Nature Restoration Fund: interim evaluation

Annex 4: NRF Outputs, Outcomes, Measures and Indicators

This annex contains all the measures and indicators for each output and outcome that were used to support the evaluation. This covers both Competitive Fund and Edinburgh Process measures and indicators. Not all measures and indicators are reported on in the main report due to the relevance of measures and indicators across the projects covered, but are listed here for reference.

Competitive Fund

Output A: Contracts/approvals for NRF funded projects in place

Measures and indicators:

a) Number of projects that expressed interest in NRF funding

b) Number of projects that applied for NRF funding

c) Number of projects successfully applying for NRF funding

Output B: A greater range and diversity of organisations, landowners and managers secure NRF funds and undertake nature restoration

Measures and indicators:

a) New successful applicants: Successful applicants who have not previously received any grant funding from NatureScot

b) Returning successful applicants: Successful applicants who have previously received a grant funding from NatureScot

c) Unsuccessful applicants who have not previously received any grant funding from NatureScot

d) New NRF successful applicants: Successful applicants who have not previously received grant funding from NRF

e) Returning NRF successful applicants: Successful applicants who have previously received grant funding from NRF

f) Unsuccessful applicants who have not previously received NRF funding

Output C: Projects implemented and deliver agreed outputs aligned to fund priorities

Measures and indicators:

a) Total area supported (ha)

b) Total area restored (ha)

c) Total number of projects completed

d) Projects ending early

e) Reasons for projects ending early

f) Projects changing one or more elements of the project

g) Reasons for projects changing one or more elements of the project)

h) Total number of projects not completed - ongoing projects

i) Total number of projects that needed extension of delivery deadline across all years

g) Reasons for projects requiring extension of delivery deadline

j) Total number of project self-reporting aims achieved

Output D: Projects are managed by funding/project officers, report progress, claim funds and submit final report

Measures and indicators:

a) Funding received by recipients (total, mean, minimum, maximum, ranges)

b) Underspend and overspend, including percentage of spend at programme level

c) Main challenges in use of NRF funding

d) Supported building the evidence base to better inform restoration, recovery and wider enhancement efforts

Outcome 1: Contributed to native woodland restoration

Measures and indicators:

a) Area (ha) of tree planting

b) Number of trees planted

c) Species of trees planted

d) Area (ha) of ongoing natural regeneration

Outcome 2: Improved management of species rich grassland to increase habitat for pollinators

Measures and indicators:

a) Area (ha) of habitat created for pollinators

b) Area (ha) of habitat restored for pollinators

c) Area (ha) of habitat reconnected for pollinators

d) Area (ha) of habitat managed for pollinators

Outcome 3: Supported habitat creation to protect priority species (non-pollinators)

Measures and indicators:

a) Area (ha) of habitat created for priority species

b) Area (ha) of habitat restored for priority species

c) Area (ha) of habitat reconnected for priority species

d) Area (ha) of habitat managed for priority species

e) Action for specific priority species

Outcome 4: Implemented natural flood management to lessen the impact of climate change

Measures and indicators:

a) Length (m) of watercourse meandered/re-meandered

b) Area (ha) of wetland habitat created

c) Area (ha) of wetland habitat restored

d) Area (ha) of ponds/scrapes created

e) Area (ha) of ponds/scrapes restored

f) Number of ponds/scrapes created

g) Number of ponds/scrapes restored

h) Area (ha) of floodplain wetland connected/reconnected with a river

i) Area (ha) of backwater reconnected to its river

j) Length (m) of backwater reconnected to its river

Outcome 5: Restored degraded aquatic and riparian habitats to safeguard freshwaters

Measures and indicators:

a) Area (ha) of riparian tree planting

b) Length (m) of riverbank planted with riparian trees

c) Number of riparian trees planted

d) Area (ha) of ongoing riparian natural regeneration.

e) Length (m) of riverbank protected from diffuse pollution

f) Length (m) of eroded riverbank restored

g) Length (m) of instream habitat restored to support freshwater biodiversity

h) Number of man-made obstructions removed from watercourses

i) Length (m) of river opened up for fish migration.

