Rewilding: Lessons from Scotland
The Dundreggan Rewilding Centre offers a practical model for rewilding a third of the Earth.
The Scottish Highlands are one of the most beautiful areas of the UK. The environment has been shaped over millennia by volcanic activity and glacial erosion from the last ice age, resulting in spectacular valleys and lochs, such as Glencoe and Loch Ness (see picture above). This windswept, rugged and rainy land attracts millions of international and domestic visitors each year, who want to immerse themselves in nature and breathtaking views.
Whilst travelling along Loch Ness in June, 2024, I stumbled upon the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, created by the charity Trees for Life. The centre is at the forefront of Scotland’s rewilding ambitions and is replanting 10,000 hectares of ancient forest that was lost due to centuries of farmed animal grazing. Staring out at the wonderful landscape where it is situated, I reflected on how much humans have changed the natural world around us as we have moved into the Anthropocene.
The story in Scotland starts after the end of the last ice age 11,000 years ago when rapid forestation occurred, leaving much of the country covered in woodland. The expansion of the forests continued until 5,000 years ago when a combination of human activity and climate…
