£9 million boost for Scotland’s nature

More than 300 projects have been supported through the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund competitive scheme, managed by NatureScot, since its launch in 2021. Now a further 44 priority projects are being funded to take actions that will help tackle nature loss and climate change.

In the latest round of awards, the Scottish Wildlife Trust is granted more than £1.5 million to fund another two years of its successful Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels programme. While 80 percent of the UK’s red squirrel population lives here their numbers have fallen drastically in recent decades. The partnership is working to make sure the iconic species remains part of Scotland’s native wildlife.

Appin Community Development Trust receives just over £1 million for the Appin Rainforest Regeneration Project. They will build a pool of skilled local workers who will remove invasive plants including rhododendron and Japanese knotweed, and they will work with local landowners to reduce the impact of deer grazing, allowing the natural regeneration of Appin’s significant remnants of rainforest.

Cairngorms Connect is awarded £115,000 to realign and reconnect the River Tromie with its historical floodplain by creating a new channel. The channel will include new habitat features to benefit migrating and spawning Atlantic salmon and trout and invertebrates such as the Northern stiletto silver fly and the five-spot ladybird. The realigned river will encourage the natural flow of water, helping to reduce flooding and erosion.

Climate Action Secretary, Gillian Martin said:

“The Nature Restoration Fund has delivered unprecedented funding for a huge range of projects that are currently and will continue to help with our goal of halting biodiversity loss by 2030.

“As more projects are supported by the Fund, we learn more from the successes of each round – helping us respond to threats to our natural environment and support projects that are making a real difference across Scotland.

“I congratulate all of the successful applicants and look forward to seeing the progress and improvements they make to our landscapes, waterways and wildlife.”

NatureScot Chair Professor Colin Galbraith said:

“We are at a moment in time where we risk losing some of our most precious wildlife and wild places for good. We cannot let this happen. Our daily lives rely on a healthy, functioning natural world, and we all have a part to play in supporting that.

“The Nature Restoration Fund is helping us put Scotland’s land, rivers, seas and all the species that live in them back on the road to recovery. The Fund is a critical lifeline for Scotland’s nature, and everyone involved in carrying out this vital work should be proud of their contribution towards a greener and healthier future for us all.”