Last call for nature fund applicants

The Biodiversity Challenge Fund adds to the many millions of pounds of funding delivered through the Scottish Rural Development Programme and other sources to support biodiversity and help to deliver Scotland’s Biodiversity Strategy.

The Biodiversity Challenge Fund (BCF) specifically encourages applicants with innovative projects that improve biodiversity and address the impact of climate change, increasing the resilience of our most at-risk habitats and species and creating large areas of brand new or restored habitat.

In a look forward to spring, Roseanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform; and Scottish Natural Heritage Chief Executive Francesca Osowska joined volunteers planting snowdrops opposite The Meadows, Edinburgh, to benefit bees and butterflies as part of Buglife’s B-Lines project.

A successful BCF applicant from a previous round, Buglife is the only organisation in Europe devoted to the conservation of all invertebrates. B-Lines are a series of ‘insect pathways’ running through our countryside and towns, restoring and creating a series of wildflower-rich habitat stepping stones. They link existing wildlife areas together, creating a network to provide large areas of brand new habitat benefiting pollinators – and a host of other wildlife.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:

“We all have a central role to play in combating biodiversity loss and tackling the global climate emergency.

“Biodiversity loss and climate change are intimately bound together. Nature plays a key role in defining and regulating our climate and climate is key in shaping the state of nature”.

Scottish Natural Heritage Chief Executive Francesca Osowska added:

“Buglife’s B-Lines project is a great example of a simple but crucial way of supporting our at-risk pollinators. We have been excited by the very high quality of applications we have received so far, and would love to hear even more bright ideas that can significantly boost our biodiversity.

“Nature is at the heart of what we do, and we will continue to deliver the transformational change needed to bring a nature-rich future for Scotland.”