New fund launched for wildlife projects
A new Fund for practical projects to help Highland wildlife was launched at the weekend.
The Highland Council has agreed to allocate its Landfill Communities Fund solely towards biodiversity and related projects. This means that an additional £40-£50,000 per annum will be available for wildlife projects taking place in the Highlands.
The Landfill Communities Fund (formerly called the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme) was designed to help mitigate the effects of landfill upon local communities. It encourages partnerships between landfill operators, their local communities and the voluntary and public sectors.
Highland Council’s Landfill Communities Fund was launched at a meeting of the Highland Biodiversity Forum, which took place in the Waterside Hotel on Saturday (21st April). The Forum is open to anyone with an interest in biodiversity, and this year’s event attracted over 50 delegates.
Kenny Taylor, who chaired this year’s Forum Event, said: “I am delighted to be able to launch this new Grant Scheme to help support biodiversity in the Highlands. More than forty per cent of the species which are top priorities for UK conservation action live here. That makes Highland the most important part of Britain and Ireland for threatened, rare and declining plants, birds and animals.
“It’s great to see the Council giving such strong support to biodiversity work and that it recognises the important contribution community groups and voluntary bodies can make to biodiversity through practical, on-site action.”
The Fund aims to provide, conserve, restore or enhance a natural habitat; and to maintain or recover a species in its natural habitat. Awards of up to £10,000 are available on a competitive basis, at a grant rate of up to 90%. Applications will be judged by a Councillor-led panel on the level of community involvement and practical biodiversity benefit to the Highlands.
Contact the Highland Biodiversity Officers on Tel: 01463 702274 or E-mail: jonathan.willet@highland.gov.uk / janet.bromham@highland.gov.uk for further information.
For further information please contact Jonathan Willet or Janet Bromham, the Highland Biodiversity Officers, at The Highland Council, Planning & Development Service, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX. Telephone: (01463) 702274
E-mail: jonathan.willet@highland.gov.uk / janet.bromham@highland.gov.uk