More than £6 million of additional funding is being invested in
nature enhancing projects through the Nature Restoration Fund
(NRF).
Established in 2021, the £65 million NRF has funded nearly 800
projects helping Scotland's species, woodlands, rivers and seas
back on the road to recovery, including planting over 300,000
trees and restoring over 1,800 hectares of urban greenspace in
towns and cities.
Evaluation of the NRF shows the scheme unlocked at least £7.1
million in match funding and in-kind contributions for
organisations, and described the initiative as ‘instrumental' in
accelerating nature restoration and supporting vulnerable species
and habitats.
Recipients include the Cairngorms National Park, Loch Lomond and
the Trossachs National Park, NatureScot and the Green Action
Trust.
The Cairngorms National Park will share £1.2 million between five
projects aimed at safeguarding some of the most precious species
and habitats there including;
- recovering freshwater pearl mussel populations in the rivers
Spey, Dee and South Esk
- identifying changes to make the River Dee more resilient to
flooding
- helping boost the capercaillie population, which is on the
verge of extinction in Scotland
- improving tree stock for aspen and native montane species
Visiting the Anagach Woods in the Cairngorms National Park,
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action said:
“Protecting Scotland's natural environment is vital to addressing
nature loss, climate change and biodiversity.
“The projects receiving this additional funding will of course
benefit local areas and wildlife by restoring the environment and
supporting green jobs and skills development but they will also
help us in the global fight against climate change and
biodiversity loss.
“I was extremely impressed by the pioneering work that the
Cairngorms National Park are doing to restore ecosystems with
their innovative wood ant translocation project, which maintains
forest health.
This years' Programme for Government committed to extending the
NRF in 2026-27 to enable funding of a further round of multi-year
projects.
NatureScot Chair, Professor Galbraith said:
“This further investment is recognition of the fantastic work
that is being undertaken through the Nature Restoration Fund.
“We are excited to have a further £3.5 million available to
invest in projects across the country that are restoring rivers,
woodlands and wildlife back to a healthy and thriving state,
whilst tackling the effects of climate change.
“By working with people throughout Scotland this vital work is
helping to achieve our ambition to be nature positive by 2030 and
to have significantly restored and regenerated our nature by
2045.”
Sandy Bremner, Convener of the Cairngorms National Park Board
said:
“With 25 per cent of the UK's most threatened species living in
the National Park, it is one of the most significant places for
nature conservation. Protecting and enhancing these special
habitats and species – alongside tackling climate change – are at
the heart of the Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan, and
this extra funding will help ensure our conservation work is
targeted where it is needed most, boosting our efforts and
helping to deliver key actions on the ground.”
Background
NatureScot will receive £3.5 million for distribution to nature
projects.
The Green Action Trust will receive £510,000 for onward
distribution to a range of nature projects.
Cairngorms National Park will receive £1.2 million.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs will receive £1.025 million.
Interim Evaluation of the
Nature Restoration Fund - gov.scot
Scottish Government Nature
Restoration Fund (NRF) | NatureScot
Biodiversity strategy -
Biodiversity - gov.scot
