Full Breakdown
Scotland Allocates Over £1 Million for Cairngorms Wildfire Recovery
By Drooid · · How we work
The Funding Package
The Scottish Government has announced a nature-recovery package exceeding £1 million to address damage caused by the July wildfire in the Cairngorms. The core of the package is a £150,100 grant earmarked for habitat and river restoration, invasive-species control, and deer management in the Abernethy area. The total value of the package is £1,347,018 and it forms part of the £23 million nature-restoration budget slated for 2026-27.
Background: The July Cairngorms Wildfire
In July, a fire ignited near Ryvoan Bothy and spread across roughly 25 square kilometres of hillside, burning moorland and woodland for more than five weeks. The blaze was declared a “major incident” and described by officials as one of the most significant wildfire events in recent years. Fire crews, volunteers and conservation workers from across the Highlands worked to contain the blaze before it was finally brought under control.
Data & Statistics
- Funding: >£1 million overall; £150,100 dedicated to Abernethy recovery; total package £1,347,018.
- Area Burned: ~25 sq km of hillside.
- Duration of Firefighting Effort: >5 weeks.
- Key Restoration Actions: replacing damaged wildlife-monitoring cameras, restoring a section of the Duack burn, river restoration, native oyster projects, chough habitat work on Islay, and deer-management programmes.
Official Statements & Responses
She highlighted the global relevance of nature-recovery work, noting the announcement was made at the 9th Summit for Sub-national Governments and Cities in Armenia.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Nature underpins our health, wellbeing, economy and way of life, which is why restoring and protecting it is so important.” — Action Secretary Gillian Martin, climate action secretary
- “The wildfire in Glenmore and Abernethy was devastating for nature and wildlife in the area, for neighbouring communities, and all of us who love this place.” — Grant Moir, chief executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority
- “This vital funding supports more people across Scotland to take action for nature.” — Glenmore Stuart MacQuarrie, NatureScot director of nature and climate change
Why It Matters
Restoring the burned landscape aims to reduce the risk of future wildfires by enhancing ecosystem resilience, re-establishing native species, and managing deer populations that can exacerbate fire spread. The projects also contribute to Scotland’s wider climate-change and biodiversity targets by protecting and expanding habitats that support wildlife and ecosystem services.
What’s Next
The funding will be administered by the Cairngorms National Park Authority and NatureScot, with work set to begin on priority sites such as the Duack burn and damaged monitoring infrastructure. As part of the 2026-27 nature-restoration budget, the package signals continued governmental commitment to large-scale habitat recovery and may serve as a model for responding to future wildfire events across Scotland.