Survey Finds Majority of Scots Support Government Policies for Rewilding
Tuesday 3 September, 2024 – A recent survey conducted by independent research agency Survation for the Scottish Rewilding Alliance has revealed that 80% of Scots believe the Scottish Government should have policies in place to support rewilding efforts in the country.
Despite this overwhelming public support for large-scale nature restoration, the coalition of over 20 organizations is expressing concern over the slow response from the Scottish Government and other public bodies in engaging with the opportunities presented by rewilding. The Scottish Rewilding Alliance is also worried that the upcoming Scottish Natural Environment Bill may not be as ambitious as initially planned, with recent decisions such as the reallocation of £5 million from the Nature Restoration Fund causing disappointment.
In light of these issues, the Scottish Rewilding Alliance is calling on the Scottish Government to declare Scotland as the world’s first Rewilding Nation, with a goal of restoring nature across 30% of the country. The Alliance believes that the upcoming Programme for Government, set to be announced on 4 September, is a crucial opportunity to take action.
“We believe that the Scottish Government has been too slow in addressing the country’s nature crisis through rewilding and risks falling behind on an international level,” stated Steve Micklewright, Convenor of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance and Chief Executive of Trees for Life. “We urge them to seize the opportunity and declare Scotland as the world’s first Rewilding Nation. Such ambition would not only offer hope in tackling the nature and climate emergencies, but also bring benefits to the people and local communities in terms of health, jobs, and sustainable food production.”
While some public bodies have started to mention rewilding in their plans and are taking action to support it, this is not yet widespread or clearly outlined, according to the Alliance. Rewilding is also not currently included in the government’s key 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 biggest impacts on habitats and wildlife. Other threats include non-native forestry, pollution, and introduced species, research shows.
The analysis carried out by the Scottish Rewilding Alliance reveals that currently less than 3% of Scotland’s land and less than 1% of its seas are rewilded. The Alliance believes that rewilding 30% of Scotland is achievable through the restoration of habitats such as peatlands, native woodlands, wetlands, rivers, and seas, while also maintaining and benefiting productive farmland.
The Rewilding Nation Charter, which calls on the government to declare Scotland a rewilding nation, has already been signed by thousands of people. One signatory, Genevieve from Nairn, stated, “We must be the future and show the way. Scotland has so much potential and its people are already showing their commitment to nature, for the sake of species, the planet, and ourselves. We need the government to be bold, follow our lead, and commit to becoming a Rewilding Nation.”
Earlier this year, the Rewilding Nation campaign was endorsed by Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio.
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