MSPs urged to help make Scotland a rewilding nation
Support is being sought for a parliamentary motion lodged by local MSP Gail Ross recognising the potential benefits of Scotland becoming the world's first rewilding nation.
The Scottish Rewilding Alliance, a coalition of more than 20 organisations, is calling on politicians from all parties to get behind the move.
The alliance is highlighting its Rewilding Nation campaign as part of today's first World Rewilding Day – a global event backed by more than 100 organisations.
The motion lodged at Holyrood by Mrs Ross has already been signed by 22 other MSPs who agree that becoming a rewilding nation could bring social, economic and environmental benefits.
Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life and the alliance’s convener, said: “We’re calling on more MSPs to show their support. Members of the public still have time to ask their MSPs to sign this important motion before the March 24 deadline.
“Less than a month since the campaign’s launch, there’s growing optimism that the next Scottish Government will declare Scotland a rewilding nation ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow later this year. Such an act of leadership and hope in the face of overlapping nature, climate and health crises would be a world first, unless someone beats us to it.”
The Scottish Rewilding Alliance is calling for rewilding of at least 30 per cent of Scotland’s land and sea by 2030. It says this can be achieved by restoring woodlands, moorlands, peatlands, rivers and marine habitats, and without loss of productive agricultural land.
The alliance says rewilding Scotland’s towns and cities too would ensure everyone has opportunities to reconnect with nature, bringing benefits for health and wellbeing.
Last month, more than 7000 people joined the Rewilding Nation campaign’s online launch. An animation narrated by wildlife presenter and filmmaker Gordon Buchanan has been viewed over 400,000 times and has been shared widely on social media.
The Scottish Rewilding Alliance commissioned a poll in November 2020 which showed strong support for rewilding.
The alliance says only 1.5 per cent of Scotland’s land is made up of national nature reserves, just four per cent is native woodland and 25 per cent is "severely nature depleted". Rural landscapes support fewer people than previously, it says.
Mr Micklewright added: “In Scotland we have the space, political influence and public backing to become a world leader in saving nature and ourselves. The opportunity is there is we want to seize it.”
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.