Introduction
Our Rainforest Futures is a five-year partnership project to help secure the future of Scotland's rainforest by investing in the people, skills and communities needed to restore and care for this globally important habitat.
After a successful development phase in 2024/25, the project received a £5.98 million award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in November 2026.
Working across three rainforest hubs in Torridon, Morvern and Argyll, the project will create opportunities for local people to develop skills, gain experience and play a leading role in rainforest restoration.
Scotland's rainforest is one of Britain's rarest habitats, yet fewer than one in three people are aware it exists. At the same time, many rainforest communities face challenges including ageing populations, limited workforce capacity and barriers to training, employment and participation. Our Rainforest Futures aims to address both challenges by building a new generation of rainforest custodians while creating lasting benefits for local communities.
The project has been made possible with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players.
It is an Alliance for Scotland's Rainforest project led by the Woodland Trust. Project partners include Argyll Countryside Trust, Community Woodlands Association, Plantlife, RSPB Scotland and Scotland's Rural College
Project aims and objectives
Our Rainforest Futures will:
Build the skills, knowledge and workforce needed to restore and care for Scotland's rainforest.
Support local people to access training, volunteering, employment and enterprise opportunities linked to rainforest restoration.
Increase awareness and understanding of Scotland's rainforest and its importance for nature, heritage and climate resilience.
Strengthen community involvement in rainforest conservation and decision-making.
Inspire more people, particularly young people, to develop careers connected to rainforest restoration and management.
Support organisations, land managers and communities to work together at landscape scale to secure the rainforest's long-term future.
Celebrate and share the natural, cultural and social heritage of Scotland's rainforest landscapes.
Outcomes
Over five years the programme will:
Create opportunities for people
Deliver training, skills development and practical learning opportunities.
Support pathways into employment, traineeships and careers in rainforest restoration.
Enable more people to volunteer and participate in caring for their local rainforest.
Increase community wellbeing through meaningful engagement with nature and heritage.
Strengthen rainforest communities
Build local capacity to support rainforest recovery.
Support community-led projects and initiatives.
Create opportunities for local enterprise linked to rainforest restoration and management.
Help communities retain and attract people with the skills needed to support a sustainable future.
Restore and protect Scotland's rainforest
Expand the workforce able to undertake rainforest restoration.
Improve knowledge and understanding of rainforest management.
Increase action to address key threats including invasive non-native species and unsustainable grazing.
Support long-term stewardship of Scotland's internationally important rainforest habitat.
Raise awareness of Scotland's rainforest
Connect more people with one of Britain's rarest and least understood habitats.
Share stories, heritage and learning from rainforest communities.
Build a stronger public profile for Scotland's rainforest nationally and internationally.
Project cost and funding
The total cost of Our Rainforest Futures is £8.3 million.
The programme has received £5.98 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with additional funding and in-kind support being provided by project partners and other contributors including NatureScot and players of Postcode Lottery.
We are continuing to develop partnerships and welcome conversations with organisations, businesses, charitable trusts and individual supporters who share our vision for Scotland's rainforest and the communities that depend on it.
If you are interested in supporting Our Rainforest Futures, please contact JenniferBennett@woodlandtrust.org.uk
Follow Our Rainforest Futures on Facebook.
