Covering 10,000 square kilometres and with a 40-year timeframe, the CSGN is one of the largest and most ambitious green infrastructure programmes in Europe. Through the support of the Scottish Government and over 80 partners, its focus is to address climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental inequality by connecting people to greenspace where it is needed most.
The CSGN takes a holistic approach to solving the biggest issues facing the environmental wellbeing of central Scotland. A huge number of partners are involved in delivering projects that are grouped into four interconnected workstreams:
Delivering projects that use natural solutions to adapt to and mitigate climate change impacts. These include initiatives to increase carbon capture particularly through woodland creation, peatland restoration and improved wetland and coastal management.
Promoting the role of high quality green infrastructure in placemaking and urban design. These projects create multifunctional greenspaces in new developments and existing places, while improving biodiversity and habitat connectivity.
Focusing on the positive role that access to quality greenspaces has on people’s health, wellbeing, and overall quality of life. This includes embedding community growing as part of local food growing strategies, encouraging outdoor physical activity and green active travel.
Encouraging the incorporation of low carbon energy generation into the design and management
of greenspace and green infrastructure. Includes creating green uses for Vacant and Derelict Land that benefit local communities and economies.
By expanding woodland nature networks right across the CSGN area, Climate Forests help tackle some of our most pressing environmental challenges. From reducing flood risk and moderating temperature extremes to improving air quality, storing carbon and supporting biodiversity, these landscapes deliver lasting benefits for nature, climate and people.
The Climate Forests support Scotland’s Biodiversity Strategy, Environment Strategy, Forestry Strategy, Climate Change Plan and National Adaptation Plan, and are central to the Scottish Government’s commitment to a just transition.
We can help your organisation deliver its environmental objectives by making a positive contribution to the CSGN. Whether you have a project proposal, a funding question, or you simply need advice on how to take an idea forward, we’d like to hear from you.
