The James Hutton Institute and SRUC are currently developing a Natural Assets Register for Scotland as part of the Scottish Government’s Strategic Research Programme, 2016-21. The Natural Assets Register will:
- be spatially based;
- include existing published environmental data;
- include data and modelling outputs from the research programme and elsewhere;
- assess the condition of the assets and their role in providing ecosystem service benefits; and
- inform the development of natural capital accounts.
As well as informing about their own research and decision making by government and agencies, the Natural Assets Register will be publically accessible (e.g. through the Scotland’s Environment website).
As part of the development of the Natural Assets Register a review of similar existing initiatives elsewhere is being undertaken. These initiatives need not be exactly the same as the proposed Natural Assets Register in scope, ambition or accessibility, as the review is intended to be a comprehensive assessment of the current position. If you know of any such initiatives (whether complete, in progress or proposed) they would be grateful if you could respond with a short email listing the initiatives, their locations, a website address (if one exists), and if possible include a comment describing your views of their usefulness and any particular strengths or shortcomings. Any comments will be treated with the strictest confidence, and if at all included in the report without attributing your name or organisation (unless you are happy for your comments to be attributed).
A response until 2nd June via e-mail is highly appreciated.