In 2008, we granted up to $235,000 to fund the costs of a Chief Scientific Officer for the John Muir Trust. This new role for the trust will be to advise on scientific aspects of wild land conservation and biodiversity management.

The John Muir Trust works to protect wild land through management. One of its most distinct features is that it owns eight properties in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland totalling over 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres).

Through various partnerships, in particular working closely with local communities, the John Muir Trust is integral to the most appropriate management of wild land, helping to maintain it for the benefit of future generations.

The John Muir Trust educates people about the value of wild places through the John Muir Award. It was started in 1997 to offer people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to learn about wild places.

JMT seeks to protect, conserve, and renew wild places and their landscapes where they have been damaged. They work with local communities to promote awareness and understanding of wild places for their own sake, and for their value to the benefit of humanity.