Affric Highlands Initiative

That the Parliament congratulates the approval of the Affric Highlands Initiative to re-wild 60,000 hectares of land, which is three times bigger than the Cairngorm Connect project; commends the project leader, Allan McDonnel, from Trees for Life, on his efforts to bring together more than 50 stakeholders; understands that the project launch comes after three years of consultation between Trees of Life and Rewilding Europe, among others; notes the benefit that it believes the project will have to the species on the land, including salmon, trout, osprey, otter, red grouse and mountain hare, and what it considers will be the beneficial impact on business by using the natural capital of the land; commends the £200,000 grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, and considers that this project will have a positive impact on the sustainability of Highland rural communities and their surrounding landscape.