Four projects from across the country have been confirmed as the first recipients of Scottish Natural Heritage’s Biodiversity Challenge Fund, sharing a total of £1.8 million over a two-year period. One of them is The Wild Line, centred on a strip of Edinburgh’s coastline.
The projects will take practical steps to improve natural habitats, safeguard plant and animal species and improve biodiversity.
Biodiversity is all the different types of animals, plants and other organisms in our natural world. People know that climate change is a big issue but not as many know that nature – and biodiversity loss – is also a global and generational threat to human well-being. However, enhancing our nature is also recognised as being part of the solution to the climate emergency.
The funding will support large-scale projects that aim to deliver rapid change on the ground to help our most at-risk habitats and species, including mammals and birds, connect existing nature reserves and tackle non-native invasive species.
Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon visited a newly funded project – The Wild Line – in Edinburgh. The Wild Line is a strip of wilderness that edges the land and the sea which has become increasingly narrow due to urban development.
To boost nature and resilience to climate change, a network of species rich wildflower meadows to provide habitats for pollinators will be created. On shore retrofitting artificial habitats will enhance sea defences and protect people and nature against sea level rises providing homes for intertidal species, and invasive species, which outcompete native ones, will be removed.
Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment Mairi Gougeon said: “I am delighted that, through the Biodiversity Challenge Fund, the Scottish Government and SNH can support these fantastic projects across the country to safeguard some of our most vulnerable species and habitats, and protect them from invasive species.
Their success will play a crucial role in our efforts to improve nature and help Scotland meet its international biodiversity commitments.”
A spokesperson for Edinburgh Shoreline Project said: “We are absolutely thrilled to announce the latest strand to the Edinburgh Shoreline project: ‘The Wild Line’. Funding from the Biodiversity Challenge Fund will enable us to work with incredible partners to deliver habitat creation & improvement for pollinators, rocky shore invertebrates & sea birds.
“Our fantastic delivery partners are the Scottish Seabird Centre, City of Edinburgh Council, University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow. Huge thanks to Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon for coming down to meet us at Cramond to hear more about the project. We’re looking forward to a busy year!
SNH Chief Executive Francesca Osowska said: “Nature loss is one of the key drivers of climate change – but it’s not too late to act. In fact, improving nature is also one of the solutions to the climate emergency.
“There are five areas we need to focus on to improve biodiversity – restoring our habitats, changing our use of the land and sea, reducing pollution and climate change and tackling invasive non-native species. These projects will improve nature across Scotland for all our benefit.
“We know we have a big task before us but we have been working for years with our partners to meet international nature targets. We are ready to deliver the transformational change needed to bring a nature rich future for Scotland.”
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