Campaigners for Scotland to become the world’s first ‘Rewilding Nation’ have taken their message to the country’s politicians in a colorful display outside Holyrood on Wednesday, October 1st, 2025.
More than 100 people, representing thousands of individuals, charities, community groups, and businesses from across Scotland, gathered outside the Scottish Parliament with a visual display of ‘stop’ and ‘go’ signs. The display aimed to expose the barriers holding back rewilding and highlight readily available solutions.
The event follows public support from acclaimed Scottish theatre and movie actor Alan Cumming, who joined other celebrities in backing the Rewilding Nation campaign.
Led by the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, the campaign calls on the Scottish government to commit to rewilding 30% of the country’s land and seas. The Alliance’s ‘Pathway to a Rewilding Nation’ outlines practical steps the government can take to achieve this goal.
This event marks the first time rewilding campaigners have directly engaged with Scotland’s politicians.
In recent years, rewilding has gained momentum, with nearly 200 projects across Scotland led by communities, charities, farmers, landowners, and others. However, the Alliance believes it is now time for politicians to step up and make significant commitments to large-scale nature restoration, especially with the Scottish elections approaching in May next year.
Scotland is one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries. While the Scottish government is committed to protecting at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030, only 2.5% of Scotland’s land is currently undergoing rewilding. At the current rate of progress, it will take 65 years before major nature restoration is underway across 30% of the country.
Rewilding is the large-scale restoration of nature to a state where it can sustain itself. It involves restoring natural processes and reintroducing missing species, where appropriate.
Karen Blackport, co-convenor of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance and CEO of Bright Green Nature, said, “Rewilding offers hope for addressing the nature and climate emergencies and brings with it a host of benefits, including job creation, clean air and water, and improved health.”
Polls show that 80% of Scots believe the Scottish government should have policies in place to support rewilding. However, the Alliance claims that they are often met with silence, foot-dragging, or excuses when it comes to protecting and restoring nature in a significant way.
Scotland has the chance to lead the way in reversing the nature crisis, and the Alliance hopes that these issues will be openly debated and discussed by all political parties in the lead-up to the Scottish elections in May.
The Alliance believes that rewilding 30% of Scotland can be achieved by restoring habitats such as peatlands, native woodlands, wetlands, rivers, and seas while simultaneously maintaining and benefiting productive farmland.
The Rewilding Nation campaign has also received public support from Scottish actor Brian Cox, Scottish musician Nathan Evans, Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio, and activists Laura Young (Less Waste Laura) and Somhairle.
For more information on the Pathway to a Rewilding Nation, visit www.rewild.scot/pathway-to-a-rewilding-nation.
ENDS
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.