UKHab Survey & Natural Capital Assessment of NHS Estate

NatureScot, in partnership with NHS National Services Scotland, is intending to carry out:

1. a UKHabv2 survey and;
2. a Natural Capital Assessment (NCA)

of the NHS Estate in Scotland.

A first Phase (herein referred to as Phase A to avoid confusion with ‘Phase 1’ Surveys) has already delivered UKHabv2 surveys for the NHS Estate within areas covered by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Highland and NHS Tayside. Additionally, a Phase 1 Habitat Survey of NHS Lothian Estate was carried out in 2020 as part of a biodiversity and climate change assessment for the NHS Lothian estate.

• 1.The purpose of carrying out the UKHAb2 survey in the remaining 10 NHS Board areas (Phase B) is to establish a baseline to inform:
• a natural capital account of NHS greenspace at the NHS Board scale (part 2. of this project)
• a possible future biodiversity assessment of the NHS Estate, once an biodiversity metric tool has been developed and established in Scotland
• management of NHS greenspace to provide positive effects for biodiversity
• management of NHS greenspace to maximize the health benefits for staff, patients and the wider community
• priorities for investment in NHS greenspace to maximize benefits for people and nature
• opportunities for people to connect with nature as part of therapeutic health interventions
• 2.The purpose of carrying out the NCA across all Board areas (Phases A and B) is to provide:
• an appreciation and valuation – where possible in monetary terms - of the ecosystem services that the natural resources provide, such as clean water and air, flood regulation, climate regulation (carbon sequestration), pollination and visual amenity
• a framework for understanding the economic and social value of natural assets, which can be used to justify investments in nature and guide resource allocation
• a demonstration of how the NHS contributes to the well-being of society through actions that benefit nature
• a framework for risk management of natural capital and the potential impacts on the NHS estate.