Highland biodiversity projects share more than £320k of Nature fund cash

Critically endangered freshwater pearl mussels at two Highland sites will benefit from more than £85k of £120k awarded to a partnership of Fisheries Trusts; Trees for Life will use over £46k to create a deer-proof enclosure to help establish a new native woodland for wildlife; and in Caithness, Curlews in Crisis Scotland has £156k to help the distinctive but dramatically declining bird population.

Scotland holds many of the world’s most important populations of freshwater pearl mussels. However, the species is extremely rare in Scotland, mainly due to poor water quality, habitat damage and ongoing, illegal pearl fishing. Police Scotland run proactive operations against illegal fishers and SNH strongly encourages anyone who believes they have witnessed wildlife crime to contact the police as soon as possible. 

The Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust will focus on improving habitat for the mussels, both in the water and on the banks, working in a tributary of Loch Shin and at a small burn important for the molluscs on the Isle of Mull. Non-native conifer plantations will be removed and more than 8,000 native, broad leafed trees will be planted across the two sites, providing shade and keeping water temperatures down. Boulders added to the streambed at strategic points will improve flow conditions and help fish pass through more easily.

Trees for Life will create a 285 hectare enclosure, with conditions for a continuous habitat corridor connecting the River Moriston and its banks with highest elevation of Carn na Caorach, 610m above sea level on the Dundreggan Estate. This is a long-term project running until 2030 and will be the biggest enclosure created by the charity to date.

Curlews in Crisis Scotland has been awarded more than £156k to help increase suitable breeding areas and reduce predation for Europe’s largest wader and one of our most distinctive birds. The project, which links to other work in Scotland aiming to halt the decline of curlew populations, will focus on two special nature sites, at Caithness in the Highlands and near Muirkirk in Ayrshire. Scotland is now home to an estimated 15% of the world’s breeding population of curlews, which has been severely impacted by changes to farming practices and intensification.

Anne McCall, Director of with RSPB Scotland, said: “It’s fantastic news that SNH has awarded funding to Curlews in Crisis. This unmistakable bird with its long down-curved bill desperately needs help. Our project will bring immediate short term benefits for curlews in Caithness and Ayrshire and allow us to learn more about the causes of the species’ rapid decline. Farmers at the project sites have done excellent work for nature in recent years and we’re really looking forward to continuing this partnership.”

These projects are among 14 successful applicants across Scotland to share the £1.8 million committed by the Biodiversity Challenge Fund in the first year of its two-year period.

The announcement comes as additional funding has now been made available by the Scottish Government for further, ambitious ideas to improve habitats, safeguard species and tackle the causes of biodiversity loss, as the Biodiversity Challenge Fund opens its latest round for fresh applications.  Scottish Government announced a £2m increase in its latest Programme for Government. The Biodiversity Challenge Fund adds to the many millions of pounds of Scottish Government funding delivered through the Scottish Rural Development Programme and other sources to support biodiversity and help to deliver Scotland’s Biodiversity Strategy.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “I am delighted that, through the Biodiversity Challenge Fund, the Scottish Government and SNH can support these fantastic projects across the country to safeguard some of our most vulnerable species and habitats, and protect them from invasive species. Their success will play a crucial role in our efforts to improve nature and help Scotland meet its international biodiversity commitments.”

SNH Chief Executive, Francesca Osowska, said: “Climate change is one of the key drivers of nature loss – but it’s not too late to act. In fact, improving nature is also one of the solutions to the climate emergency.

“There are five areas we need to focus on to improve biodiversity – restoring our habitats, changing our use of the land and sea, reducing pollution and climate change and tackling invasive non-native species. These projects will improve nature across Scotland for all our benefit.

“We know we have a big task before us but we have been working for years with our partners to meet international nature targets. We are ready to deliver the transformational change needed to bring a nature rich future for Scotland.”