Five years of collaboration: five years of progress

Five years ago, few people knew that Scotland had temperate rainforest. Today, people across the country are talking about it. And they’re not just talking – they’re taking action to save it.

These special woodlands are one of Scotland’s most precious resources, some of them more than 8,000 years old, and all of them bursting with life. Hundreds of different species are found here, in exceptional quantities, many of which are rare elsewhere. We have an international responsibility to care for these places, ensuring they are here for the next generation.

The Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest was formed to do just that. Our partnership is a unique assembly of conservation organisations, government agencies and others who have been working with one aim, and speaking in one voice. Together, we have adopted 11 community-focused, landscape-scale projects that cover more than 15% of Scotland’s rainforest zone, with more coming soon. We’re helping to tackle some of the big issues, such as deer management and invasive non-native species. We’re helping to build jobs and skills in rainforest communities. We’ve inspired research, volunteering, community events and even folk festivals! We’re working together to address the huge challenge of finding long-term, substantial funding.

However, we can’t continue to do this work without support. Restoring Scotland’s rainforest will take decades, and the vision of a healthy network of woodlands across west Scotland is the work of generations. Yet, with so many people and organisations now working together, that possibility feels closer than ever.

Julie Stoneman, Saving Scotland’s Rainforest Programme Manager