Scotland Secures £6 Million Lottery Funding to Restore Atlantic Rainforests

A £6 million National Lottery Heritage Fund grant has been allocated to a project aimed at revitalising Scotland's threatened Atlantic rainforests. This significant investment will facilitate the creation of specialised hubs in Torridon, Morvern, and mid-Argyll, providing vital training in conservation work.

These ancient temperate rainforests, critically endangered and covering less than 30,000 hectares nationally, are under severe pressure from invasive species and climate change. The initiative seeks to reverse this decline through active restoration and the development of local expertise.

The newly funded centres will equip individuals with the skills necessary for ecological restoration, focusing on native tree species and combating encroaching non-native plants. This concentrated effort is expected to bolster the long-term resilience and biodiversity of these unique ecosystems.