Council signs Edinburgh Declaration for biodiversity protection

Orkney Islands Council has today (20 April 2021) agreed to sign the Edinburgh Declaration for the protection of biodiversity.

The Edinburgh Declaration sets out the aspirations and commitments of the Scottish Government, Edinburgh Process Partners and the wider subnational constituency of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, in delivering for nature over the coming decade.

It is open for signing by parties working at the local level, in recognition of the key role they play in delivering biodiversity protection.

Councillor Steven Heddle, who is also CoSLA Spokesperson for the Environment and Economy, said at the Policy and Resources committee meeting that local government is "an important actor in this sphere", adding it has "an education and leadership role to help folks come to terms with what's going to need to be done to address climate change. We should do this on behalf of the people, and people to come."

OIC is a partner in the Orkney Local Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group. Find out more about local biodiversity planning here.

Find out more about the Edinburgh Declaration on the Scottish Government website. 

Read the full report here considered by Councillors, here.