Rewilding Boosts Job Numbers in Scotland by 412% while Tackling Nature and Climate Emergencies
New research by Rewilding Britain has revealed that rewilding has significantly boosted job numbers at sites across Scotland while also addressing the nature and climate emergencies. The analysis, which covers 13 major rewilding projects totaling almost 60,000 hectares, shows a remarkable 412% increase in jobs since rewilding began. The projects, owned or managed by charities, communities, private landowners, and public bodies, highlight the potential for economic and social benefits while also offering hope for reversing biodiversity loss and addressing climate breakdown.
Kevin Cumming, Rewilding Britain’s Rewilding Director and Deputy Convenor of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, states, “These remarkable job creation figures show how rewilding can turbocharge social and economic benefits for people, while offering hope for reversing biodiversity loss and tackling climate breakdown.” Cumming also calls on the Scottish Government to declare Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation and commit to nature recovery across 30% of land and sea.
The first findings of their kind for Scotland come as calls grow for the Scottish Government to declare Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation and commit to nature recovery across 30% of land and sea. The results of the analysis, which includes sites of various sizes and ownership, demonstrate the potential for rewilding to create a variety of jobs, including nature-based hospitality and tourism, estate management, ecology, environmental monitoring, rewilding interventions, recreation, and education.
In addition to job creation, rewilding has also brought benefits for people’s health and wellbeing, with opportunities for gaining valuable skills and experience. Volunteer numbers at the sites have increased from zero to 435 since rewilding began, further highlighting the potential for community involvement and engagement.
The sites, which vary in size and ownership, are all members of the Rewilding Network, managed by Rewilding Britain, which supports projects across Britain. The largest recorded rise in jobs is at Trees for Life’s 4,000-hectare Dundreggan estate near Loch Ness. Since the rewilding charity’s purchase of the former deer stalking estate in 2008, jobs have soared from one to 36, while volunteer numbers have risen from zero to 100. At Dundreggan, Trees for Life is restoring the Caledonian forest and its wildlife, and the charity has also opened the world’s first Rewilding Centre on the estate in the Highlands.
Other notable examples include the community-owned Tarras Valley Nature Reserve in Dumfries and Galloway, where jobs have increased from one to six since the town of Langholm raised £6m to buy the former grouse moor between 2020-2022. The 4,250-hectare nature restoration project on Langholm Moor aims to support community regeneration, address climate breakdown, and restore nature. Opportunities for conservation grazing, regenerative farming, restoration of peatlands and native woodlands, and eco-tourism are emerging.
Rewilding Britain will continue to add new job creation data from a growing number of rewilding sites as it becomes available. Despite growing praise for its rewilding progress, Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth. Intensive agriculture and climate breakdown are having the biggest impacts on habitats and wildlife, with other threats including non-native forestry, pollution, and introduced species, research shows.
The Scottish Rewilding Alliance’s Rewilding Nation Charter, which calls on the Scottish Government to declare Scotland a Rewilding Nation, was launched this spring and has already been signed by thousands of people. The Alliance believes that rewilding 30% of Scotland can be achieved by restoring habitats such as peatlands, native woodlands, wetlands, rivers, and seas, without any loss of productive farmland.
For more information on the Rewilding Nation Charter, visit www.rewild.scot/charter.
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