Nominee Summary
Highlands Rewilding manages the Tayvallich Estate on behalf of other landowners to deliver nature recovery and community benefit. The area contains a mosaic of habitats, including Atlantic Temperate Rainforest fragments, and coastal, marine, wetland, salt marsh, woodland and grassland areas, making it a prime area for natural capital and biodiversity uplift. The project aims to build partnerships and work with local communities.
What was the motivation behind the work which was undertaken?
To deliver long-term, community-centred nature recovery, prioritising community participation in and benefit from rewilding. To undertake nature restoration to deliver carbon and biodiversity credits to further fund works. Highlands Rewilding delivered a year of baselining to measure carbon storage and biodiversity. They found 17 birds on the Red List, 31 on the Amber List and a habitat area for the Marsh Fritillary Butterfly. The work found the area could benefit from reducing deer numbers and coastline restoration. This will also support regeneration of rainforest fragments. They will also be collecting local seed to grow to expand woodland cover.
Overcoming Challenges
Grazing pressure has been reduced to allow rewilding initiatives to occur such as natural regeneration of rainforest fragments. Surveys suggested deer densities were up to 10 times higher than that which would allow natural regeneration. They are focussing on reducing deer numbers, especially non-native sika deer. In line with this, they are working to improve the Tayvallich deer larder to enable the supply of locally produced venison. The area is part of the Loch Sween Marine Protected Area, which is designated for native oyster populations. Surveys suggest the intertidal population of oysters has crashed in the last 10 years and is functionally extinct. Other habitats are in a reasonably good state.
Including the community
Highlands Rewilding have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tayvallich Initiative and sold 19 hectares of land into community ownership. They have established a Land Management Board with community representatives. They have sold 800 hectares to the Barrahormid Trust, but continue to manage the land under partnership - sharing any monetary benefits that will arise from credit sales. Jobs have been created for staffing the local team. Existing and ruined housing has now become available to support local housing needs. 30 buildings have been sold/are closing, 17 of which are liveable homes. These have been bought by the local community, returners, tenants or rewilding supporters. They have been working also on 2 joint ventures with the community: Tayvallich Bikes (bike hire to support tourism) and foraging and heritage tours. They also hold events and volunteering activities.
