MSPs not told about collapse of funding deal for Scottish nature restoration

NatureScot’s model is based on private funders meeting the costs of planting new forests not covered by public subsidies. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

A funding deal to raise £100m from private investors for urgently needed nature restoration in Scotland has fallen through without the Scottish parliament being told.

The Guardian has learned that Aberdeen, the investment firm, decided to withdraw from a partnership with the agency NatureScot to raise at least £100m for conservation projects from commercial and private investors late last year.