One Planet News - Celebrity support grows for Rewilding Nation campaign
Could Scotland become the first Rewilding Nation?
HAVING a celebrity voice backing a rewilding campaign can make a huge difference to its outcome, and now the Rewilding Nation campaign has another celebrity supporting it.
The acclaimed Brian Cox CBE (Braveheart and Rob Roy) had already supported the campaign for Scotland to be declared the first Rewilding Nation, which would see nature restored across 30% of both land and sea.
Now, another acclaimed Scottish theatre and movie actor, Alan Cumming, (Traitors, Avengers and X-Men) has backed the campaign to declare Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation. He posted a call for action on his Instagram account, where he has 750,000 followers.
Alan Cumming said: “Scotland could have more forests, healthier seas, and lusher wildlife. Rewilding is how we can make that happen – bringing with it balance, hope, and fantastic opportunity – creating jobs, teaching new skills, and bringing people together to look after Scotland’s future.”
According to the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, rewilding 30% of Scotland can be achieved through the restoration of habitats including peatlands, native woodlands, wetlands, rivers and seas, while maintaining and benefiting productive farmland.
More than 100 people from across Scotland will gather outside the Scottish Parliament on October 1 to draw attention to the barriers which currently hold back rewilding.
Polls indicate that 80% of Scots believe the Scottish Government should have policies in place to support rewilding.
Co-owner of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance and Chief Executive of the charity Trees for Life, Steve Micklewright, said: “We’re thrilled that Alan has added his voice to the growing calls for Scotland to declare itself a Rewilding Nation. Rewilding offers hopes for tackling the nature and climate emergencies, and can bring a cascade of benefits for people – including jobs, improved health, and clean air and water.”
Scotland is ranked as one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries, with research indicating that intensive agriculture and climate breakdown have the biggest impacts on habitats and wildlife, but other threats include pollution, non-native forestry and introduced species.
The Scottish Rewilding Alliance believes that declaring Scotland a Rewilding Nation would lead to ministers committing to restoring the natural environment through legislation and funding to enable rewilding and empower local communities.
The pathway to Rewilding includes proposals to make nature recovery the primary purpose of protected landscapes and seascapes, establishing wild zones around rivers and coastlines, doubling native woodland cover, restoring peatlands, and restricting dredging and bottom trawling across Marine Protected Areas.
This champions the crucial role that people and communities play and includes the action for coexisting with wildlife, providing support for those in the farming industry and investing in nature-based economies. Targets would ensure that habitat is restored and for there to be an increase in species diversity and abundance.
The Rewilding Nation Charter at www.rewild.scot/charter, which calls on the Scottish Government to declare Scotland a rewilding nation, has been signed by thousands of people.
It includes the backing of high-profile names, including Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, actor Brian Cox, singer Nathan Evans, activist Laura Young (Less Waste Laura) and now, Alan Cumming.
For details about the event outside the Scottish parliament on 1 October, visit: https://bit.ly/GreenMeansGo2025
Images: Richard Bunting