Young people from Scotland’s coastal areas are being invited to apply for the youth panel of new coastal conservation programme Species on the Edge (SotE), which includes projects set in the Inner Hebrides and Argyll.
Other regions with projects include the Outer Hebrides, the North Coast, the East Coast, Orkney, Shetland, and the Solway Coast.
The panel of 14 people aged 16-25 will meet at least four times a year online to discuss issues relating to the natural environment, as well as have the opportunity to join a fully funded spring residential. It seeks to help young people become champions of nature in their communities.
Participation in the panel will allow its members to learn from experts within the conservation sector, receive training and develop employability skills, and receive support in their own project to encourage others to connect with nature.
SotE is a partnership between NatureScot and seven conservation charities and is delivering a four-and-a-half year programme dedicated to supporting 37 vulnerable and threatened species along Scotland’s coasts and islands.
The highlighted species include the brown long-eared bat, great yellow bumblebee, corncrake, natterjack toad, tadpole shrimp, and Scottish primrose.
The partnership has received £6 million of funding, including £4 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Fiona Strachan, SotE programme manager, said: “It’s great to see the Species on the Edge youth panel opening for applications.
“This will be a fantastic opportunity for young people in our project areas to have a say on what happens in their area, whilst connecting with panel members in other areas and learning from each other and experts in the field.
“The experience they gain through being involved will be really valuable to both them and Species on the Edge and we are looking forward to meeting them.”
Further details on SotE and an expression of interest can be found on the Species on the Edge website.