People and Nature Thriving Together - March 2021

Our Big Idea

We believe it is by people coming together that we tackle the climate emergency and nature crisis, and deliver an economy that works for all.

Our ambition is to focus on the large scale, inclusive, transformational changes required to deliver on our climate and biodiversity responsibilities. Our project is on a larger scale and aims to be more transformative than anything previously attempted in the UK and will be a shining beacon to rural and urban communities throughout Scotland and beyond.

We will act comprehensively across the UK’s largest National Park, giving people the agency and the tools to make a difference, including:

• Improving people’s health and livelihoods by fundamentally shifting our approach to deliver a well-being economy, outdoor health programmes, a nature-based dementia centre and engaging, inclusive learning and outreach.

• Empowering diverse communities through sharing power to co-design decisions and activities via citizens’ assemblies, substantial community managed grants and innovative land use collaborations.

• Enhancing nature through green finance, woodland expansion, peatland restoration, river catchment management, deer management, nature-friendly farming, landscape connections and sustainable transport.

• A global knowledge exchange programme to openly share our learning as we go.

With over 45 committed partners, our collective endeavour is for the Park to become a global exemplar with integrity and heart, where the future is placed in the hands of the people and communities that live, work and visit here. Within the Cairngorms National Park, people and nature will thrive together.