Scotland Will Take Seven Decades to Achieve 30% Nature Recovery Target, According to Latest Figures

Scotland’s journey towards large-scale nature restoration may take up to 65 years, as reported by the Scottish Rewilding Alliance. The alliance, consisting of over 20 organizations, has calculated that only 2.5% of the country’s land is currently undergoing rewilding, covering 195,615 hectares. This is an increase of 32,985 hectares since the alliance’s last assessment one year ago, which reported a 2.1% rewilding rate.

Despite the global target of protecting at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030, Scotland may take seven decades to achieve this goal at its current rate of increase in rewilding. Nevertheless, the alliance states that rewilding has been gaining momentum in recent years, with almost 200 projects led by various communities, charities, farmers, landowners, and public bodies across the country. However, the alliance emphasizes the need for significant political support in order to reach the target.

To raise awareness and garner support, the Scottish Rewilding Alliance is taking its message to parliamentarians this week by engaging with MSPs at a dedicated display stand in the Scottish Parliament. Steve Micklewright, Scottish Rewilding Alliance co-convenor and chief executive of Trees for Life, stresses the urgency for political action, stating that waiting until 2090 to achieve 30% nature recovery is not an option.

The alliance believes that rewilding can help tackle the nature and climate emergencies, while also benefiting health, job creation, sustainable food production, and re-peopling, as well as ensuring clean air and water, and healthy rivers and seas. The restoration of habitats such as peatlands, native woodlands, wetlands, rivers, and seas, along with maintaining and improving productive farmland, can contribute towards this goal.

Scotland is currently ranked as one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries, with intensive agriculture and climate change having the most significant impacts on habitats and wildlife. Other threats include non-native forestry, pollution, and introduced species. Polling shows that 80% of Scots believe that the Scottish Government should have policies in place to support rewilding. However, rewilding is not yet included in key policies and frameworks, such as the planning framework, net zero plan, and biodiversity strategy. There are concerns that planned legislation, including the Land Reform Bill, may not be as ambitious as initially intended when it comes to nature restoration.

The state of marine recovery in Scotland is unknown, as the government has delayed ensuring effective Marine Protected Areas and has not provided adequate support for large-scale marine restoration. However, based on known rewilding projects, it is believed that only less than 1% of Scotland’s seas are currently undergoing recovery.

Karen Blackport, the alliance’s co-convenor and chief executive of Bright Green Nature, believes that with political leadership in line with international commitments, Scotland can become a world leader in nature recovery, with numerous opportunities and benefits. She urges the government to declare Scotland a Rewilding Nation and commit to restoring the country’s natural environment through legislation and funding to enable rewilding and empower local communities.

The Rewilding Nation Charter, which calls for Scotland to be declared a rewilding nation, has been signed by thousands of people and has gained support from high-profile names such as Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, actor Brian Cox, singer Nathan Evans, and activist Laura Young (Less Waste Laura).

In the Scottish Parliament this week, MSPs will have the opportunity to sign the Rewilding Nation Charter, hear from their constituents, and play a specially designed rewilding game that highlights the crucial importance of natural processes. The Scottish Rewilding Alliance hopes that this campaign will lead to meaningful action and encourage ministers to commit to restoring Scotland’s natural environment. The Rewilding Nation Charter can be found at www.rewild.scot/charter.