In response to today’s reshuffle announcement by the Scottish Government, Karen Blackport, co-convenor of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance and chief executive of Bright Green Nature, said:

“It’s shocking that, in the face of biodiversity and climate emergencies, the Scottish Government still has no nature minister. Sidelining nature is costing society dearly – we can see it on delays to marine protections, backtracking on beavers and abandoning a third national park.  

“We call on the First Minister to stop dodging the fact that Scotland is one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries and give nature the political voice it urgently needs.

"We thank Dr Alasdair Allan for the energy and interest he brought to the role and our conversations with him, and wish him well as he returns to the back benches.”

Photo Credit: Ben Silcocks / Itago Media