Environment

Plans to commission a Scottish Centre of Expertise in Biodiversity have been announced as part of the new draft strategy for the environment, natural resources and agricultural research programme.

Six Farm Conservation Advisers, members of the Scottish Farming and Wildlife Advisers Group (ScotFWAG), have worked with over 60 Scottish farmers to create habitat benefiting many species of birds and bees.  The farmers involved in the project stretch from Shetland and Orkney to The Borders.

Wildlife watchers are being asked to help a University of St Andrews project gain knowledge about bottlenose dolphins by sending photographs taken of the mammals spotted off the coast.

Trees for Life is asking people across the Highlands to report sightings of red squirrels for the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey from 21-27 September.

The rewilding charity wants to increase sightings of the animals across the region during the week and beyond – whether in gardens, local communities or in woodlands.

A leatherback turtle was spotted this weekend by the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. True ocean wanderers, these turtles are rare visitors to the UK.

This incredible encounter, which occurred 15 miles west of the Isle of Muck, happened on the conservation charity’s most recent acoustic expedition on board their specialised research vessel, Silurian.

Investors are being invited to get behind more than £1 billion of low carbon, eco-friendly and recycling investment opportunities.

Led by the Scottish Government, the Green Investment Portfolio promotes market-ready projects that will help Scotland transition to a net-zero economy by 2045 and are seeking private capital.

Nearly £1.6 billion to directly support up to 5,000 jobs and tackle fuel poverty is at the heart of plans to drive Scotland’s green recovery and end our contribution to climate change.