A successful rewilding program can bring back to life some endangered and lost species — such as beavers, cranes, sea eagles and pine marten, while elk and lynx are among the extinct.
For Scots, however, the conversation about rewilding has always been tricky. A lack of tolerance for different viewpoints is reinforced on social media where such issues may be discussed.
Deep-seated, impassioned opinions from all sides can lead to separation. Rather than allowing people to explore issues, understand nuances, and find common ground, these platforms often polarize discussions and exaggerate differences.
Arranged by interest groups, The report explores attitudes towards rewilding by farmers, track and field enthusiasts, landowners, rural communities, conservation agencies and the general public, seeking to understand the sources of conflict and making recommendations on how to reconcile different perspectives.
Barriers to farmers’ acceptance of rewilding include concerns about how “wild” landscapes work economically and the potential loss of traditional farming practices.
Farmers are also concerned about how the introduction of “key species” such as wolves and lynx could threaten livestock. The reintroduction of lambs to predation by sea eagles confirms the concerns of many farmers.
However, both peasants and barbarians wanted and needed a healthy environment and thriving rural communities. While some fishing enthusiasts may prioritize catch numbers, everyone shares a common interest in a clean, healthy river system.
Keynes added: “We believe there is more in common than is currently portrayed in the mass media, and from demystifying rewilding, fostering a debate of mutual respect and emphasizing the benefits of large-scale natural restoration for everyone. There are many benefits to be gained from the benefits that come. .
“We don’t pretend to have all the answers to a complex question. However, it does provide a springboard for building bridges that lead to more thoughtful, progressive and inclusive conversations about how the Scottish landscape can better benefit nature, climate and people.”
If broader support is to be gained among the groups considered, more work needs to be done to help different groups deal with the changes that rewilding may bring, and to recognize the opportunities that are relevant to their interests.
Some of the resistance to rewilding is undoubtedly due to its uncertain outcome, but it offers the best chance to alleviate many of the dire challenges we’ve already caused by climate collapse, and arguably more fears.
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This heart to heart reported by Dr. Hugh Webster, an independent conservationist and freelance writer interested in rewilding, environmental education, and human-wildlife conflict.The report is made by Scotland: the big picture.
