Nature Restoration Fund

About the fund

Established by the Scottish Government, the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) is a capital fund designed to help support projects that will deliver nature restoration, safeguard wildlife, and tackle the causes of biodiversity loss due to climate change.

Now in its third year, there is a commitment in the current Programme for Government for a multi-year fund to specifically fund nature restoration projects. Most of the allocation is distributed by NatureScot delivered through the ‘Helping Nature’ and ‘Transforming Nature’ competitive funding streams. A direct allocation is also awarded to local authorities and national parks to deliver local projects.

As well as delivering projects on its sites and estates, the Highland Council have invited community groups and organisations to apply for funding. This local-led approach to delivering nature restoration projects has seen over £425,000 of funding being awarded to 50 community projects throughout Highland over the past two years. Projects include:

• the creation of new wildflower meadow sites
• local tree planting initiatives
• areas of wetland creation or new wildlife ponds
• projects to remove invasive non-native species to enhance local habitats for protected species.

See the 'approved projects' pages for some examples of projects that we have funded. 

The total value of nature restoration funding for local authorities this year is £10 million. The Scottish Government have provided an additional £5 million of capital funding with a particular focus on establishing ‘Nature Networks’ to better connect areas for nature. This is one of the priorities identified in the new National Planning Framework (NPF4).