More than £6 million of additional funding from the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) is being invested in nature-enhancing projects across Scotland.

Established in 2021, the £65 million NRF has already supported almost 800 projects, helping to restore habitats and species, including planting over 300,000 trees. An evaluation of the fund showed it unlocked at least £7.1m in match funding and was "instrumental" in accelerating nature restoration.

Recipients of the new funding include the Cairngorms National Park, which will share £1.2m among five projects. These initiatives will focus on recovering freshwater pearl mussel populations, improving the River Dee's resilience to flooding, and helping to boost the endangered capercaillie population.

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Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action Gillian Martin said: "Protecting Scotland's natural environment is vital to addressing nature loss, climate change and biodiversity." She added that the projects would "help us in the global fight against climate change and biodiversity loss."

The government has committed to extending the NRF in 2026-27 to enable a new round of multi-year projects.

Professor Colin Galbraith, Chair of NatureScot, said the further investment is "recognition of the fantastic work" being undertaken through the fund.

Sandy Bremner, Convener of the Cairngorms National Park Board, noted that 25 per cent of the UK's most threatened species live in the National Park. "This extra funding will help ensure our conservation work is targeted where it is needed most," he said.