Projects across the country which are expanding woodland, restoring saltmarsh and peatlands, and protecting threatened species have been awarded a share of £1.87m from NatureScot and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (FIRNS) fund is aimed at projects that will help establish a marketplace for private investment in Scotland’s natural capital – habitats and ecosystems with social, environmental and economic benefits for people. The fund fosters collaboration among local communities, investors and land managers.

Since its launch in 2023, there have been 44 successful FIRNS grant awards, sharing almost £6.5m. Eleven projects have been successful in this third round of the fund, with innovative ideas to attract investment for peatland, woodland, coastal and marine and urban areas, helping to create healthy air, soil, water, forests, fisheries and seas to halt nature loss and tackle climate change.

Examples of the projects funded include the Arkaig Natural Capital: Regenerative Investment in West Lochaber project, led by Achnacarry Estate near Spean Bridge. The project will support the recovery of some of Scotland’s most depleted habitats at scale and pace with private investment. Its ambitious plans include woodland creation, peatland and saltmarsh restoration, species recovery, and regenerative deer management with a longer-term aim of reintroducing missing species.

The Galloway Fisheries Trust’s River Annan Restoration Project is developing a catchment-scale network of river restoration works across the River Annan, and Sylvestris Land Management’s Moray Farm Cluster: Farming with Nature Finance project balances sustainable nature-friendly farming with profitable long-term income streams.

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