Scotland’s Rewilding Alliance, a coalition of over 20 organizations, has successfully reached its fundraising goal of £200,000 in just six days, with the support of Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio. The campaign aims to make Scotland the first Rewilding Nation in the world, with a focus on nature recovery, climate change mitigation, and community empowerment.
Led by Rewilding Britain, the alliance launched the Rewilding Nation campaign as part of the Big Give Green Match Fund, with all donations being matched by Big Give. The campaign also calls on the Scottish Government to commit to rewilding 30% of the country, which will have a positive impact on nature, climate, and people.
“We are overwhelmed by the support for our Rewilding Nation campaign, both in terms of donations and signatures on the Rewilding Nation Charter,” said Kevin Cumming, Rewilding Director for Rewilding Britain and steering group member of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance.
He added, “This shows how Scotland’s rewilding journey is inspiring people from all walks of life. Scotland has a unique opportunity to lead the way in tackling the nature and climate emergencies, while also providing numerous benefits for local communities, such as improved health, job creation, and food security.”
Leonardo DiCaprio, who is known for his environmental activism, also lent his support to the campaign by promoting it to his 62 million followers on Instagram. In his post, liked by 100,000 people, he stated, “With this campaign, Scotland could be a world leader in rewilding its landscapes, ensuring clean air and water, storing carbon, reducing flooding, restoring wildlife, and improving the lives of locals.”
The funds raised through the campaign will be used for various outreach initiatives, including community events, meetings with policymakers, and the creation of a community rewilding guide. The campaign will also be made accessible in Gaelic, and will involve youth engagement activities, as young people are highly concerned about the climate and nature emergencies.
Trees for Life, a member of the alliance, has invited Leonardo DiCaprio to visit their Dundreggan Rewilding Centre near Loch Ness in the Highlands. The centre celebrates rewilding and Gaelic culture, and serves as a gateway for visitors to explore Trees for Life’s Dundreggan estate, which is part of Affric Highlands, the UK’s largest rewilding landscape.
Scotland is currently one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with intensive agriculture and climate change being the main culprits. Other threats include non-native forestry, pollution, and introduced species. The alliance believes that rewilding 30% of Scotland, by restoring habitats such as peatlands, native woodlands, wetlands, rivers, and seas, will not only have a positive impact on nature and climate but also have no negative impact on productive farmland.
The success of the Rewilding Nation campaign shows that there is widespread support for rewilding in Scotland, and the alliance hopes that the Scottish Government will take this opportunity to lead the way in addressing the nature and climate emergencies.
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