FIRNS3 – Preparing for the Launch of a Scottish Rivers Fund

Summary

The project aimed to pave the way for the launch of a Scottish Rivers Fund (previously called the River Catchment Restoration Fund). By using the example of the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF), the project supported the definition of the Fund’s governance structure and operational processes. The project also focused on strategic and focused marketing and corporate engagement, with a view to starting to build critical relationships with businesses across sectors necessary for building the Fund’s capital base. These activities were accompanied by communications engagement, including brand development and the creation of the Fund’s online presence.

The project builds on two earlier FIRNS projects: FIRNS1 – Source to Sea Nature Finance Model and FIRNS2 – The River Catchment Restoration Portfolio Project. These laid the way for some of the Fund’s underlying governance mechanisms, identified a delivery-ready river restoration project pipeline and an overarching monitoring framework.  

Outputs

The outputs from the project are listed here:

• FIRNS3 – End of project report
• FIRNS3 – Marketing and business engagement report
• FIRNS3 – Corporate engagement events report
• FIRNS3 – Project piloting report
• Scottish Rivers Fund prospectus
• Scottish Rivers Fund website

Funding

The project is supported by The Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (FIRNS), delivered by NatureScot in collaboration with The Scottish Government and in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund. FIRNS Project finance comprises £205,653. Additional support is provided by the Golden Bottle Trust.

Partners

The project benefits from a partnership with NatureScot, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF), the Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government, Crown Estate Scotland and the FMS membership.