Millions of pounds are being invested to tackle biodiversity loss and restore natural habitats across Scotland.
A total of 44 priority projects will share £9.2 million from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot.
The funding will support long-term efforts to halt nature loss, restore woodlands, rivers and other habitats, while helping to build climate resilience and create greener landscapes.
Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin said the projects would play a key role in helping Scotland meet its target of halting biodiversity loss by 2030.
Among the largest awards is more than £1.5 million for the Scottish Wildlife Trust to continue its Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels programme for a further two years.
Although Scotland is home to most of the UK's remaining red squirrels, the species has experienced significant declines. The programme aims to secure the animals' long-term future.
Appin Community Development Trust has secured just over £1 million for its Appin Rainforest Regeneration Project.
The initiative will train local workers to remove invasive plants, including rhododendron and Japanese knotweed, while working with landowners to reduce deer grazing and support the recovery of Scotland's remaining temperate rainforest.
In the Cairngorms, Cairngorms Connect has been awarded £115,000 to restore the River Tromie by reconnecting it with its historic floodplain.
The work is expected to create new habitats for Atlantic salmon, trout and invertebrates, including the Northern stiletto silver fly and five-spot ladybird, while also reducing flooding and riverbank erosion.
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Gillian Martin, Climate Action Secretary, said:"The Nature Restoration Fund has delivered unprecedented funding for a huge range of projects that are currently and will continue to help with our goal of halting biodiversity loss by 2030.
"As more projects are supported by the Fund, we learn more from the successes of each round – helping us respond to threats to our natural environment and support projects that are making a real difference across Scotland.
"I congratulate all of the successful applicants and look forward to seeing the progress and improvements they make to our landscapes, waterways and wildlife."
Professor Colin Galbraith, chair of NatureScot, said:"We are at a moment in time where we risk losing some of our most precious wildlife and wild places for good.
"We cannot let this happen.
"Our daily lives rely on a healthy, functioning natural world, and we all have a part to play in supporting that.
"The Nature Restoration Fund is helping us put Scotland’s land, rivers, seas and all the species that live in them back on the road to recovery.
"The Fund is a critical lifeline for Scotland’s nature, and everyone involved in carrying out this vital work should be proud of their contribution towards a greener and healthier future for us all."
