Scottish Adder Survey: Declining Distribution of Scotland’s Only Native Snake

That the Parliament notes with concern the results of NatureScot’s Research Report 1376 - Status of the Adder in Scotland (2022-24) - Re-survey and comparison with the 1994 study, which shows that the reported distribution of the common adder shrank significantly between 1994 and 2024, with, it understands, a decrease of 36% in distribution; recognises that the work is a collaboration between NatureScot, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) and Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK (ARG UK); understands that the aim of the project was to re-assess the status of the adder in Scotland in comparison with 1994 survey results, using a combination of nationwide questionnaires and site surveys, including at Keiloch, Braemar and at Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve, in Aberdeenshire; recognises that adders are Scotland’s only native snake, appearing on the Scottish Biodiversity List as a species that the Scottish Ministers consider to be of principal importance for biodiversity conservation; understands that decline in distribution can be caused by habitat loss and fragmentation, habitat disturbance and lack of conservation management, and that the Great Britain IUCN Red List Assessment considers adders to be "near threatened" in Scotland and Britain as a whole; recommends that further survey efforts should target distribution gaps and determine species presence or absence, and further recommends that NatureScot and partners monitor consistent networks of sites for adders and other reptiles over time to provide reliable information on occupancy and population trends.