More than £1 million is being invested by the Scottish Government to repair fire-damaged landscapes in the Cairngorms and accelerate wider nature recovery projects across the country. The £1,347,018 package will fund habitat, species and river restoration, curb invasive non-native species and strengthen sustainable deer management.

A £150,100 allocation will support recovery and restoration following the Abernethy wildfire in the Cairngorms, helping damaged habitats to regenerate, assisting wildlife and reducing the likelihood and impact of future fires.

Further support includes river restoration; species projects such as native oyster restoration at multiple sites and habitat work on Islay for chough; targeted action in four National Nature Reserves; and additional measures to improve deer management. Funding will also back invasive non-native species control, the creation of urban wildlife meadows through Species Rich Grasslands Funding, and specific restoration at Polmaddy Burn (Kirkudbrightshire), Selcoth Burn (Galloway) and the Findhorn river (Forres), delivering improvements to river flow, habitat restoration, floodwater storage, woodland recovery and deer management.

The announcement was made by Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin during her address to the 9th Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities at COP17 in Armenia.

Ms 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.

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"Being here in Armenia alongside subnational governments and cities from around the world is a reminder that nature recovery is 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."

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. This includes funding work to restore damaged habitats, help wildlife recover and reduce the risk of future wildfires by exploring nature-based solutions.

"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."

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 money comes from the £23 million nature restoration budget for 2026-27. Most of that budget was assigned at the Autumn Budget Revision in August to delivery partners and local authorities for agreed priorities, including the Nature Restoration Fund, nature networks and the Climate Forests programme. Public bodies will distribute this latest package to organisations and local contractors to carry out the work.

Projects receiving funds include: wildfire recovery and nature restoration at Abernethy (£150,100); the Edendon river restoration project (£150,000); native oyster restoration and chough habitat work on Islay (£125,000); deer management support, including the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society's low ground venison supply chain project and the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park deer incentive scheme (£150,000); priority habitat work across four National Nature Reserves (£145,000), covering peatland and coastal habitats and improved deer management; invasive non-native species projects (£138,000) for control, training and monitoring; Species Rich Grasslands Funding for urban meadows (£240,000); and restoration at Polmaddy Burn (Kirkudbrightshire), Selcoth Burn (Galloway) and the Findhorn river (Forres) (£248,918).