Economy & Infrastructure Committee agrees funding proposals for Nature Restoration Fund 2024/25
Today (2 May 2024) members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee agreed the funding proposals for the Nature Restoration Fund scheme for 2024/25.
They further agreed that funding decisions in respect of that fund will be delegated to the Executive Chief Officer for Infrastructure, Environment & Economy and the Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee.
Chair of the Council’s Environment and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans said: “The purpose of the Nature Restoration Fund is to support positive actions that can help nature recover.
“It has been inspiring to see so many projects coming forward to apply for funding as it shows that people all over Highland are driving local action against climate change and threats to habitat.”
The Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) is a commitment in the current Scottish Government’s Programme for Government for multi-year capital funding to support a wide range of projects that will deliver nature restoration, safeguard wildlife, and tackle the causes of biodiversity loss.
The Nature Restoration Fund has been used positively by a number of community organisations to the benefit of biodiversity in Highland, including the creation of a pollinator bed in Culbokie Green, Dingwall Community Woodland’s Orchard and Wildflower project, Butterfly Conservation Scotland’s work to enhance the habitat for Dingy Skipper and other rare lepidoptera at Auchgourish, the restoration of trees and bat protection by the Balvonie Park Association and Skye Connect’s Meall na Suiramach Habitat Restoration Project, to name only a few.
It has also allowed Highland Council to employ a Greenspace Officer whose focus is on delivering nature restoration projects on Council owned land. This has included five tree planting projects which have seen the planting of over 2,700 native trees across the region.
Dr Tom Prescott, Butterfly Conservation Scotland's Head of Conservation, said: "Highland Council’s NRF funding has been a game changer for our work to enhance habitat for rare and threatened butterflies and moths in the Highlands.
“This includes improving the fortunes of Small Blue and Dingy Skipper at Logie Quarry with Balnagown Estate, working with Novar estate to benefit Netted Mountain Moth and most recently restoring the dunes at Nairn for Small Blue and a suite of duneland moths, including Portland Moth.
“It has also allowed us to work more closely with these landowners and continue our work at these sites through other projects.”
In 2023/24 the Highland Council secured £676k of NRF funding, which represented an increase of £348k from 2022/23.
The many examples of how the funding was used in 2023/24 can be seen under Item 12 at Appendix 1 of the report to today’s committee.
Although no formal announcement has yet been made, it is anticipated that NRF funding will once again be made available to local authorities in 2024/25.