First carbon cash flows to community landowner in Assynt

Community-owners of highland estates as big as Glasgow have received the first payment in a ground-breaking deal that sees them receive carbon income for native woods created by conservation charity the Woodland Trust Scotland, with funding from Aviva, the UK’s leading diversified insurer.

The first payment has been made from the Trust to the Assynt Foundation.  

Assynt Foundation and the Trust last year announced the South Assynt Collaboration Project, a 30-year deal to revitalise the vast area in the northwest highlands of Scotland.

Assynt Foundation Trustee, Simon Jeffreys, said:

"We are delighted to get our first carbon payment under our collaboration agreement with the Woodland Trust. We can now hire a part-time administrator and complete our project to put signage and information boards all around the estates, which will make a huge difference to visitors."

With funding from Aviva, the Trust is delivering ecological regeneration across Assynt Foundation’s Glencanisp and Drumrunie estates; protecting, restoring and expanding a range of habitats, particularly woodland, including the most northerly rainforest remnants in Scotland.

Containing iconic mountains Suilven, Canisp, Cul Mor and Cul Beag set among a vast patchwork of rivers and lochans, Assynt Foundation’s estates cover 44,000 acres (almost 70 square miles) and are around the size of the city of Glasgow. 

The Trust is registering carbon from woodland creation and sharing the income with the Foundation. It is expected they'll receive £2M–2.5M over the lifetime of this project and partnership, subject to tree growth. 

In the first five to ten years, the South Assynt Collaboration Project aims to create 2,000–2,500 acres (roughly 3–3.9 square miles) of new native woodland consisting of trees, open moorland and mountains. Open ground habitat, peatland and riparian areas will be improved through a 30-year rolling work programme. In addition, 500–1000 acres (0.7–1.5 square miles) of existing ancient woodlands, including remnants of Scotland’s rainforest, will be restored and expanded. 

The project is expected to contribute to a more resilient upland landscape, supporting carbon sequestration, helping people reconnect with the land and increasing biodiversity over time.

Aviva’s chief sustainability officer, Claudine Blamey, said:

“Building on our existing partnership with the Woodland Trust, we are proud to support the Assynt Foundation in helping restore Scotland’s natural landscapes. This project shows how investment in nature can generate benefits for climate, communities and the wider economy, and comes at a timely moment following the recent publication of Aviva's policy roadmap for Boosting Low-Carbon Investment in Scotland."

Woodland Trust Scotland director, Alastair Seaman, said: 

“We’re excited to be pioneering a new approach that combines community landownership, a company that’s taking its de-carbonising responsibilities seriously and the expertise of the Woodland Trust. Our vision is a landscape restored and a community empowered. This is a new approach – so we’ll be learning as we go and sharing what we learn with others who may want to explore similar approaches. For now though, it is great to know the first of the carbon money, approximately £200,000, is now in community coffers.”

For further information contact George Anderson at the Woodland Trust Scotland on 07900 891691. 

Notes to editors

Assynt Foundation

The Assynt Foundation was set up to make a community buy out of the Glencanisp and Drumrunie Estates in Assynt in the northwest Highlands of Scotland from the Vestey family. It achieved this in 2005, by raising £2.9 million, including substantial backing from the Scottish Land Fund/Big Lottery Fund and Highlands & Islands Enterprise. 

This buy out was the first major landholding purchase under the community buy-out provisions of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and is the fourth biggest buy out in Scotland in terms of land area.

The two estates combined amount to around 18,000 hectares (44,000 acres) of land and include much of Assynt and Coigach's distinctive inselberg landscape, including the iconic mountains of Suilven, Canisp, Cul Mor and Cul Beag.

Assynt Foundation is a company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland, reg. no. SC272665. It is also a Scottish registered charity, no.SC036540.

The voting membership of the Foundation is only open to residents of Assynt. The Board of Directors is elected from among the membership by the members. Local control is guaranteed via the constitution. Non-residents can join as non-voting Supporters.

The Foundation's charitable objectives, enshrined in its constitution, are:

1. To manage community land and associated assets for the benefit of the community and the public in general as an important part of the protection and sustainable development of Scotland's natural environment, where sustainable development means development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
2. To advance the education of the community about its environment, culture and/or history.

Aviva

Aviva is the UK’s leading diversified insurer, with strong positions in the UK, Ireland and Canada. It provides insurance, wealth and retirement solutions to 25.2 million customers, helping them make the most of life today and build financial resilience for the future.

With a heritage spanning more than 325 years, Aviva’s purpose is to be ‘with you today, for a better tomorrow’. In 2025, Aviva paid £31.9 billion in claims and benefits, supporting customers when they need it most.

Aviva is committed to playing its part in supporting the transition to a more resilient and sustainable future, as set out in its Transition Plan. As part of this, Aviva has already pledged £87 million towards nature-based solutions across the UK, Ireland and Canada, which aim to capture carbon, strengthen flood resilience and support the protection and restoration of natural habitats.

This includes a £10 million commitment to the Woodland Trust to support its Woodland Carbon Scheme, contributing to woodland creation and peatland restoration. Their broader partnership with the Trust also includes projects such as the creation of one of England’s largest new native woodlands at Snaizeholme in the Yorkshire Dales, supporting long-term habitat restoration.