The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative has been awarded a share of £7.6m from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund.

The Initiative has been awarded £2.08 million to continue its work tackling invasive non-native species in rivers and water courses in northern Scotland. This is one of 31 projects that NatureScot has approved to receive funding as part of a national drive to transform nature in Scotland.

Managed by NatureScot, The Scottish Government’s £65 million Nature Restoration Fund supports projects that help Scotland's species, woodlands, rivers and seas, as well as improving the health and wellbeing of local communities. These projects take practical steps to help against the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, and restore Scotland’s natural environment.

Project Manager Callum Sinclair said: 

‘The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative has been working with communities and volunteers to tackle invasive species, protect our natural environment and help restore Scotland’s native biodiversity. We are delighted to be able to continue this work. Effective invasive species control requires a long-term strategy – this award allows us build on the success of the past 5 years and expand into new areas.’

The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative is an ambitious partnership project, supported by local fishery boards and the University of Aberdeen. It covers over a third of mainland Scotland and is the largest invasive species project in the UK. The Nature Restoration Fund enables the Initiative to extend for three years to March 2026 and expand into new areas in the river catchments covered – in many cases controlling invasive species from source to sea.

Biodiversity Minister Lorna Slater, who visited the Initiative in Tayside last year, said:

“Our Nature Restoration Fund is making a difference across the length and breadth of Scotland, restoring our incredible natural environment, helping wildlife thrive, and investing in rural communities. Scotland’s nature is so important to all of us - our woodlands, peatlands, rivers and lochs are central to our cultural heritage and identity. But this complex diversity and abundance of life is also central to our survival as a species. Our economy, jobs, health and wellbeing depend on it. Nature-based solutions – restoring our peatlands and native forests for example – are also key to our success in tackling the climate crisis.  

“Following the agreement of new global targets to end extinctions and restore nature, we have published our new Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, setting out our high-level ambition for a nature positive future in Scotland by 2030. This year we will follow it with a new Delivery Plan setting out how we will achieve our stretching goals, including protecting 30% of our land and seas for nature by 2030. Our world leading Nature Restoration Fund will help us achieve that goal by delivering real, transformative change across the country.”

Chair of NatureScot Mike Cantlay said:

“Large-scale nature restoration projects are vital to help us tackle the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. If we are to have any chance of saving nature, then we must do everything we can to halt its decline now.

“The Nature Restoration Fund supports ambitious action to put Scotland’s land and seas, and all the wild species that inhabit them, back on the road to recovery. It is projects like this one that will make a real and positive difference and we’re excited to see how it progresses. With the Nature Restoration Fund, we are helping Scotland to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and reverse it by 2045.”

Since its launch in July 2021, the Nature Restoration Fund has awarded £17 million to 127 projects across Scotland through its Helping Nature and Transforming Nature funding streams.

Phase 1 of the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative was funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund and NatureScot with in-kind contributions from the partnered Fisheries Trusts and volunteers.

Find out more about the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund on the NatureScot website.