Deputy Presiding Officer, I thank you for your permission to leave before the end of the question session, and I apologise to you and to members for having to do so.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the “Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045”, including in relation to riparian woodland planting. (S6O-04990)

We published our strategic framework for biodiversity in Scotland in November 2024. The framework has three elements: the long-term strategy to 2045, which sets out the ambition for halting the loss of and substantially restoring biodiversity; the first in a series of delivery plans, which contains more than 100 actions; and statutory targets for nature restoration to drive action and delivery.

Native riparian woodlands are a very important habitat in Scotland for both biodiversity and people. The woodlands support a wide variety of plants and animals, with diversity increasing as the woodland matures. They have a critical role in cooling and maintaining water quality in burns and rivers to the benefit of rare and vulnerable species such as freshwater pearl mussel and Atlantic salmon. They also provide people and communities with natural flood management by moderating the flow of water from the hills into the rivers.

A lot of good work is being done in my Constituency of Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley on riparian woodland planting. I refer specifically to the work of Symington community council, in partnership with other groups, to introduce extensive areas of woodland along the upper Pow Burn in order to create natural habitats and nature networks to reduce the flood risk downstream. What support is being provided to communities to support such endeavours?

I commend Symington community council’s ambition for nature restoration through planting riparian woodlands in the upper Pow Burn, as Elena Whitham has outlined. I hope to see other communities throughout Scotland follow its lead if we are to address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Crucially, such initiatives can also benefit communities and individuals downstream with natural flood management and improved water quality. Eligible applicants can apply to the forestry grant scheme to support riparian planting, through which an enhanced payment rate is available. Our nature restoration fund has also supported riparian planting as part of wider, landscape-scale restoration projects.

Invasive non-native species are one of the key drivers of biodiversity loss in Scotland, including through the spread of invasive tree seed to adjoining land such as peatland. Research from the Royal Society of Edinburgh into public subsidies for tree planting and forestry shows that large, dense stands of non-native conifers, such as Sitka spruce, are having an adverse effect on biodiversity. What consideration has the Cabinet secretary given to the recommendations in the RSE report to discontinue subsidies for commercial non-native conifer planting?

With regard to woodland planting, I will have to defer to my colleagues in the rural affairs portfolio. However, the responsibility for action on invasive non-native species lies with me, and Mercedes Villalba knows that the matter has my full attention.