Members of the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative team were delighted to attend the Nature of Scotland awards ceremony in November as finalists for the ‘Landscape Restoration’ Award

Finalists for the Nature of Scotland awards gathered at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on the 22 November to enjoy a night of celebration, hosted by zoologist, TV presenter and RSPB Ambassador Megan McCubbin, and TV presenter and nature enthusiast JJ Chalmers.

The awards ceremony, now in its 12th year and co-sponsored by NatureScot, celebrated finalists across 10 categories. Winners from nine of the categories were chosen by an esteemed judging panel, made up of Susan Davies, Chief Executive of the Scottish Seabird Centre Seabird, Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive at NatureScot, Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland and Sara Thiam, Chief Executive of Prosper.

Finalists gathering at the EICC for the awards ceremony		Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive at NatureScot		The event was attended by over 430 members of the Scottish nature conservation community

The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative team didn't take home the gold this year but we were honoured to attend and be shortlisted among so many fantastic projects. It was a wonderful evening celebrating projects all across Scotland and bringing together over 430 members of the Scottish nature conservation community.

The event kicked off with opening speeches from RSPB Scotland Director Anne McCall, NatureScot CEO Francesca Osowska, and Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lorna Slater. We particularly enjoyed the Minister's endorsement of the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative in her opening speech!

The Landscape Restoration award is a new category in 2023 and highly competitive, with a strong field of finalists from six impressive and well-established projects across Scotland. The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative was the newest project listed among the finalists.

The Initiative, an ambitious partnership project, was shortlisted for its success tackling invasive non-native species in river catchments across northern Scotland. Invasive species are a key driver of biodiversity loss globally. The project was established in 2017 and delivers an innovative and community-based model, working with volunteers and landowners to tackle invasive species strategically on a landscape-scale.

Minister Lorna Slater mentioned the SISI project in her opening speech		Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland, giving her welcoming speech		The SISI team with Anne McCall (L to R: Callum Sinclair, Anne McCall, Karen Muller, Mark Purrmann-Charles, Jane Hamilton)

Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland said: “All our winners this year should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved.

“Another year of the Nature of Scotland Awards has brought a growing group of hardworking, motivated and passionate people into the conservation spotlight, and I’d like to wish them all a huge congratulations.

“The annual awards night is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our successes here in Scotland, but the twelve months in between is where the real magic happens. Scotland’s nature and climate is in a better position because of all your amazing efforts, thank you.”

Professor Colin Galbraith, Chair of awards co-sponsor NatureScot, said: “Now more than ever, Scotland’s nature needs champions with the ambitious ideas these award winners demonstrate.

“All of the individuals, communities, businesses and organisations nominated have inspired us this year, with their vital work to stop biodiversity loss and help us to move towards a nature-rich, net-zero future. Congratulations every one.”

Congratulations to Cairngorms Connect, winners of the Landscape Restoration category - and to all the other winners and shortlisted projects! A full list of projects in the 10 categories can be viewed here.

The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative previously won the Coast and Waters Nature of Scotland award in 2021.