Yesterday (25 August) it was reported that money set aside for restoring nature will be diverted into funding wage settlements in Scotland’s local authorities. The Scottish Rewilding Alliance is calling for this decision to be reversed and funding for nature expanded through using the Scottish Government’s new powers. 

The Nature Restoration Fund is a fund used for crucial ecological restoration projects. Funding is split between NatureScot, which uses it to directly fund projects restoring nature across Scotland, as well as local authorities and national parks, who use it to deliver local projects and to set up Nature Networks across their local areas. 

£17 million has been allocated through the Nature Restoration Fund since 2022 to support nature restoration via local authorities and national parks. Councils have used this funding to support local nature restoration and rewilding projects as well as restore nature directly. 

£5m is being redirected to fund the pay offer. The Scottish Government has promised to replace this money in future years.

Steve Micklewright, co-convenor of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, said:

“We all depend on nature for our survival. Allowing nature to decline undermines our access to food, damages our ability to cope with the effects of climate breakdown and deprives communities of economic opportunities. Communities across Scotland are already feeling the impact of the nature and climate crises. Directing money away from local nature restoration projects harms Scotland’s natural environment and our own health and wellbeing.”

Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth, ranked 212 out of 240 countries and territories on the biodiversity intactness index. The Scottish Government's own biodiversity strategy, updated last year, provides evidence showing that Scotland’s natural environment has been heavily damaged - and continues to decline. 

Steve Micklewright also said: 

“We must take nature restoration seriously - promising to put the money back is not enough.

Scotland should lead by example and become the world's first Rewilding Nation, establishing long-term funding for nature's restoration for the benefit of all. As well as replenishing the Nature Restoration Fund, the Scottish Government must use its new powers from the Agriculture and Rural Communities Act to ensure fair and robust funding for nature's future. 

The time for action is now.”

The Agriculture and Rural Communities Act, which was passed by the Scottish Parliament in June 2024, granted the Scottish Government a range of powers to fund the restoration of nature. This included assisting people to set aside land for nature, carry out activities that preserve or protect land or water, and create community benefits like access to nature, clean air and clean water. 

Once the Act receives Royal Assent, the Scottish Government will have more powers available to tackle the climate and nature crises.

The Scottish Rewilding Alliance’s Rewilding Nation Charter at www.rewild.scot/charter, calling on the Scottish Government to declare Scotland a rewilding nation, was launched this spring and has already been signed by thousands of people and organisations. 

Image credit: © Peter Cairns / scotlandbigpicture.com