Natural Capital – NatureScot Natural Capital Tool
Posted: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
In the first episode of the new series, we speak with Donya Davidson and Sophie Manson from NatureScot about their Natural Capital Tool and find out what it is, the challenges it addresses, and how it supports land managers in Scotland. We have a walk through showing how the tool works in practice and how it allows decision makers to identify strategies that maximise positive outcomes.
The Natural Capital Tool is a free, easy-to-use spatial decision support tool designed to enable a natural capital approach to land management. Considering the full range of benefits and ecosystem services nature provides, it helps users plan land use in ways that deliver multiple benefits for both people and the environment. Developed by NatureScot in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University and EOLAS Insight, it is tailored specifically to Scotland’s landscapes and needs.
Host Harry Fisher, Producers Iain Boyd & Fiona Salter, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kirstyn Blackwood & Kerry Hammond.
Key Timestamps:
1:06 – 6:59 intro and background to the tool
7:00 – 18:34 the data, functions and design of the tool
18:35 – 35:30 how to use it and target audiences
35:30 – 44:19 run through of tool and next steps
Resources:
FAS Environment: https://www.fas.scot/environment/
FAS Natural Capital podcast: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/
Natural Capital Tool: https://natcaptool.nature.scot/
Natural Capital Tool | NatureScot: https://www.nature.scot/doc/natural-capital-tool
Biodiversity Audits for Whole Farm Plan | Helping farmers in Scotland: https://www.fas.scot/article/biodiversity-audits-for-whole-farm-plan/
Farm Biodiversity Scotland: https://biodiversity.scot/
For more information, visit www.FAS.scot
Twitter: @FASScot
Facebook: @FASScot
National Advice Hub
Phone: 0300 323 0161
Email: advice@fas.scot
