Join us for this free webinar, in partnership with the Arboricultural Association, exploring the Scottish Planning Biodiversity Metric (SPBM) and its current consultation.
The SPBM is being developed as a consistent and transparent approach to assessing biodiversity change associated with development in Scotland, including habitat loss, compensation and enhancement. Adapted from the English statutory biodiversity metric to reflect Scotland’s environmental and policy context, it uses habitats as a proxy for wider biodiversity value and calculates Biodiversity Units. The metric will measure, record and represent the relative biodiversity of the habitat of trees and groups of trees within a wider metric covering all habitat types. The consultation closes on 30 November and will help refine the SPBM ahead of the planned release of Version 1 in spring 2027.
Alongside the wider consultation, the Institute convened a Core Metric Group which has developed this proposal that feeds the arboriculture and forestry sectors’ recommendations for refinements into the main NatureScot consultation.
NatureScot has acknowledged that the ICF will facilitate a parallel consultation with the arboriculture and forestry sectors’ to feed into the main consultation.
The Core Metric Group is made up of:
- Ruthe Davies MICFor – City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Tree Officers’ Group
- Kevin Friediani – National Trust for Scotland and Arboricultural Association Scottish Branch Vice-Chair
- Caroline Harrison FICFor – Institute of Chartered Foresters
- Sue James FICFor (Hon) – Trees and Design Action Group
- Chris Knapman – Ancient Tree Forum
- Fiona Melville – FM Tree Consultancy
- Julian Morris MICFor – Julian A Morris Professional Tree Services (Lead Author)
- Simon Stuart MICFor – Freelance Consultant
- Harry Watkins – St Andrews Botanic Gardens – Director (Chair)
This webinar will include an overview of the SPBM and consultation by NatureScot speakers. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the discussion.
We will be responding to the wider consultation and are seeking members’ views to help inform our response and represent the sector’s perspectives. Please send any consultation comments to ICF Technical Policy Manager, Caroline Harrison FICFor, by 30 October. Please also respond directly to the NatureScot consultation by 30 November 2026, copying these to the ICF.