Climate change complicates Scotland's rainforest restoration and funding efforts
Experts say rising temperatures and funding gaps are making the task of expanding Scotland's temperate rainforests more difficult.
Members of the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforests, a network that includes the National Trust for Scotland, RSPB Scotland, Plantlife Scotland and Forestry and Land Scotland, say climate change is adding complexity to their goal of restoring the country's temperate rainforests. Forecasts predict warmer, drier summers that could reduce rainforest extent and endanger rare lichens and bryophytes. Christopher Ellis of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh explains that future climate refugia must be identified for successful regeneration.
The coalition targets full restoration of all suitable rainforest biodiversity sites by 2045, hoping to double the forested area and boost resilience. However, Julie Stoneman stresses that insufficient long-term funding, despite recent increases, hampers progress and forces projects to rely on short-term grants.
Why it matters
Scotland's rainforest restoration is a key climate-adaptation effort, but funding and warming trends threaten its success.
In this story
