Scotland Is Poised to Become the World’s First “Rewilding Nation”

Sat, 14 May 2022 19:51:19 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.afar.com/magazine/scotland-might-become-the-worlds-first-rewilding-nation>

"Following centuries of deforestation, the U.K.’s northernmost territory has
invested heavily in rewilding. Now some environmental leaders want to go a step
further.


When you think of Scottish landscapes, perhaps you picture gilded mountain
vistas, undulating coastlines, green glens, and spongy peat bogs. However,
while those pastoral wonders do exist, they are “surrounded mostly by
ecological deserts,” says Susan Wright in her book Scotland: A Rewilding
Journey
 (Big Picture Press, 2018).

The deforestation of Scotland unfolded over hundreds of years, beginning in the
early 18th century when trees were felled on a massive scale for fuel and
buildings. In the early 19th century, more trees were cleared to make space for
farming. By the 1950s, only about 1 percent of the original Caledonian
Forest—the forest that once covered most of Scotland—remained, according to
Richard Bunting, a spokesperson for the Scottish nonprofit Trees for Life. “But
we have the space, the wealth, the experience, and the global responsibility to
rewild,” Bunting says."

Via Frederick Wilson II.

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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