Engineering and design consultancy, Atkins – a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group – has joined the Scottish Forum on Natural Capital, a collaboration between public, private and voluntary organisations to protect and rebuild Scotland's natural capital.

Home to almost half of the UK's woodland and over 60% of the UK's peatland habit, Scotland has been identified as a key player in driving nature recovery across the UK. Ambitious targets have been set, including to protect at least 30% of Scotland's land and seas for nature by 2030.

Recognising a growing need for nature positive decision-making in Scotland, Atkins has been expanding its Natural Capital services in the country and strengthening its local presence.

This includes delivering natural capital and biodiversity improvements on a major road scheme for Transport Scotland, working with the City of Edinburgh Council to map opportunities to enhance ecosystem services throughout the city, and evidencing the wider benefits delivered by local nature reserves to identify funding opportunities for South Lanarkshire Council.

Richard Robinson, Atkins CEO for UK and Europe said: "Engineering a nature-positive future means creating the right interventions in the right places to deliver multiple benefits.

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"Understanding the value of our natural assets can help us to tackle and adapt to climate change and bolster biodiversity whilst creating better places for communities, and we look forward to working with fellow forum members to share best practice and help Scotland to meet its natural capital targets."

The Scottish Forum on Natural Capital aims to drive the development of natural capital policy and research and innovation, as well as support action to increase investment in and adoption of, natural capital related initiatives.

Atkins will utilise its membership to network and share knowledge with other forum members, helping drive innovation and deliver nature positive outcomes in Scotland.

Julia Clough, Natural Capital Development Officer for the forum, said: "The Scottish Forum on Natural Capital welcomes Atkins to our membership and discussion networks. Understanding the connection between business and nature is becoming increasingly important as we strive to achieve nature positive targets together.

"Engagement, discussion and commitment to action from industry players like Atkins will be an important part of mainstreaming natural capital thinking in decision making."

Oliver Seville, Natural Capital Consultant, Scotland at Atkins added: "The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 sets out a commitment to embedding natural capital in policy making. But to ensure this policy is delivering for Scotland's nature, it's crucial that technical leaders and innovators in the space, such as Atkins, work together to further natural capital approaches.

"Scotland's natural environment is unique and so too is its nature restoration. As members of the forum Atkins will be able to gain a better understanding of local policy, social and environmental context and best practice approaches, and ultimately help our Scottish clients to work with nature to achieve better outcomes.

"We are widely recognised by our clients as innovative thought leaders and a safe pair of hands to whom our clients entrust their most important natural capital challenges."

The SNC-Lavalin Group has made several commitments to protect natural capital and last year joined the 'Make It Mandatory' campaign, calling on the world's governments to require all large businesses and financial institutions to disclose their impacts and dependencies on nature by 2030. Atkins is also a member of the Forum of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures.