£3m Government cash to protect ‘best remaining rainforest sites in Europe’

Scotland has some of the “best remaining rainforest sites in Europe”, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said as she announced more than £3 million of Government cash to help protect them.

The Scottish Government pledged the funding to help areas of native woodland on the west coast – where consistent levels of rainfall coupled with relatively mild year-round temperatures mean some of the world’s rarest mosses and lichens can be found.

Known as “Scotland’s temperate rainforest”, work by Forestry and Land Scotland has already allowed more than 2,650 hectares to be restored since 2023.

Ms Gougeon said the funding will allow this work to “go further, faster”.

The cash will benefit 1,350 hectares of woodland, helping fund the removal of rhododendron plants – which are a non-native invasive species – in the area.

Work is also planned to restore plantations on ancient woodland sites, with other measures proposed to control deer to prevent them from damaging young trees and other plants.

Ms Gougeon said: “Scotland is home to its own temperate rainforest boasting a variety of rare species and habitats, and we are already delivering work to protect and expand this precious environment. We have some of the best remaining rainforest sites in Europe.

“Forestry Land Scotland are already carrying out immense work within the rainforest zone and have restored more than 2,654 hectares since 2023, and this additional funding of more than £3 million will help us to go further, faster.

“Rainforests can capture up to one million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year so protecting them is essential to help us reach net zero emissions by 2045 and, crucially, tackle biodiversity loss.”

The funding will help protect and restore woodland areas in Wester Ross, the Isle of Raasay, Knapdale and other targeted areas of West Argyll, West Cowal, areas in east Loch Lomond, and on the Isle of Arran and Lochaber.