The Scottish Rewilding Alliance

80% of Scottish people want their government to act in support of rewilding. This is about opportunity and choice – we have the people, places and potential to become a Rewilding Nation, and so be a trailblazer in reversing collapses in biodiversity, tackling climate breakdown, and creating a cascade of benefits for people and communities. Declaring Scotland a Rewilding Nation would be just the beginning. We need a Scottish Government committed to restoring our natural environment through groundbreaking legislation, sustainable funding and a clear vision for the nation. To guide the government’s next steps we have produced a ‘Pathway to a Rewilding Nation’ setting out how ministers can act in support of rewilding. The pathway sets out clear steps to creating a Rewilding Nation. In 2025, we’ll keep growing the rewilding movement, as more and more people and organisations add their voice to ours. We’ll keep reaching out, engaging and campaigning harder than ever as we urge the Scottish Government and Scotland’s political parties to declare Scotland a Rewilding Nation. #RewildingNation #rewilding #biodiversity #naturelovers #nature

We’re delighted to announce that TV and radio presenter @jenniferreoch will host Scotland’s first ever rewilding hustings! A #RewildingNation means healthier nature, stronger rural communities and sustainable nature-led industries like farming, fishing and forestry. But it depends on the political vision. At our #HopeForNature hustings, Jennifer will guide an open discussion, introduce the politicians taking part and invite questions directly from the audience. This is your chance to address your political representatives ahead of the election – to raise the issues that matter to you and hear politicians explain, in their own words, what they would do if elected. 📅 20 March 2026 – #WorldRewildingDay 📍 Pitlochry Festival Theatre 🎟️ Free to attend, but registration essential 👉 Reserve your place now: eventbrite.pulse.ly/npkkwikuel @pitlochryft

If you’ve been seeing #HopeforNature hustings everywhere and thinking “what on earth is that?” – or why it matters – here’s your answer. Don’t sit this one out! 👉 Save your spot here: eventbrite.pulse.ly/e4h0colgae 📷 Squirrel photo by Andy Rouse / Nature Picture Library

History in the making at Holyrood! The #EcocideBill passed the first vote in the Scottish Parliament last week! This is an important step towards protecting nature and communities from environmental damage. 👉 Find out more in these images and support the Bill at ecocidelaw.pulse.ly/q3iwemhcyh Tree and cattle illustrations by Ed Harrison

Over 50 members of Young Sea Changers Scotland have written an open letter to party leaders about ongoing delays to marine protections – and we share their frustration. In December, the long-promised consultation on fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas was pushed back – again. Meanwhile, our seas continue to degrade. We stand with Young Sea Changers in calling on all parties to deliver the consultation within the first 100 days of the next Parliament, if elected. 👉 Read the open letter here: bit.pulse.ly/kx6hxwvmvs The call for urgent marine protections doesn’t end there. Our #HopeForNature hustings on 20 March is where those commitments can be tested. Scotland’s political parties will be on stage – a rare opportunity to press them directly on what they're willing to do to move Scotland’s marine protections from paper to practice. 👉 Register to be part of the conversation: bit.pulse.ly/zchwxsjatj #MarineProtectedAreas #ElectionHustings

There’s more than one opportunity coming up to question politicians on their plans for Scotland's nature and climate. 🗪 On 24 February, we’re one of five coalitions hosting Scotland’s Big Climate and Nature Debate in Edinburgh – a public hustings bringing people and politicians together to discuss the future of climate and nature policy. 🗪 Then, on 20 March (#WorldRewildingDay), we're bringing our #HopeForNature hustings to Pitlochry Festival Theatre, with a dedicated focus on rewilding and nature recovery. Whether you can attend one or both, these events open up space for people across different parts of Scotland to bring their questions to our future leaders. 👉 Join Scotland’s Big Climate and Nature Debate online: bit.pulse.ly/4nxws45nhz 👉 Join #HopeForNature hustings in person or online: bit.pulse.ly/xmbsodwarc #ScottishClimateandNatureDebate2026 #ElectionHustings

How clear do you feel about Scotland’s plans for nature recovery? If you’d like more clarity, the #HopeForNature hustings on 20 March (#WorldRewildingDay) gives you the chance to question candidates directly. 👉 Book your seat: hopefornature.eventbrite.co.uk

Huge news for Scotland’s nature! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🌳🦅🪱 🍄 The Natural Environment Bill has officially been voted into law, marking a landmark victory for people and nature. From statutory nature targets to long-awaited deer management reform, Scotland’s legal framework will now better support nature recovery. This is a moment to celebrate. 🥳 But the real work happens on the ground. To truly heal our landscape, we must move beyond static protection. We need to ‘protect the best’ - defend our most vibrant remaining patches of nature - and ‘restore the rest’, by empowering land managers to jumpstart natural processes where nature has been pushed to the brink. Nature doesn't stand still, and neither can our laws. It’s time for a dynamic approach that lets Scotland’s nature come bursting back to life. 🔗 Read our full statement here: rewild.scot/rewilding-news… 📷 Mark Hamblin / Tierney Lloyd

