The importance Matt places on 'doing the right thing' for the environment and local communities sets him apart from his peers. He has dedicated himself to developing the expertise and network to meaningfully address the climate and biodiversity crises in Scotland, engaging with the wider rural sector to do so. Matt's genuine passion and ability to communicate effectively across sectors is his outstanding skill as he draws on best practice from gamekeeping, forestry, deer management, peatland restoration and ecology to unite the many collaborators and stakeholders that nature restoration in Scotland requires.
Originally from a meteorological background in the Royal Air Force, Matt switched to ecology and land management in 2019, taking on ambitious projects in rural and upland areas of Scotland. He specialises in being a generalist, with a good understanding of the many different facets that make up integrated land management, and an awareness of how these need to evolve to meet the challenges of the climate and biodiversity crises. Matt's aim has always been to create nature rich landscapes that are also economically sustainable, and this requires a diversity of knowledge across traditional land management, economics, ecology and natural capital markets. It is this commitment to the big picture in everything he does that makes Matt stand out in a talented rural sector. Matt has played a significant role in a number of landscape scale, multi-disciplinary projects that have involved the blending of public and private finance across multiple landholdings with a variety of partners. Matt's passion for the importance of this work has allowed him to develop his position, network and knowledge base, enabling him to continue to lead the way in rural regeneration, both environmentally and economically, contributing to the long-term sustainability and future-proofing of the rural sector.
A notable example of Matt's impact on rural Scotland is his instrumental role in bringing stakeholders together to secure an Esmee Fairbairn Foundation grant for his client, the Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust. The funding will be used to carry out extensive habitat restoration on three estates in the Perthshire Highlands. Interventions in this pioneering project include riparian tree planting, regenerative deer management and restored access for wild fish such as salmon to ancient spawning grounds in the upper reaches of the River Almond. This is just one example of how Matt has used his network, expertise and passion to drive forward nature restoration in the Scottish Highlands, and the benefits of his involvement in such projects are many and varied. A holistic view of environmental restoration is central to Matt's approach, combining overlapping considerations of habitat type, biodiversity, economic viability and estate management to achieve an optimal outcome for the future. The local and wider economy benefits greatly from the due diligence surveys, on-site restoration works and all the associated cash flows (e.g. accommodation, subsistence etc.), while local communities are at the forefront of the engagement process through consultations, town hall meetings and Matt's presentations.
Driven by his determination to tackle the biodiversity crisis, Matt has long been an advocate for responsible investment in Scotland's natural capital. However, Matt's approach goes far beyond the use of existing carbon standards, with nature always at the centre. He takes a holistic view of what is best for a given area of land, is transparent about the potential tensions and trade-offs at play, and thinks deeply about the implications of change for people, rural businesses and wildlife. Matt's passion for what he does extends well beyond his professional work. In his spare time he is a director of the charity Reforesting Scotland, monitors black grouse leks in the Perthshire Highlands, speaks at rural sector events and writes for a number of environmental organisations including Inkcap Journal and Scotland: The Big Picture. He is also in the process of publishing a children's book on Scotland's natural history to help inspire the next generation with the beauty and wonder of our natural world, as well as the challenges it faces.