World Curlew Day 2020

That the Parliament recognises that World Curlew Day is celebrated on 21 April 2020; notes that this annual event aims to raise awareness of the various species of curlew and the threats they face around the world; understands that Scotland is host to about 15% of all Eurasian curlew, and that numbers here have declined by 61% since 1994, due mainly to changes in land use as highlighted in the State of Nature Report, Scotland, 2019; appreciates the contributions to curlew conservation that have been made by farmers and land managers, and the Working for Waders initiative, which supports curlew conservation projects across Scotland, and acknowledges the need for ongoing monitoring of the effectiveness of such schemes; recognises the impact of the current COVID-19 crisis on environmental conservation, and on farming and land management, and believes that the lessons learned from the worldwide pandemic should include recognition of the importance of biodiversity and respect for the natural world; looks forward to the time when people are again able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Scotland’s wildlife, including curlew; welcomes the funding that the Biodiversity Challenge Fund has given to curlew conservation, and calls for continued long-term financial support for schemes that work to restore curlew numbers in Scotland.