Polling shows that 80% of Scots believe that the Scottish Government should have policies in place to support rewilding, according to the Scottish Rewilding Alliance. The coalition of over 20 organizations is calling on the government to declare Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation, with nature restoration taking place across 30% of the country.
Despite overwhelming public support for rewilding, the Scottish Government and public bodies have been slow to engage with the opportunities it offers. This delay has raised concerns that the upcoming Scottish Natural Environment Bill may not be as ambitious as originally planned. Recent government decisions, such as reallocating £5 million from the Nature Restoration Fund, have also caused disappointment.
Steve Micklewright, Scottish Rewilding Alliance Convenor and Chief Executive of Trees for Life, expressed his concern over the government’s slow response to the country’s nature crisis. He believes that declaring Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation would not only address this crisis, but also have positive impacts on health, jobs, and sustainable food production.
While some public bodies have started to mention rewilding in their plans and take action to support it, this is not happening on a widespread or clearly defined basis, according to the Alliance. Rewilding is not currently included in key government policies and frameworks, such as the planning framework, net zero plan, and biodiversity strategy.
Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with intensive agriculture and climate change having the greatest impact on habitats and wildlife. Other threats include non-native forestry, pollution, and introduced species, according to research.
In a recent poll conducted by independent research agency Survation, 80% of respondents stated that it was important for the Scottish Government to have policies in place to support rewilding. Currently, less than 3% of Scotland’s land and less than 1% of its seas are rewilded, according to analysis by the Scottish Rewilding Alliance.
The Alliance believes that rewilding 30% of Scotland can be achieved by restoring habitats such as peatlands, native woodlands, wetlands, rivers, and seas, while also maintaining and benefiting productive farmland. The Rewilding Nation Charter, which can be found at www.rewild.scot/charter, has already been signed by thousands of people, showing their support for the government to declare Scotland a rewilding nation.
Genevieve from Nairn, a signatory of the Charter, believes that Scotland has the potential to lead the way in rewilding and that the government must be brave and commit to becoming a Rewilding Nation. This sentiment was also shared by Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, who backed the Rewilding Nation campaign earlier this year.
The Scottish Rewilding Alliance is urging the Scottish Government to take action and declare Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation. This opportunity should not be missed, as it would not only benefit nature and the climate, but also the people and local communities of Scotland.
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