Scotland’s cherished landscapes are standing their ground, with three out of four natural features on protected sites now in good or improving condition.
NatureScot has released its annual figures tracking the health of Scotland’s wild places, and while the latest update shows a slight dip from last year, the long-term picture tells a more encouraging story.
As of 31 March 2025, 75.2 percent of natural features on protected sites were either in a favourable state or recovering well under management.
That’s a rise of 3.8 percentage points since records began in 2005, even with a modest 0.3 point dip over the past 12 months.
This small drop is not considered significant, according to NatureScot, and likely reflects a stable picture overall rather than a genuine decline.
Each year, thousands of natural features across Scotland’s most treasured habitats are carefully monitored.
These include woodlands, grasslands, peatlands and marine areas, as well as species like seabirds, butterflies and freshwater pearl mussels.
Out of 5,603 features in total, 5,433 were assessed this year.
Habitats were found to be 72.7 percent in favourable condition, species 72.5 percent, and earth sciences such as fossil beds and rock formations were the best performing, at a remarkable 94.4 percent.
However, the report does not shy away from what needs work.
Some 64 natural features previously considered in good shape were reassessed, and 51 of them are now classed as unfavourable.
In several cases, the management practices once thought effective are no longer keeping up with emerging pressures, such as invasive species or climate-related stress.
Invasive species remain the most common reason for a feature being in poor condition, accounting for just over one in five cases.
This includes both non-native invaders like Japanese knotweed and familiar natives such as bracken, which can dominate a habitat if left unchecked.
On the brighter side, 43 natural features have improved their standing thanks to renewed conservation work, and 10 more were either newly assessed or have moved into favourable condition after years of effort.
Some categories are leading the way.
Dragonflies are enjoying pristine conditions, with a full 100 percent of features in good health.
Marine habitats also scored highly, as did geological sites which continue to hold firm.
At the other end of the spectrum, woodland features remain under pressure, with just over half currently in favourable condition.
Grasslands and birds also showed room for improvement, and marine mammals saw the sharpest dip, down 3.4 percentage points from last year.
The takeaway? Scotland’s natural heritage is holding steady, but it still needs our attention.
With thoughtful action, especially in tackling invasive species and adapting management to new challenges, we can ensure these protected sites continue to thrive for generations to come.
