Region’s nature projects are exemplar

TWO major nature restoration projects in Dumfries and Galloway have been named as national exemplars by the Scottish Government.

Galloway Fisheries Trust’s Flowing Forward – Restoring Galloway’s Rivers Project, and SCAMP’s Landscape Connections were among the nine initiatives chosen as official exemplars of the Scottish Biodiversity Delivery Plan.

The Flowing Forward – Restoring Galloway’s Rivers Project, focuses on restoring aquatic biodiversity, improving river health, supporting native fish populations and tackling practical land and water management challenges across Galloway’s iconic river systems.

Jamie Ribbens, chief executive of Galloway Fisheries Trust, is delighted to be shortlisted and said: “We are delighted that our ‘Restoring Galloway’s Rivers’ project has been identified as a landscape scale exemplar for habitat restoration. The project aligns closely with the ambitious SCAMP project so that these two exemplar projects can work closely together to deliver a true ‘source to sea’ programme that will restore important habitats, support biodiversity, sustain fisheries and build resilience to the impacts of climate change.”

Its official designation is a major endorsement of the work already being led locally, as well as the extensive collaboration with communities, land managers and environmental partners across the region.

Lisa Hawkin, of Dumfries and Galloway Council, said: “This is a hugely significant moment for Dumfries and Galloway. Being recognised nationally as home to one of Scotland’s nine exemplar nature restoration projects demonstrates the outstanding quality, ambition and impact of the work underway across our rivers, coasts and landscapes.

“The partnership between SCAMP and the Galloway Fisheries Trust creates a truly integrated ‘source to sea’ model – one that can accelerate ecological recovery, strengthen climate resilience, support biodiversity and benefit communities across the region.

“We are proud of the leadership shown by our teams and partners, and this exemplar status will help unlock additional expertise, collaboration and investment to drive nature restoration at a scale not seen before in the south of Scotland.”