Environmental Co-operation Action Fund workshops

The Scottish Government is hosting a series of workshops to discuss the Environmental Co-operation Action Fund and to answer questions about the scheme.

These free workshops will include general queries and, if you are thinking about applying, questions on eligibility, priorities, and project proposals with a view to encouraging high quality applications.

The Environmental Co-operation Action Fund (ECAF) is a new £10 million scheme within the 2014-20 Scottish Rural Development Programme. The first application round opened on 6 October 2015 and will close on 15 January 2016.

The purpose of the Environmental Co-operation Action Fund is to encourage and support landscape-scale environmental projects involving co-operating groups of farmers, foresters and/or other land managers.

Workshop information

The workshop events are taking place as follows:

• Monday 7 December, 13:30-16:00, Glasgow

• Tuesday 8 December, 13:30-16:00, Edinburgh

• Monday 14 December, 13:30-16:00, Inverness

Register to attend an event.

More information on the Environmental Co-operation Action Fund

Funding is targeted to deliver the following priorities, which are most effectively addressed at a landscape scale and contribute to meeting Scotland’s targets for biodiversity, climate change and the water environment:

• Habitat and degraded ecosystem restoration

• Conservation of vulnerable priority species

• Control of invasive non-native plant species

• Deer management

• Catchment management for water quality

• Physical restoration of water bodies

• Natural flood management

• Woodland creation

Consideration will be given to funding good quality applications for projects which will effectively deliver at least one of these priorities, targeted at an appropriate location and scale and offering excellent value for money. Applicants must demonstrate the need for facilitation and the benefits of coordinated activity.

Visit the Rural Payments and Services website for rurther information on the Environmental Co-operation Action Fund and how to apply.

For any general enquiries regarding the Environmental Co-operation Action Fund please contact ECAFBusinessSupportMailbox@gov.scot.