Potential plant health impacts in the natural environment (including semi natural habitats and wild plant populations) are being increasingly recognised, yet there remains limited clarity over ownership, governance and coordination across the range of organisations involved. While the Chief Plant Health Officer for Scotland has responsibility for all plant health matters in Scotland, response to a significant outbreak in the natural environment would involve multiple bodies, including policy teams, agencies and delivery organisations, with no single, clearly articulated framework for leadership, escalation or preparedness.

The PHC-funded Plant Health in the Natural Environment fellowship identified that, unlike plant health in production systems, the problem definition in the natural environment is less well developed. Stakeholder awareness is uneven, and roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are often unclear. This lack of clarity creates risks for early detection, coordinated response, and effective communication if a significant plant pest or pathogen threat emerges.

There is therefore a need to address this gap in a phased and proportionate way. This project is intended as a PHC-led strategic working group focused on providing clarity and agreement on the governance, coordination and options appraisal of plant health in the natural environment, rather than operational delivery. The work will support informed decision making by policy colleagues and ministers, particularly in the context of constrained public resources.

This project is strategic and advisory in nature. It will map existing responsibilities, assess governance and coordination options, and develop evidence-based options for ministers and senior officials. It will not deliver operational change, introduce new statutory duties, or implement surveillance or response activities.


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