Grants

The priority outcomes for RRE grants are:

• Improvements in the status of marine and coastal habitats and species including measures of habitat extent and condition; species abundance and population health; and issues of connectivity and the maintenance of natural process and functions 
• Enhancing the provision of ecosystem services, such as boosting resilience to coastal flooding and erosion; increasing carbon storage; improving water quality; or supporting cultural values.

Ideally projects will combine these outcomes with broader social benefits e.g. measures of wellbeing, economic development or community capacity building. A suitable and proportionate monitoring programme and community engagement plan should be a key part of proposals. 

SMEEF is seeking to support scalable marine Restoration, Recovery and Enhancement projects which offer opportunities to create positive results at pace.  There is no maximum or minimum physical size of project but for the first round of funding (July 2022) there MUST be a practical element with capital spending core to the project. We encourage applicants to work at a manageable scale where outcomes can be measured and to consider the strategic fit with other protection and enhancement measures such as the Marine Protected Areas network and national and regional marine planning. 

SMEEF aims to support a range of practical projects, examples of restoration, recovery or enhancement applications could include:

• Habitat improvements for example relating to sand dunes, seagrass, saltmarsh and native oyster beds.
• Measures to restore, recover or enhance mobile species for example relating to marine birds or cetaceans.
• Invasive species eradication. 
• Other activities, including citizen science which helps to improve our understanding of human pressures on the marine environment, particularly if they are part of a practical restoration project.  

Projects should:

• Include a core of practical, capital based spending on restoration, recovery or enhancement, 
• Be as collaborative as possible and have a clear engagement plan for involving interested groups,
• Demonstrate clear additionality to existing and already committed actions,
• Be informed by science, driven by knowledge and backed up by monitoring.

Please note that there is a lot of useful advice available on the NatureScot website. In particular applicants are encouraged to pay close attention to the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations and, where relevant, the Community Led Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Handbook. 

This grant is now CLOSED – applicants will be notified of the result of their submission early in September 2022. All money in this grant round MUST be spent by 31.03.2023

The following conditions apply:

• In this round SMEEF can only fund projects to 31.03.2022. In subsequent rounds we hope to be able to fund projects over 2 years.
• We will not normally fund the same project twice however we can fund a new phase of an ongoing or existing project. 
• We cannot pay for activities already started. 
• The applicant(s) must be based in the UK and all projects must be delivered in Scotland. 
• Projects should focus on the marine and coastal environment. The habitats and species at the heart of the project should be reliant on the marine environment as a major part of their nutrient or life cycle. 

SMEEF encourages applicants to submit a proportionate and practical budget which focuses on ensuring the project is able to deliver the desired outcomes. Applicants should state their approach to procurement ensuring transparency and delivery of best value. The NatureScot procurement policy can act as a guide if required. 

Costs resulting from a core capital project that can be funded as part of your budget: 

• Staff costs inclusive of salary, National Insurance and Employee Pension Contributions. 
• Professional fees that are appropriate and proportionate to the project.
• Project staff travel and subsistence to cover staff and any volunteers supporting delivery of the project activities. 
• Project evaluation – additional costs for measuring success and evaluating the project. 
• Equipment and resources to deliver the project. 
• Dissemination of the project outcomes.
• Irrecoverable VAT. 
• In addition, we recognise that each site/proposal is unique and other non-standard items may be needed. You should discuss any other costs you are considering applying for with a SMEEF member of staff before you submit your application. 

What will not be funded?

• At this time SMEEF is unable to fund purely desk based or baseline only survey. 
• SMEEF is unable to fund statutory functions. 
• The main applicant cannot be a for profit company, however they can make up the minority interest of a consortium bid. 
• The project can include financial returns or cost recovery through a financial mechanism but the main aim of the project must be biodiversity/ecosystem gains, not profit. 
• SMEEF will not fund political activity or campaigns. 
• Creation or repairing of tracks for access to sites will not normally be funded.

Restoration, Recovery and Enhancement Grants 

• The minimum grant is £10,000.
• Applications are welcome for feasibility studies and smaller scale pilot projects as long as there is a practical element to the project. 
• To help ensure SMEEF is as effective as possible, applicants are encouraged to work in partnership and we welcome evidence of match funding.  
• A maximum of 100% funding is available for applications.

SMEEF is currently closed to applications.

The recent grant round dates are as follows:

Open for Registration of Interest – 11/05/2022 – 04/07/2022

Full Applications Invited – w/c 18/07/2022

Full Applications Closing – 15/08/2022

Decisions – w/c 05/09/2022

These dates are indicative and subject to change. Please register for our mailing list to stay informed by emailing grants@smeef.scot.