Scotland Goes Green

If the Affric Highlands Initiative becomes a reality, a large swath of the Scottish Highlands will be re-wiled and preserved for wildlife. The plan is to increase the connectivity of habitats and species diversity over an area of half a million acres including the Kintail mountain range, and glens Cannich, Moriston and Shiel. The project was announced after two years of consultation with landowners, local residents and conservationists from the organization Trees for Life. The project is similar to another one launched in East Anglia called WildEast. Now, only a quarter of the surface is managed by people and concerns who have signed on to the project.

Re-wilding is a movement not without controversy, as many people believe that re-wilding involves bringing back unappreciated large carnivores that pose a danger to livestock and humans, or worse, removing people from the land. [photo: Mountain hare, Lepus timidus, one of the species that will benefit] Re-wilding is more than that. Projects across Europe aim to re-establish pre-existing ecosystems that have been degraded by man or extinguished altogether. Trees for Life employs a psychologist to help relate to people that might object to their land returning to a wild state. Around 70% of England is farmed. A recent report found that re-wilding 5% of England would result in a 50% increase in jobs compared to intensive farming--maximizing the potential of Nature, both biodiverse and economic, is what rewilding is all about.  Lynx and wolves, as integral parts of healthy ecosystems may come later, with local buy-in. Scotland currently has a deer overpopulation problem.  Dare US Person speak of bears, once inhabitants of Albion?

The Affric project is one of nine on the Continent, and received funding (£250,000) from Rewilding Europe. Trees for Life has already established two million trees in the Caledonia Forest. It will open a visitor center on the Dundreggan Estate, providing local employment and a forty bed accommodation for nature lovers. The project also expects to help local owners obtain funding for green initiatives on their properties. So far the largest rewilding project in the UK is the Cairngorms Connect, which covers about 158,000 acres. Practical work in the Highlands is set to begin in 2023. Re-wilding lanscapes on a large scale is one significant way to increase carbon capture and thereby reduce global warming. Green Kudos to Scotland! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