Outcome 6: Enhanced connection and integration of habitats and species to the urban fabric and increased urban nature-based solutions for healthy and resilient communities

Measures and indicators:

a) Area (ha) of urban greenspace created

b) Area (ha) of urban greenspace managed

c) Extent and nature of people's use of urban greenspace

d) Extent and nature of mechanism created to cool the urban environment

e) Extent and nature of mechanism created to help manage surface water

Outcome 7: Controlled INNS in a catchment, or protected a previously uninvaded catchment, to protect habitats and halt biodiversity loss

Measures and indicators:

a) Area (ha) of habitat protected (INNS)

b) Length (m) habitat protected (INNS)

c) Number of priority sites in Scotland protected (INNS)

d) Proportion of priority sites in Scotland protected (INNS)

e) Number of populations of vulnerable species in Scotland protected (INNS)

f) Proportion of vulnerable species in Scotland protected (INNS)

g) Species of INNS controlled

h) Area (ha) of habitat restored (INNS)

i) Length (m) of habitat restored (INNS)

Outcome 8: Contributed to the long-term enhancement, conservation status and recovery of the marine and coastal environment and of priority marine features

Measures and indicators:

a) Extent and effectiveness of marine and coastal enhancement measure(s).

b) Specific priority marine feature(s) enhanced

Edinburgh Process

Note that for the Edinburgh Process strand of the evaluation, Outputs A and B were not applicable to the analysis. In addition, not all measures and indicators in Outputs C and D for the Competitive Fund strand were applicable to the Edinburgh Process strand.

Output C: Projects implemented and deliver agreed outputs aligned to fund priorities

Measures and indicators:

a) Total area supported (0,000 ha)

b) Total area restored (0,000 ha)

c) Total number of projects completed

d) Projects ending early

e) Projects changing one or more elements of the project

f) Total number of projects not completed - ongoing projects

Output D: Local authorities submit summary reports to Scottish Government

Measures and indicators:

a) Funding received by recipients (total, mean, minimum, maximum, ranges)

b) Underspend and overspend

c) Main challenges in use of NRF funding

Outcome 1: Contributed to native woodland restoration

Measures and indicators:

• Brief description of work undertaken
• Expected benefits to biodiversity
• Key NRF successes

Outcome 2: Improved management of species rich grassland to increase habitat for pollinators

Measures and indicators:

• Brief description of work undertaken
• Expected benefits to biodiversity
• Key NRF successes
• Action for pollinators (equipment for maintaining wildflower areas/verges plus planting)
• Planting of wildlife corridors, removal of barriers to movement, pollinator planting

Outcome 3: Supported habitat creation to protect priority species (non-pollinators)

Measures and indicators:

• Brief description of work undertaken
• Expected benefits to biodiversity
• Key NRF successes

Outcome 4: Implemented natural flood management to lessen the impact of climate change

Measures and indicators:

• Brief description of work undertaken
• Expected benefits to biodiversity
• Key NRF successes
• Natural flood management actions such as connecting rivers with flood plains, pond creation, deculverting, in-stream works for habitat and flow variability

Outcome 5: Restored degraded aquatic and riparian habitats to safeguard freshwaters

Measures and indicators:

• Brief description of work undertaken
• Expected benefits to biodiversity
• Key NRF successes

Outcome 6: Enhanced connection and integration of habitats and species to the urban fabric and increased urban nature-based solutions for healthy and resilient communities

Measures and indicators:

• Brief description of work undertaken
• Expected benefits to biodiversity
• Key NRF successes
• Wee Forests (purchase and planting of trees)
• Rain gardens (construction and materials plus planting)
• Improving Greenspace for Outdoor Learning (purchase and planting, equipment for outdoor learning, small access improvements)
• Improving condition and use of LNRs (purchase and planting, equipment for outdoor learning, small access improvements)
• Greening Active travel routes (purchase and planting)
• Urban woodlands - Climate forests (purchase and planting)
• Nature Networks

Outcome 7: Controlled INNS in a catchment, or protected a previously uninvaded catchment, to protect habitats and halt biodiversity loss

Measures and indicators:

• Brief description of work undertaken
• Expected benefits to biodiversity
• Key NRF successes
• Removal of INNS

Outcome 8: Contributed to the long-term enhancement, conservation status and recovery of the marine and coastal environment and of priority marine features

Measures and indicators:

• Brief description of work undertaken
• Expected benefits to biodiversity
• Key NRF successes
• Habitat and species enhancement works using native stock, enhancing natural coastal defences through marram, addressing coastal squeeze