Habitat destroyed by Cairngorms fire to be restored with government funding

Habitat destroyed by Cairngorms fire to be restored with government funding Image source, RSPB Scotland Image caption, The fire burned through miles of moorland and woodland Published 5 hours ago More than £1m is to be spent on nature recovery projects, including the restoration of habitats destroyed by a fire which ripped through a huge area of hillside in the Cairngorms. The Scottish government funding will support habitat, species and river restoration, control of invasive non-native species and deer management across Scotland. It includes £150,100 for recovery and nature restoration work following the Abernethy wildfire in the Cairngorms in July, to restore damaged habitats, help wildlife recover and reduce the risk of future wildfires. Further funding will be provided to a range of other projects. They include: River restoration Support for species restoration, including native oyster restoration at various sites and habitat restoration on Islay for chough – rare members of the crow family Habitat restoration in four national nature reserves Additional support for deer management Image source, RSPB Scotland Image caption, The fund is intended to restore damaged habitats, help wildlife recover and reduce the risk of future wildfires Announcing the funding at a summit in Armenia, Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin said: "Nature underpins our health, wellbeing, economy and way of life, which is why restoring and protecting it is so important. "This funding will support practical action, from improving habitats and rivers to tackling invasive species and supporting sustainable land management. "It will also help recovery efforts in the Cairngorms following one of the most significant wildfire events in recent years, strengthening the resilience of these landscapes for the future." She said being in Armenia alongside subnational governments and cities from around the world was a reminder that nature recovery was a shared global challenge. "Scotland is committed to turning its ambitions for nature and climate into action, both at home and on the international stage, and this investment will help deliver real benefits for our environment, wildlife and communities," she added. How drones are hunting fires hidden beneath the Cairngorms Published 10 October Fires still burn in charred landscape as focus turns to wildfire prevention Published 26 August Sign of life as bright orange 'fire fungus' grows at park ravaged by wildfire Published 14 August Grant Moir, chief executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: "The wildfire in Glenmore and Abernethy was devastating for nature and wildlife in the area, for neighbouring communities, and all of us who love this place. "The funding announced today by Ms Martin is a very welcome boost that will help us to kickstart nature recovery in the area. "From replacing wildlife monitoring cameras that were damaged in the blaze to restoring a section of the Duack burn that was impacted by the emergency firebreaks, this funding will allow us to step up our work with our partners and enable swift action where it's most needed." Image source, FLS Image caption, Wildfire damage at Coire na Ciste near Glenmore Stuart MacQuarrie, NatureScot director of nature and climate change, said: "This vital funding supports more people across Scotland to take action for nature. "From helping to manage land for chough on Islay to supporting the restoration of native oysters and creating meadows for wildlife in our towns and cities, these local efforts combine to create a national drive to save nature. "And by working to restore biodiverse habitats, manage deer sustainably and tackle the invasive species that threaten our native animal and plant life, we can look forward with hope, to a future where Scotland's nature is healthy and thriving." The funding forms part of the £23m nature restoration budget for 2026-27. Related topics Wildfires More on this story Crofters and farmers call for new plan to tackle wildfires Published 21 September 'Apocalyptic' damage as Cairngorms wildfire burns for two weeks Published 29 July Police declare 'major incident' over Cairngorms wildfire Published 25 July