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"SURPRISED and disappointed." "Deeply concerned." "Desperately bad news."
These are just some of the phrases that have been thrown around since it emerged the Scottish Government is to redirect funds from the Nature Restoration Fund to settle local government pay disputes.
Fresh from stripping public forestry of £32 million, ministers have directed councils to allocate £5 million from this year's £29.2m fund, intended for vital conservation projects, towards meeting the revised pay offer for local authority workers.
The government claims this reallocation is a necessary step to address immediate financial pressures, with the promise that the diverted funds will be replenished in future years.
The Nature Restoration Fund, shared between local councils and NatureScot, finances projects aimed at combating Scotland's nature emergency, such as tree planting and waterway restoration.
As you can imagine, the reaction has been one of dismay.
"We were surprised and disappointed to hear that Scotland's Nature Restoration Fund may be used to fund council pay deals," the Woodland Trust Scotland said in a statement. "There is a climate crisis and a nature emergency. We cannot afford to see already small budgets for nature diverted."
Scottish Environment LINK added in its own statement: "We know that Scotland’s nature is in trouble, with 1 in 9 species at risk of extinction.
"Pulling funding now in the face of extreme climate events here in Scotland and of noticeable declines in biodiversity, is making the job of adapting to ongoing environmental change even more challenging."
MSPs from across the political spectrum have also rounded on the minority SNP government. Mark Ruskell, the Scottish Greens' environment spokesman and fresh from quashing plans to build on Andy Murray's legacy in Dunblane, bemoaned the news, saying: “The Nature Restoration Fund is supporting vital projects all across our country, from building natural flood protections to safeguarding local species, restoring our waterways and improving our parks. It is enhancing our communities, by making them more welcoming and accessible while creating important jobs. "
A Scottish Government spokesman defended the decision and said finance secretary and deputy first minister Shona Robison had been clear about the “painful choices” which lie ahead.
The spokesman said: “Protecting and restoring our natural environment is key to addressing the twin crises of nature loss and climate change, and nearly £40 million has already been distributed through the nature restoration fund since 2021.
“While capital funding of £5 million from this year’s nature restoration fund has been redirected to fund the pay offer, it will be replaced in future years.”
Given the choices made around Scotland's budget in recent years when it comes to the environment, do you trust it will definitely be replaced? FJ remains unconvinced.
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