Environmental groups have claimed Scotland's natural environment and wildlife are in "serious trouble".

 

A total of 23 organizations compiled the "Responses for Nature" report and have now called on the Scottish government to take urgent action.

 

Among the recommendations is a call to develop programmes to recover threatened species.

 

The government said it would work with the groups to deliver challenging targets.

 

The organizations, which include RSPB Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, have also said conservation laws need to be fully implemented.

 

The report is a follow up to the 2013 State Of Nature UK-wide report, which warned that 60% of 3,148 species studied had declined in past 50 years, and 31% had declined strongly.

 

More than one in 10 of all species assessed were under threat of disappearing from the UK's shores altogether.

 

The organizations’ 10 key recommendations include the government "setting a trajectory for nature's recovery so that, by 2040, we have a country richer in nature with more people connecting with wildlife in their local environment".

 

They also want the government to "fully implement and defend the laws that conserve nature", resisting any attempts from the EU to alter these, deliver a network of "special places" which are protected and well managed, and put in place programmes to recover threatened species.