03 February, 2020
Survey reveals nature concern
Public concern about biodiversity may be on the rise, a new survey suggests.
The 2019 Scottish Nature Omnibus survey found that 65% of people agree there will be less variety of life in Scotland over the next 50 years, compared to 63% in 2017.
Over the same period, the proportion of adults concerned about Scotland’s biodiversity has increased from 68% to 71%.
In 2019 just over half of respondents (54%) said they felt nature was personally relevant to them, compared to 52% two years ago.
The online survey of 1,101 people reveals a rise in the proportion of people gardening for wildlife (from 42% to 46%) and volunteering (from 21% to 23%).
However there was a slight drop in the percentage saying they were taking action to be a green consumer (72% to 70%) and a green traveller (66% compared to 65%).
The survey found that while a majority of people have heard of SNH, awareness of the organisation’s remit remains relatively low with respondents most likely to associate it with protecting or looking after Scotland’s heritage, culture or history.
From May 1 SNH will rebrand to NatureScot to be more recognisable to the general public as Scotland’s nature agency and the organisation responsible for restoring and enriching our biodiversity.
SNH Chief Executive Francesca Osowska said: “This survey appears to show a growing concern about the many challenges our biodiversity is facing.
“There is no doubt that this is an important moment for the state of nature both at home and globally, and it may be that increased publicity surrounding the declaration of a climate emergency and activists such as Sir David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg is increasingly cutting through to the public.
“However it’s clear from some of the findings that there is still much work to be done to translate awareness into action and encourage more people to do more for our biodiversity.
“As Scotland’s nature agency our mission is to improve our natural environment and inspire everyone to care more about it. Our forthcoming rebrand to NatureScot is a clear statement to the public that nature is at the forefront of everything that we do.
“It will allow us to reach and engage more people on the importance of protecting and enhancing our biodiversity and the role we can all play in ensuring a nature-rich future for Scotland.”
ENDS
Media enquiries: Contact the SNH press office on 0131 316 2655 or snhmedia@nature.scot.
Contact information
- Name
- NatureScot Media
- Telephone
- 0131 316 2655
- media@nature.scot
Notes to editors
The report presents the findings from the most recent wave of the Scottish Nature Omnibus survey (SNO), conducted in August 2019, and is available in full here: https://bit.ly/37T47Wd
https://www.nature.scot/snh-research-report-1198-scottish-nature-omnibus-2019
While further years of data will be required to confirm any longer-term trend, the increase in biodiversity concern between 2017 and 2019 chimes with findings from other surveys, such as the most recent Scottish Household Survey (SHS) finding that 65% of adults now view climate change as ‘an immediate and urgent problem’.
The SNO was first commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage in 2009 to measure the extent to which the general public is engaged with SNH and its work. The proportion of respondents engaged with biodiversity has shown some variation over time, with levels of engagement higher in the earliest waves of research (2009/10) than in more recent waves.
Between 2009 and 2015 the survey was undertaken using a face to face interview methodology. Since 2017, the survey has been conducted using an online interview administered to members of the public who have agreed to be part of a survey panel.
While the respondent profile and most question wording remained the same, it should be noted that when comparing the 2017 and 2019 findings with data from previous years that there are some acknowledged differences in behaviour between people responding to a face to face survey and those taking part in an online survey that can impact on results.
NatureScot is Scotland's nature agency. We work to enhance our natural environment in Scotland and inspire everyone to care more about it. Our priority is a nature-rich future for Scotland and an effective response to the climate emergency. For more information, visit our website at www.nature.scot or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nature_scot
’S e NatureScot buidheann nàdair na h-Alba. Bidh sinn a’ neartachadh àrainneachd na h-Alba agus a’ brosnachadh dhaoine gu barrachd suim a chur ann an nàdar. Tha e mar phrìomhachas againn gum bi nàdar na h-Alba beairteach agus gun dèilig sinn gu h-èifeachdach le èiginn na gnàth-shìde. Tha an tuilleadh fiosrachaidh aig www.nature.scot no air Twitter aig https://twitter.com/nature_scot
