Nature fund celebrates ‘1,500 football fields’ of new and improved habitats in Scotland

Nature fund celebrates ‘1,500 football fields’ of new and improved habitats in Scotland - NatureScot

A nature fund that began just three years ago is celebrating local projects across Scotland coming together to plant more than 160,000 native trees, sow 60,000 seagrass seeds and create nearly 600 hectares - 1,500 football fields-worth - of new or improved habitat for our pollinators, vulnerable birds and wildflowers.

The Biodiversity Challenge Fund specifically encouraged applicants with innovative projects that improve biodiversity and address the impact of climate change, by increasing the resilience of our most at-risk habitats and species and creating large areas of new or restored habitat.

According to the 2019 State of Nature report, since 1990, we have seen a 24% decrease in species abundance since 1994 and 11% species potentially at risk of extinction in Scotland due to climate change and other pressures. The Fund has supported over 40 ambitious, large scale projects with total funding of nearly £7m.

As the Biodiversity Challenge Fund begins to reach a natural end, it is being replaced by a multi-year package of at least £65 million over the next five years. The new Nature Restoration Fund, launched in November last year, is set up through a Scottish Government fund following agreement with the Scottish Green Party. Starting this year it will back projects that address the biodiversity and climate crises by putting Scotland's species, woodlands, rivers and seas back on the road to recovery.