on fixing cars and office equipment, among other non-environmental spending. Our latest: https://www.theferret.scot/environmental-funding-misspent-councils/
The Scottish Government gave local authorities £20m to tackle a "nature emergency". But we found that around £4m of that sum was spent on fixing cars and office equipment, among other non-environmental spending. Our latest: https://www.theferret.scot/environmental-funding-misspent-councils/