Money set aside for restoring nature is to be diverted into funding wage settlements in Scotland’s local authorities.

Ministers said £5 million from the nature restoration fund would instead be spent on pay settlements.

Cash from the £65m fund is split between councils and the Scottish Government’s nature agency Nature Scot.

The nature restoration money is used to pay for local projects to tackle the nature emergency, ranging from tree planting to restoring waterways.

It is estimated that one in nine species in Scotland is under threat of extinction because of long-term habitat loss and ministers have said restoring biodiversity is “crucial” in tackling the climate crisis.

Councils are facing a number of disputes with unions over pay and earlier this month with the threat of refuse and recycling workers going on strike, leaving bins unemptied, ministers agreed to extra money for councils to allow them to offer a 3.6% increase for all grades, with a rise of £1,292 for the lowest paid, equivalent to 5.63%.

Ms Robison said last week that spending constraints were “unavoidable” because of the “profound spending challenges” being faced by the Scottish Government.

She is due to set out plans for a swathe of spending cuts in a statement to Holyrood next month.

Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland, said: “It's extremely frustrating when the small amounts of money which are allocated to climate and nature action come under further pressure.

"Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and it's really important that we take steps now in order to begin to reverse that.

"Many of the actions that you can take to protect nature also deliver benefits for the public, whether by cutting carbon, cleaner air or helping to reduce flooding.

"So pulling money from this area is just storing up problems for the future."

Commenting on the development, first reported by the BBC, Mark Ruskell, the Scottish Greens' environment spokesman, said the fund was secured while they were in the Scottish Government and called on the Finance Secretary to maintain it.

“If these reports are accurate, and if funds are being cut, then it would be hugely concerning and could have a very damaging impact for our communities in the short and long term," he said.

“The Nature Restoration Fund is supporting vital projects all across our country, from building natural flood protections to safeguarding local species, restoring our waterways and improving our parks. It is enhancing our communities, by making them more welcoming and accessible while creating important jobs. 

“Investment in natural flood management for example massively saves public money in the long run. We are in a climate and nature emergency, the two are linked and restoring nature in our communities is key.

“Investing in local services and our local environment should not be in opposition, they go together. Every worker deserves to be paid a fair wage, and every one of us should have access to green space and a livable and sustainable community. It would be short-sighted and counterproductive to cut one at the expense of the other.

“Public finances are being stretched and there are political choices to be made. The Scottish Government must use every tool it has to ensure that local authorities are fully funded and that we are investing in our environment and our communities.

“That is all the more reason why we badly need to reform council funding and build on the progressive tax reforms that have been delivered by the Scottish Greens.

“The Scottish Government must urgently provide clarity about what it is proposing and ensure that any funds being reallocated in the short term are fully compensated and restored.”

Scottish Conservative rural affairs spokeswoman Rachael Hamilton said: “Scotland has so many species which are at risk of habitat destruction.

“So it’s alarming that the SNP would defund biodiversity conservation to plug other holes they have created in their own spending.

“Councils and NatureScot will be left with nothing to spend on preserving our beautiful natural environment for future generations.”

She added: “Nature should not be a trivial consideration for the SNP, as this would suggest.”

Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland, said: “This is desperately bad news. Recently published analysis has shown that funding for nature needs to increase, not be cut.

"Scotland is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, coming 28th from the bottom of 240, and this trend is continuing.

“The Nature Restoration Fund has been critical in helping to deliver projects right across rural and urban Scotland, generating employment and bringing benefits to people, economy, biodiversity and nature."

She added: "The short and long-term consequences of this action will be keenly felt both now and into the future."

She said surveys had shown that the Scottish public wanted nature restoration to be given more prominence in government decision-making.

"Yet they are once again being sold short and having to settle for choices which put nature restoration low on the list of priorities,” she said.

A Scottish Government spokesman said Ms Robison had been clear about the “painful choices” which lie ahead.

The spokesman said: “Protecting and restoring our natural environment is key to addressing the twin crises of nature loss and climate change, and nearly £40 million has already been distributed through the nature restoration fund since 2021.

“While capital funding of £5 million from this year’s nature restoration fund has been redirected to fund the pay offer, it will be replaced in future years.”

“We know the vital role local government employees play in delivering local services which are valued by the public.

“This pay offer demonstrates just how much we value these workers too. It will provide an above-inflation pay increase for all council employees and ensure the most support is focused on the lowest paid.

“Ministers hope that members of GMB, Unison and Unite will vote to accept it.”