‘Vision of hope’ pathway to Rewilding Nation presented to Scottish Government - The Scottish Rewilding Alliance

A pioneering pathway for Scotland to become the world’s first Rewilding Nation, with nature recovery across 30% of its land and seas, has been presented to the Scottish Government by the Scottish Rewilding Alliance.

The coalition of more than 20 organisations presented the pathway to Minister for Climate Action, Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, at a reception in Edinburgh on 3 December – setting out what it describes as a trailblazing ‘vision of hope’ for Scotland requiring leadership from Government in line with its international commitments.

Rewilding helps tackle the connected nature and climate emergencies, and creates benefits for people and local communities around health, jobs, sustainable food production, re-peopling, clean air and water, and healthy rivers and seas, says the Alliance.

Rewilding 30% of Scotland can be achieved by restoring habitats including peatlands, native woodlands, wetlands, rivers and seas, while maintaining and benefitting productive farmland.

“This is about choice and opportunity. Declaring Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation would be a powerful statement of intent that we want to be a world leader in nature restoration. Our pathway sets out a route offering the Scottish Government the opportunity to show global leadership,” said Karen Blackport, Scottish Rewilding Alliance Co-Convenor and CEO of Bright Green Nature.

Declaring Scotland a Rewilding Nation would lead to meaningful action with ministers committing to restoring the country’s natural environment through groundbreaking legislation and funding to enable rewilding and empower local communities, the Alliance says.

The Rewilding Nation pathway includes specific proposals to make nature recovery the primary purpose of Scotland’s protected landscapes and seascapes, establishing wild zones around rivers and coastlines, doubling native woodland cover, restoring peatlands at pace, and restricting dredging and bottom trawling across Marine Protected Areas.