Communities in the Outer Hebrides are being given support to tackle coastal erosion as part of the Scottish government’s Climate Challenge Fund.

Minister for Environment and Climate Change Paul Wheelhouse today announced the Lochboisdale Amenity Trust, supported by Oxfam.

It is one of four community projects selected to undertake work as part of the Climate Change Adaption Pilots.

£47,152 will be offered to tackle coastal erosion and improve drainage systems.

Mr Wheelhouse said: "As recent weather events have shown the impacts of climate change - including flash flooding, transport disruption and damage to agricultural production – are increasing and affecting an increasing number of people’s daily lives. That is why it’s important to look at new ways of dealing with the consequences in order to support our communities to adapt to the challenges they face and develop projects which will make a real difference to people’s lives.

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"The Climate Challenge Fund already empowers local communities, helping them implement innovative and sustainable solutions which support a low-carbon future. These new pilot projects, a key part of the CCF refresh, will take that a step further by supporting communities in generating local ideas and solutions for adapting to and becoming more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

"This work will help us to develop our understanding of the value of community-led action on adaptation, and determine whether to open the CCF to a new generation of projects addressing community adaptation, to bring climate action and climate justice to those who are likely to be the hardest hit in the future."

Head of Oxfam Scotland, Judith Robertson, added: "We are delighted with this award. From our work around the globe, Oxfam knows that climate change is having a devastating impact on people's livelihoods - that's why we talk about climate justice. Climate change makes it harder for people to make a living from the land. That's as true in Uist as it is in Bangladesh.

"This award will not only support the LAT's practical work, it will also allow us to create education materials for children, so that they can make the connections between the effects of climate change at home and abroad."

(IT)