What proposals it has to improve the nature conservation system.

Our programme for government, Working Together for Scotland, committed the Scottish Executive to improve the system of nature conservation to work with local communities to achieve effective protection for nature.I am today publishing The Nature of Scotland: A Policy Statement, which sets out our proposals to achieve this. It proposes important reforms to the way in which we work with people to protect Scotland's most special places for nature. It also proposes important changes to the way we protect nature, and deter wildlife crime, throughout Scotland.I am consulting widely on these proposals, and have set up a working group involving the key stakeholders to consider their further development.I have placed copies of The Nature of Scotland in the Scottish Parliament's Reference Centre.