Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill [AS INTRODUCED] An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision about setting targets relating to biodiversity; to confer on the Scottish Ministers a power to modify certain legislation in relation to environmental impact assessments and habitats; to make provision in relation to national parks; to make provision in connection with the management of deer; and for connected purposes. 5 P ART 1 T ARGETS FOR IMPROVING BIODIVERSITY 1 Targets for improving biodiversity (1) The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 is modified as follows. (2) Before section 1, insert— 10 “General duty to further conservation of biodiversity”. 1 (3) After section 2A, insert— “Duties in respect of biodiversity targets 2B Purpose of setting targets The targets to be set under this Part are to provide a means of supporting and 15 measuring the progress being made in respect of— (a) the implementation of the biodiversity strategy designated under section 2(1), and (b) generally, the duty under section 1. 2C Duty to set targets 20 (1) The Scottish Ministers may, by regulations, make provision for and in connection with targets in relation to— (a) any matter which relates to any of the following topics— (i) the condition or extent of any habitat, (ii) the status of threatened species, SP Bill 59 Session 6 (2025) 2 Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill Part 1—Targets for improving biodiversity (iii) the environmental conditions for nature regeneration, and (b) any other matter relating to the restoration or regeneration of biodiversity as they consider appropriate. (2) The Scottish Ministers must exercise the power under subsection (1) so as 5 to— (a) set at least one target in respect of each of the topics described in paragraph (a) of that subsection, and (b) specify the manner in which, or indicators against which, progress toward and achievement of the target being set is to be measured. 10 (3) A draft of a Scottish statutory instrument (or drafts of Scottish statutory 1 instruments) containing regulations setting a target for a matter relating to each of the topics in subsection (1)(a) must be laid before the Scottish Parliament within 12 months of section 1 of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 coming into force. 15 (4) Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative procedure (but see also section 2F). 2D Duties in relation to meeting targets (1) It is the duty of the Scottish Ministers to ensure that each target set under section 2C is met. 20 (2) For the purpose of this section, a target is met if the measures or indicators specified in relation to the target in question are met, or as the case may be, achieved. (3) Subsection (4) applies if— (a) a target is not met, or 25 (b) the Scottish Ministers believe that it is no longer possible for a target to be met. (4) The Scottish Ministers must— (a) lay...