Support for rewilding the nation

More than three quarters of Scots support rewilding in Scotland, according to research conducted for the Scottish Rewilding Alliance. A new opinion poll shows that 76% of Scots support rewilding – the large-scale restoration of nature to the point it’s allowed to take care of itself – with just 7% opposed. The findings come as the Alliance, a coalition of over 20 organisations, is campaigning for the Scottish Government to declare Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation, with a commitment to rewilding 30% of the country’s land and sea within a decade, ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) to be held in Glasgow in November. Species that are declining or at risk include red squirrels, wild cats, capercaillie and great yellow bumblebees.