Rewilding Scotland is not just an ambition, but a necessity if we are to make dramatic progress towards climate change targets and restoring nature and biodiversity.
More than that, it can create thousand of new nature based jobs in the process and create large scale land redevelopment that will create sustainable green spaces for generations to come.
When we launched a ‘Billion Trees Scotland’ campaign, with the aim to support the planting of a billion new trees by 2045, some people got it instantly, others rolled their eyes and scratched their heads.
But now there is a momentum building not least with today’s news that a campaign has also been launched urging The Scottish Government to declare Scotland as the world’s first Rewilding Nation.
With it, demands for a commitment to rewilding at least 30 per cent of the nation’s land and sea or more within the next decade.
It is a call we fully endorse with our own Billion Trees Scotland campaign and it also echoes our own representations to ministers over the past 24 months.
Many voices can make a difference and we warmly welcome this leading intervention.
It is backed by research, a professionally conducted poll of around 1000 people, which reveals more than three quarters of people support rewilding in Scotland.
Carried out on behalf of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, a coalition of over 20 organisations, an overwhelming 76% of people living in Scotland now support rewilding.
Just 7% oppose such large-scale restoration of nature to the point it’s allowed to take care of itself.
Tonight the Alliance launches its campaign with calls for the Government to make this commitment ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP26 – being held in Glasgow in November.
It will come with a new animation narrated by the extraordinarily talented wildlife presenter and filmmaker Gordon Buchanan which will show how rewilding can help make Scotland a place where nature recovers, wildlife flourishes and people prosper.
In a media release, Steve Micklewright, Convenor of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance and Chief Executive of Trees for Life said: “The world faces overlapping nature, climate and health crises, but Scotland has the opportunity to show bold leadership by becoming the world’s first Rewilding Nation.
“We have the space, political influence and public backing to become a world leader in saving nature and ourselves.”
How right he is, and is what our Managing Director Alex Foulkes has been urging in media articles over recent years and months.
The United Nations declared 2021-2030 the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.
The Scottish Government has also committed itself to bold action to tackle the crisis facing biodiversity through its Edinburgh Declaration. Both come as habitats and species are being eradicated rapidly worldwide.
But the Alliance points out that Scotland is lagging behind other countries with nature in steep decline and suggesting its landscapes among the world’s most nature-depleted.
Many voices can make a difference and we warmly welcome this leading intervention.
They explained that only 1.5% of Scotland’s land is national nature reserves and just 4% native woodland, while 25% is what they described as being severely nature depleted and does not support the nature-rich forests, peatlands and river systems it should. Rural landscapes now support fewer people than previously.
Declining or at risk species include red squirrels, wild cats, capercaillie and great yellow bumblebees. Recovery or return of species such as beavers, cranes, sea eagles and pine martens happen slowly, while elk and lynx are among the species already made extinct.
They also say activities such as scallop dredging and bottom trawling are only banned from less than 5% of coastal waters even as Government assessments reveal that the extent of seabed habitats continues to decline. The group states too that wild salmon populations are at historically low levels and seabirds are feeding their chicks plastic waste.
“It’s past time to reboot our relationship with the natural world, and Scotland can lead the way. By working with nature instead of against it, rewilding can restore life to hills, glens, rivers and seas – while tackling climate breakdown and offering fresh opportunities for farming and local economies,” said Rebecca Wrigley, Chief Executive of Rewilding Britain adds in the release.
The Alliance says rewilding at least 30% of Scotland’s land and sea by 2030 can be achieved by restoring and expanding woodlands, moorlands, peatlands, rivers and marine habitats, and without loss of productive agricultural land.
Hugh Raven, Chair of Open Seas, said: “The new opinion poll shows people know that nature’s health is our nation’s wealth. Incentivising lower impact fisheries around our coastline would help degraded habitats and fish populations recover, and regenerate our harbours and coastal towns. Recovery in places like Lamlash Bay shows what can be achieved by communities, but we urgently need to rewild larger areas of our seas.”
Tom Bowser, farm owner and Ranger with Argaty Red Kites, said: “Declaring ourselves a Rewilding Nation would be a powerful statement of intent that we’re serious about tackling the climate and nature crises, reconnecting people with nature, and regenerating our communities.”
The Alliance recommends using rewilding as a natural solution for increased absorption of atmospheric carbon, building rewilding into post-Covid green recovery plans, and establishing a native species recovery policy and a nationwide network connecting nature restoration projects.
It chimes greatly with what we have insisted too.
“We’re being seriously outpaced by climate breakdown and biodiversity loss, so trying to save nature piecemeal isn’t enough. Scotland has the opportunity to restore the web of life that supports our health and wellbeing, while acting as a rewilding inspiration globally,” said Peter Cairns, Director of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture.
- View the Scottish Rewilding Alliance’s new animation Rhythms of Life, at its launch this evening or afterwards at www.rewild.scot.
Image Credits | scotlandbigpicture.com
Support our Billion Trees Scotland campaign today | kaitiakiscotland.com
