£6 million for Scotland’s setting

**Embargoed till 0001 Thursday 21 August 2025**

More than £6 million of further funding is being invested in nature enhancing tasks by the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF).

Established in 2021, the £65 million NRF has funded practically 800 tasks serving to Scotland’s species, woodlands, rivers and seas again on the street to restoration, together with planting over 300,000 bushes and restoring over 1,800 hectares of city greenspace in cities and cities.

Evaluation of the NRF exhibits the scheme unlocked a minimum of £7.1 million in match funding and in-kind contributions for organisations, and described the initiative as ‘instrumental’ in accelerating nature restoration and supporting weak species and habitats.

Recipients embody 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 5 tasks geared toward safeguarding a number of the most treasured species and habitats there together with;

• recovering freshwater pearl mussel populations within the rivers Spey, Dee and South Esk
• figuring out adjustments to make the River Dee extra resilient to flooding
• serving to enhance the capercaillie inhabitants, which is on the verge of extinction in Scotland
• bettering tree inventory for aspen and native montane species

Visiting the Anagach Woods within the Cairngorms National Park, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action Gillian Martin stated:

“Protecting Scotland’s pure setting is important to addressing nature loss, local weather change and biodiversity.

“The tasks receiving this extra funding will after all profit native areas and wildlife by restoring the setting and supporting inexperienced jobs and expertise growth however they will even assist us within the international battle in opposition to local weather change and biodiversity loss.

“I used to be extraordinarily impressed by the pioneering work that the Cairngorms National Park are doing to revive ecosystems with their revolutionary wooden ant translocation mission, which maintains forest well being.

This years’ Programme for Government dedicated to extending the NRF in 2026-27 to allow funding of an additional spherical of multi-year tasks.

NatureScot Chair, Professor Colin Galbraith stated:

“This additional funding is recognition of the incredible work that’s being undertaken by the Nature Restoration Fund.

“We are excited to have an additional £3.5 million obtainable to put money into tasks throughout the nation which are restoring rivers, woodlands and wildlife again to a wholesome and thriving state, while tackling the results of local weather 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 stated:

“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 obtain £3.5 million for distribution to nature tasks.

The Green Action Trust will obtain £510,000 for onward distribution to a spread of nature tasks.

Cairngorms National Park will obtain £1.2 million.

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs will obtain £1.025 million.

Interim Evaluation of the Nature Restoration Fund – gov.scot

Scottish Government Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) | NatureScot

Biodiversity technique – Biodiversity – gov.scot