CONSERVATIONISTS working to save vital ecosystems in the Scottish Highlands say they are facing a multitude of long-term challenges such as depopulation and securing guaranteed sources of funding.

A growing number of local projects – from regenerative farm clusters to saving Scotland’s rainforests – are responding to the country’s nature crisis after centuries of human-driven deforestation and habitat depletion.

But fears are growing that the country will fail to meet its 2030 conservation targets, with campaigners saying the Scottish government has cut nature spending by tens of millions of pounds over the last decade.