James Hutton Institute to highlight innovation at Nature of Scotland Awards

"The Innovation Award, sponsored by the Institute, is given to the most innovative project, initiative, practice, or technique (management or otherwise) that has aided nature conservation.

The winners of the Nature of Scotland 2015 awards - organised by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to recognise the very best efforts made for the benefit of nature conservation in Scotland - will be announced tomorrow (19^th November 2015) at a ceremony in Edinburgh, with representatives from the James Hutton Institute in attendance to celebrate innovation in nature conservation.

The Innovation Award, sponsored by the Institute, is given to the most innovative project, initiative, practice, or technique (management or otherwise) that has aided nature conservation. Entrants for this award stand out by showcasing innovation in their conservation work, either by developing a project that is the first of its kind or by finding a new angle to tackle an old issue.

The following entries have been shortlisted for the 2015 Innovation Award:

• Scottish Tree of the Year
• Winter Woodlands Greenability Programme - TCV Scotland
• Cairngorms Peatland Restoration

The Schools Camera Trap project by the North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership, which is supported by the James Hutton Institute, has been shortlisted for the Youth and Education Award. This award honours a school or youth group which can demonstrate how they have made a real difference to the conservation and sustainability of Scotland’s wildlife and habitats. Also shortlisted for the Youth and Education Aware are Belhaven Hill School Conservation Club, High School and East Dunbartonshire Council.

Besides the Innovation and Youth & Education awards, winners in the following categories will also be recognised at the prizegiving ceremony: Sustainable Development, Politician of the Year, RSPB Species Champion, Community Initiative and Nature Tourism. The full shortlist can be viewed at the RSPB Nature of Scotland Award website.