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Highland and Islands Enterprise

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Seaweed with three small pots of pharmaceuticals

Natural assets in the Highlands and Islands

A region of rich natural resources

Focusing on Our Region's Strengths

Our natural capital is amongst the most resourceful and plentiful in the world. At HIE we want to support business and community transition, innovation and access to investment opportunities, while protecting our environment.

The opportunities are far reaching - we're seeing enterprises responding to market demand for natural, local, sustainable products; businesses delivering change to reduce carbon emissions, and joint work with national and international investors and companies seeking off-setting and green investment opportunities.

Find out more about how nature can help us respond to the climate emergency, who can help you conserve our environment and meet some of the local enterprises leading the way.

A circle of hands holding small seedlings.

NatureScot

The Scottish Government’s nature conservation agency NatureScot is the place to go to find out more about delivering climate change through nature.

Their work is about conserving and expanding the natural habitats which can actively reduce net emissions; helping manage the impacts of floods, heatwaves, sea-level rise and storms; and addressing the global biodiversity crisis by protecting habitats and species threatened by climate change.

You'll also find latest information funding and support on their website.

NatureScot funding and projects

Carbon Sequestration

Carbon sequestration is the process involved in removal or capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. There are a wide range of natural and artificial methods being used to reduce emissions. In our region land and sea opportunities include tree planting, peatland and wetland restoration, changes to agricultural growing, and seaweed growth.

As well as delivering biodiversity benefits, there's an opportunity for those planting and restoring land to generate income from carbon market buyers. There are a range of codes that help you demonstrate the climate benefits you offer.

Find out more from Woodland Carbon Code and the Peatland Code below.

The Woodland Carbon Code sets out design and management requirements for voluntary UK based projects that aim to sequester carbon through new woodland creation.

Woodland Carbon Code

Peatland Code

Where to find support for forestry projects

Food growing, sourcing and packaging

Enterprises in the region are delivering innovative carbon busting measures. Find out more about their work.

Gro for Good

Find out more about aquaponics and how Gro for Good benefited from HIE innovation support in developing its local, nutritional food production.

CLIMAVORE

Arts, education and science combine to explore food production and construction, with positive benefits for our climate

HIE funding boost for Outer Hebrides distillery

HIE support for new Benbecula distillery and visitor centre being developed with green tech and creating 22 jobs.

Uist Asco

Harvesting seaweed at Uist Asco bring new opportunities in a traditional industry.

Making use of natural resources

Our region's enterprises are developing sustainable, natural and traditional products.

SkyeSkyns

Commercial woolskin tannery creating handcrafted, sustainable products.

Moray firm set to expand after securing patent

Elgin firm set for expansion after securing a patent for its sustainable bedding.

CRÙBAG

HIE supports Argyll-based business Crùbag through its innovation service.

Hume Sweet Hume

Family business Hume Sweet Hume in Westray, one of the most northerly of the Orkney Islands has been awarded a grant of £30,000 from the Scottish Government’s Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund.

Peatlands

Peatlands are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth. While they cover less than 3% of the Earth's land surface they hold more carbon than all the plants on world combined.

More than 20% of Scotland is covered with peatland. When damaged peatlands become greenhouse gas emitters, and restoration is a key part of the Scottish Government’s goal of achieving a net-zero Scotland by 2045 at the latest.

NatureScot has been leading a peatland restoration project for the Scottish Government since 2012. Get guidance and funding information on their project action webpage.

Peatland Action Project

Tain High School pupils learning about peatlands with the Science Skills academy outside.

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Inspiring the next generation

Peatlands is one of the current topics being delivered by our Science Skills Academy in schools across the Highlands. Funded through the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, SSA is inspiring our youngsters in science, technology, maths and science subjects.

See the film we're using with youngsters about land use by clicking on the picture, and find out more about the Peatlands sessions in the link below.

Peatlands and SSA

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