Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026

2 Reports on compliance with biodiversity duty

(1) The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 is modified as follows.

(2) For section 2A, substitute—

“2A Reports on compliance with biodiversity duty

(1) Each specified public body or office-holder must prepare and publish a biodiversity report in relation to each specified period.

(2) A biodiversity report is a report on the actions taken by the specified public body or office-holder in pursuance of its duty under section 1 during the period to which the report relates.

(3) A report under this section—

(a) is to be prepared in such form and published in such manner as the public body or office-holder thinks fit,

(b) may be incorporated within another report prepared or published by the body.

(4) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision about biodiversity reports including, in particular, provision specifying—

(a) the public bodies and office-holders which are required to prepare and publish a biodiversity report under this section,

(b) the periods in relation to which reports are to relate,

(c) particular information that must be included in a biodiversity report.

(5) A period specified under subsection (4)(b)—

(a) may be specified by reference to a specific date or by reference to the frequency with which biodiversity reports are to be prepared and published, but

(b) must require a report to be published by a specified public body or office-holder at least once every 3 years.

(6) In this section, “specified” means specified in the regulations made under subsection (4).”.