The CSGN is a national asset, a critical delivery mechanism for Scotland’s climate and biodiversity commitments.

Anchored in Scotland's national spatial strategy, the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and aligned with the government’s National Performance Framework, the CSGN has provided the leverage and commitment to action within local development plans and agency strategies. This has ensured that greenspaces, biodiversity, and climate resilience are not add-ons but central to the way places are planned and regenerated. The CSGN is an important element for the successful implementation across multiple policy areas. It is a landscape-scale approach at the heart of the CSGN, which will support Scotland in achieving the 30x30 target and the delivery of the Biodiversity Strategy. By expanding and connecting habitats, through Nature Networks, restoring wetlands, and creating resilient ecological corridors, the CSGN will ensure nature recovery is embedded in Scotland’s future. 

As the stories of the CSGN demonstrate, it is often the intangible benefits that have affected change as much as those seen in the landscape. Going beyond measuring only hectares improved, to wellbeing, equity and pride means these things are harder to measure, but result in a perceptible sense of positive change.   

The CSGN isn’t just about landscapes - it’s about people. With greater investment there can continue to be improved physical and mental wellbeing through access to nature. Gaps in equality can be further reduced with improved green and blue spaces providing access for all, especially in communities who could benefit the most. Many of the stories tell of a sense of identity within communities. Through co-designing and owning the change in land use from industrial to improved amenity and greenspace, has been shown to build a stronger sense of place, pride, and community cohesion.  

By working to reduce health inequalities, tackle climate impacts and strengthen local resilience we provide the potential to save public money. This is achieved, through preventative spend on health and wellbeing issues, as well as mitigation of climate impacts. But further, the work of the CSGN can offer alternative economic drivers, creating green jobs and opportunities centred around nature-based solutions. The CSGN offers a model for joined-up delivery across sectors. By aligning partners around health, planning, transport, and climate priorities, it can reduce duplication and help local authorities, agencies, business and organisations to deliver more with less and accelerate change. Integrated investment means every £1 spent delivers multiple outcomes. Community empowerment and wealth building can reduce pressure on local services by enabling people to shape and care for their own places. Empowered communities are central in shaping greenspaces, growing food, and co-creating healthier, fairer places. 

Time to come together

For Scotland to meet its biodiversity, climate, and well-being ambitions, the CSGN must be prioritised, resourced, and embedded across government and policy frameworks. It needs more, than anything, a shift in mindset and approach to collaborative partnership working, together to;

• Scale up investment in woodland creation, habitat restoration, and active travel networks.
• Strengthen policy integration by aligning CSGN delivery with planning, health, economic policy, as well as biodiversity and climate strategies.
• Empower communities with the tools and resources to co-design local solutions.
• Champion international connections to position CSGN as a global exemplar meeting sustainable development goals.

To amplify the impacts the CSGN has achieved needs greater collaboration across the public and private sectors. With a diminished funding landscape, and even greater challenge of the climate and biodiversity crises, it is time to re-group and work together to deliver Scotland's ambitious goals and targets.  

Future Impacts of the CSGN will continue to be seen across environmental, social and economic areas. Environmental outcomes can be realised with positive impacts on biodiversity, flood risk and climate mitigation. Social outcomes through better health, more local food growing, with greater pride, cohesion and enjoyment of nearby greenspaces. Economic impact would be seen through green jobs as well as preventative spend. Policy outcomes would be fulfilled with a more comprehensive planning framework as well as better cross sectorial liaison. Breaking down silos to create sustainable capacity building and partnerships that deliver projects of considerable scale and impact have been shown to deliver.

The Future is Green and Shared. A greener, healthier, more resilient central Scotland is achievable, but only if the CSGN continues to be recognised as a national priority and supported with ambition, resources, and urgency.

We have already achieved much in the past 15 years. With renewed hope, fresh perspectives, shared resources and by harnessing an intensely collaborative approach to project delivery, we can look forward to reporting on the impacts of the CSGN for years to come. The Central Scotland Green Network shows what’s possible when people work together across sectors, across boundaries, and across backgrounds, to imagine something better. 

It’s not just about climate resilience. 
It’s not just about biodiversity. 
It’s about building a Central Scotland where everyone can work and live well, connected to nature, to each other.