Working with government
Mairi Gougeon MSP launches new strategy for Scotland’s rainforest, 2024. Credit Knoydart Foundation
The Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest
The Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest (ASR) launched its first strategy in 2021 after a development phase. We now have 25 diverse partner organisations and work collaboratively with 20 more, all of whom are committed to pooling their resources for the benefit of Scotland’s rainforest. Our partners include a range of conservation and environmental organisations, specialist societies and government agencies.
Mairi McAllan MSP, at the Celebrate Scotland’s Rainforest event, 2022. Credit Helen Pugh
A commitment for the future
The Scottish Government and its agencies have been involved in ASR from the start, with Scottish Forestry, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and NatureScot all contributing to establishing the evidence base for the State of Scotland’s Rainforest report, and developing the ASR collaborative strategy.
In 2021, the Scottish Government made a commitment to expand and restore Scotland’s rainforest, and then worked closely with ASR to develop a strategic approach to deliver on that commitment, published in 2024. To date, it has contributed £3.8 million towards ASR’s projects.
The Scottish Government has also provided £6.3 million in funding to FLS, which has been used to develop a Rainforest Team and put more than 2,000 ha of rainforest habitat on the road to recovery, including controlling invasive non-native species and restoring Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites. NatureScot has also recruited two new collaborative deer management roles in the rainforest.
We will continue to work with the Scottish Government to help build on its commitment in the future.
