Valuing our environment

The natural environment is one of Scotland's greatest assets, making a major contribution to economic growth and quality of life.

The Natural Capital Asset index aims to track changes in Scotland's environment. The technical document   has the details, the spreadsheets    are also available. Our survey What the Scottish Public Value About the Natural Heritage   shows that the Scottish public have a strong affection for our native wildlife and landscapes, and there is clear support from the public for continued protection. Additional analysis, Regional Environmental Preferences  , shows what aspects of nature people think are important in the different regions of Scotland (the datasets    are also available).

Take a look at our film that demonstrates how nature and landscapes attract businesses and individuals to live and work in Scotland.

Our report on Valuing our Environment  shows that 11% of Scotland's total economic output depends on sustainable use of the environment.  This is worth £17.2 billion a year, and supports 1 in 7 of all full time jobs.  The full research report the Economic Impact of Scotland's Natural Environment  underpins the key information in 'Valuing our Environment'.

If we are to continue to reap economic rewards from the natural environment, it is important to look after it as an investment for the future. 

Follow the links to tourism , planning and rural enterprise to see our other films and how nature and landscapes help contribute to sustainable economic growth.