Public bodies have legal duty to boost biodiversity
More than half of Scotland's public bodies are failing to report on their efforts to conserve biodiversity, a parliamentary report has found.
Holyrood's Public Audit and Post-Legislative Scrutiny Committee examined the legal duty public bodies have to set out how they are boosting biodiversity through measures such as such as protecting wildflower meadows and providing bee habitats.
At the end of the last reporting period in January only 41% had done so, the committee heard.
MSPs have called on the Scottish Government to work with Scottish Natural Heritage to clarify how the actions of public bodies can contribute to meeting key national and international targets and provide more guidance and support to help them meet their biodiversity and reporting duties.
Committee convener Jenny Marra MSP said: 'Our committee has a duty to check if laws are working well for the people of Scotland.
'Our report today outlines a number of ways public bodies could be supported to improve compliance with their legal biodiversity and reporting duties.
'Even a small action can help conserve and enhance Scotland's biodiversity and work towards important international targets in the future.'