Working within Government

Scottish Natural Heritage is funded through the Rural Affairs and Environment arm of Scottish Government, though our work brings us in contact with many other parts. We work closely with the Scottish Government in providing information and briefings for Ministers, for responses to correspondence from Members of the Scottish, UK and European Parliaments on natural heritage issues, and we provide a natural heritage input to the development of Scottish Government policies and guidance. We interact too, on some issues, with the UK Government or the European Union.

The Scottish Parliament is responsible for passing legislation directly related to the natural environment of Scotland. Scottish Natural heritage inputs to this process by making advice and expertise available at the appropriate stage, ensuring the development of the best possible legislation. We also offer evidence to Parliamentary Committee's and provide background information to help Scottish Government prepare responses to Parliamentary questions.

We collaborate with a range of organisations to deliver the Scottish Environment and Rural Services, an integrated service for rural customers, and to make funding for land management available through the Scottish Rural Development Programme. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) is a focus for coordinated action by natural heritage agencies across the UK on common issues of wider-than-Scotland or international importance. If current proposals are approved by the Scottish Parliament, SNH will be merged with the Deer Commission for Scotland during 2010. This will secure an efficient approach to deer management and will enable SNH to build on the practical wildlife management expertise within the Deer Commission for Scotland.