Why does RSPB Scotland care about farming and crofting?

Published: 10 Mar 2025
Written by: Gabija Dragunaite, RSPB Scotland's Policy Assistant
Topic: Context as to why we think farming is so important.

The simple answer to the question—why do we care about farming and crofting—is that farming and crofting have a fundamentally important role to play in helping tackle the nature emergency we face today.

But the interconnection between farming and biodiversity is complex and we want to set out some of the background as to why farming is so important for nature.

The starting point for RSPB Scotland has to be a recognition that we are experiencing a nature emergency. As the recent State of Nature report revealed, 1 in 9 species are under threat of national extinction and between 1994 and 2021 we saw a long-term decline in nature.

There are lots of reasons for these trends, but one of them is to do with the changes that have taken place in farming over recent decades. Approximately 70-75% of Scotland is farmed in some way, so changes in farming practice inevitably have an impact on Scotland's biodiversity.

This is not, though, a simple narrative of agriculture’s negative impact on nature. The relationship between farming and nature is more complex because in some places the farming activity is essential for the maintenance of the biodiversity interest.

Let’s look at some of the detail.

Starting with the big picture. At the UK level the statistics are stark. Farmland birds have been monitored since 1970 and we have seen a huge decline in farmland birds, most notably because of a big decline in the 1980s.

These negative trends are associated with changes in farming practice, particularly the increased use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, and changes to farm structure and systems and a shift towards silage production.

In Scotland, the trends are not quite so dire. The latest data only starts in 1994 and so does not capture the longer-term trend in the same way as the UK indicator. Since 1994, the Scottish Indicator has actually increased, with some species doing well (Goldfinch, Great Tit, Magpie, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Buzzard and Jackdaw), while others have declined. Kestrel has declined by 65%, Curlew by 60%, Lapwing by 60% and Oystercatcher by 36%.

It is also true that in comparison to other parts of the UK, Scotland remains something of a stronghold for some farmland birds.

The Curlew provides an illustration of what’s happening to some farmland birds. The Curlew is the UK’s largest wading bird. While they will often be seen around our coasts, they breed in the hills and on farmland. They nest on the ground and prefer areas with a mosaic of long and short grasses away from trees.

Curlews are suffering from a range of threats including climate change, disturbance, loss of habitat and predation. Changing farming practices are also an important factor. A shift from hay making to silage meant that breeding birds have less time to rear chicks before fields are cut and uniform fields are not suitable because they prefer a mosaic of short and long vegetation. At the same time, the use of pesticides has reduced food availability. Unfortunately, the outcome of all these pressures has been a 60% decline.

Many of the pressures that the Curlew is facing are not in farmers’ control -  e.g. climate change and disturbance -  but farmers can very much be part of the solution and help give curlews a fighting chance.

They can closely monitor where Curlew are nesting and manage with their success in mind. Where possible, they could delay cutting silage to allow time for successful nesting. They could establish a mosaic of vegetation lengths, which Curlew prefer and they could create shallow ponds - ‘scrapes’ – to retain moisture which in turn supports invertebrates upon which Curlew feed.

We know that many farmers are keen to try and help birds and restore farmland biodiversity. You can see an example of some of the good work that is underway here: How the RSPB is working with farmers and others to save waders in the Clyde Valley

While some farming practices have had a negative impact on biodiversity, it is also the case that in some areas the farming system supports biodiversity.

In those places where farming involves low intensity agricultural methods, the farming tends to maintain a variety of habitats that provide food and shelter for critically important species, such as Corncrakes.

We call these areas High Nature Value (HNV) farming areas and best estimates, while a little dated, are that HNV farming covers around 44% of Scotland’s land. In these areas we need to see the low intensity farming maintained to continue to support endangered wildlife.

Quite simply because farming is part of the solution to the nature emergency.

We want to see changes in the whole farming industry towards more sustainable, nature friendly farming. This means addressing those practices that damage nature, whilst better supporting those practices that enhance nature.

While it can sometimes look like environmental and farming interests clash, we all know that we cannot produce food without a healthy environment. The only way to sustainably produce food and help nature is by working together.

From our perspective, we think of farmers and crofters as being part of the solution and we want them to receive better support from the government, which is currently failing to really drive a move towards nature-friendly farming, despite saying that is what it wants to see.

You can find out more about our work and vision for farming in Scotland here.