Map showing the community woodland groups, other community groups, and organisations CWG has been in touch with as part of the development phase activities for the Our Rainforest Futures (ORF) project. Click on image to access interactive map.

Our Rainforest Futures Project (ORF)

CWA is delighted to be a partner in this project which aims to develop the skills and capacity needed to sustainably restore our rainforest landscapes.

Funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this 7-year partnership project is led by the Woodland Trust (WT) and supported by the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest (ASR).

  • Our Rainforest Futures aims to mobilise, train and equip people with the skills and knowledge to be its guardians and advocates. The project will increase awareness of the rainforest, build capacity and expand the available workforce. It will seek opportunities for local people to gain wellbeing, economic and social benefits from the rainforest. It aims to leave both Scotland's rainforest habitat and its communities more resilient.

    The development phase of the project has been made possible with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

    Besides CWA, project partners include Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust, Plantlife Scotland, RSPB Scotland, Scotland's Rural College and the Scottish Rainforest Education Centre.

    The project vision is: a national movement of rainforest custodians equipped and enabled to save Scotland’s Rainforest.Description text goes here

ORF Development Phase - CWA workstreams

CWA focused on the following areas during the development phase (see below). Reports on all aspects of this work will be finalised and published shortly.

  • This survey, conducted by CWA, closed on March 31st 2025. It’s purpose was to gather the views of community groups, active in or close to Scotland’s rainforest zone, with regard to Networking, Training, Community Enterprise and Funding, towards achieving the aims of the project. Find out more about the survey and feedback in the links below:

    1. Survey Form

    2. Full Feedback

    3. Key Feedback

  • This survey (closed September 30th 2025) gathered project ideas from community groups (in or close to Scotland’s rainforest zone) about what they might realistically do, during the delivery phase of the ORF project, to help restore our rainforest landscapes.

    • A report on Survey 2 will be published here very soon

  • CWA explored the possible establishment of a community grant pot to support community groups, and so help sustain their rainforest restoration work beyond the development phase of the ORF project.

    • A report will be published here very soon

  • An action in the development phase was to organise an exchange of information between groups across the rainforest area on a topic beneficial to rainforest. And the intent to learn as much from the organisation of the event as the topic.

  • The concept was to explore and understand the environment that enables organized community groups to come together to collaborate, without the outside stimulus of any organization, governing or representative body. What prevents and conversely, what makes it possible for groups to initiate collaborative works themselves?