With less than 100 days to go until the Scottish elections, the countdown is on! Rewilding offers our best hope of restoring health to the natural world we all depend on. But what are Scotland’s political parties actually committing to for nature recovery? And how do their visions for the future of Scotland’s natural world compare? Join us in Pitlochry on 20 March 2026 – #WorldRewildingDay – for Scotland's first #HopeForNature hustings. Representatives from Scotland’s major political parties will be there to share their plans for nature recovery and answer your questions. Bring your hopes for the future directly to the decision-makers. Book your free place here ➡️ eventbrite.pulse.ly/731dxzp3xw 📷 Andy Rouse/ Nature Picture Library #RewildingNation

The Natural Environment Bill is this Parliament’s last chance to secure the future of Scotland’s nature. It sets legally binding targets for nature recovery – but right now the foundations are too thin. Without action on keystone species and better land designations, we’re planting Scotland’s future in shallow soil. Ahead of this week’s Stage 3 debate – where the Bill is likely to be passed – we’ve shared a briefing with the Scottish Government outlining the amendments we believe are essential to make this Bill truly count. We’re calling on MSPs to deliver: ✅ Nature recovery targets that drive action – for keystone species, ecological connectivity and natural processes ✅ Modernised land designations fit for today’s climate and nature crises ✅ Genuine protections for our seas ✅ National Parks that lead the way on nature recovery and community connection 🌱 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱'𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲. 📷 James Roddie / @ScotlandTBP #NatureRecovery #NaturalEnvironmentBill #RewildingNation

Report here: bit.pulse.ly/rcwfvoa1y4

🌍 Nature loss is a national security threat – but Scotland can lead the solution A new national security assessment published by Defra – and compiled by the Joint Intelligence Committee – delivers one of the starkest warnings yet about the state of our planet. 👇 link in thread. The report concludes that "global ecosystem degradation and collapse threaten UK national security and prosperity" and that “biodiversity loss is putting at risk the ecosystem services on which human societies depend, including water, food, clean air and critical resources." But buried within this sobering assessment are references to the solution. The report recognises that "nature is a foundation of national security" and states that "countries best placed to adapt are those that invest in ecosystem protection and restoration." By becoming a #RewildingNation and delivering on its commitments to protect and restore nature, Scotland would be investing not just in healthy ecosystems, but our future safety, resilience and wellbeing. 👉 Come and tell Scotland’s politicians why this matters at our #HopeForNature hustings on March 20: bit.pulse.ly/jpnm8izym2 . . , 📷 Red campion flowering in conservation margin next to crop of oilseed rape. Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / @ScotlandTBP

As Kevin so powerfully reminds us, making Scotland a #RewildingNation takes action at every level – from personal choices and community leadership to wider national ambition. 📜 Join thousands of others speaking up for a wilder, healthier Scotland by signing the Rewilding Nation Charter: bit.pulse.ly/wxvnkwwuuv 📷 Mark Hamblin / @ScotlandTBP

On 20 March 2026, we’re bringing people and politicians together for Scotland’s first ever rewilding hustings – a public event where you ask the questions, and politicians answer. Held on #WorldRewildingDay, the #HopeForNature hustings are a chance to understand the commitments each party is willing to make. We've asked all Scotland's main political parties to share their vision for the future. With the potential to restore health to our land and seas, large-scale nature restoration offers hope for the natural world we all depend on. This event is where your voice on rewilding can be heard. 👉 Register to attend: eventbrite.pulse.ly/ihogwxtp0m #RewildingNation 📷 Colin Hattersley

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱? If you want to bring nature back to your area, but turning it into a reality feels hard to navigate, you’re not alone. Seawilding – the UK’s first community-led oyster and seagrass restoration charity – understands this better than anyone. When they started, there was no handbook on how to rewild the sea. They had to experiment, learn on the go and sometimes fail. Instead of waiting for a perfect roadmap, Seawilding rallied their community and found the solutions together. In doing so, they forged a path for others to follow. That’s why we created our Community Rewilding Guide – a practical resource that distils the hard-earned knowledge of community rewilders into clear, actionable advice. If your community is ready to take its first steps into rewilding, this free guide will help you start strong and succeed faster. 📖 Download it today: rewild.pulse.ly/qbmp6ckttd #RewildingNation #CommunityRewilding 🎨 Illustrations by @_EdHarrison

𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝘆𝗻𝘅 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🐾 Public information sessions exploring the potential reintroduction of lynx to northern Scotland were announced this morning. Bringing this missing native species back could help restore ecological balance and support nature-based tourism – but only if it is broadly accepted, carefully planned and scientifically monitored, with effective management in place. The #LynxToScotland partnership is now inviting people who live and work in Highland and Moray to help shape what that management could look like – including how unwanted impacts might be minimised and potential benefits maximised. Local drop-in sessions will run for a month, from late January to late February, featuring an exhibition, opportunities to speak with the project team and a questionnaire to share your views. 👉 Find your nearest session: lynxtoscotland.pulse.ly/lok7edw0d2 📷 Peter Cairns / @ScotlandTBP

As 2025 draws to a close, we’re looking back on a remarkable year – one in which we celebrated our sixth birthday and saw this community come into its own like never before. In a challenging landscape, you kept showing up, speaking out and driving real progress for rewilding in Scotland. With a national election on the horizon, your voice will matter more than ever in 2026. Here's to building a wilder Scotland together! 📷 Collin Hattersley, Michael Bannister & @SCOTLANDTBP #RewildingNation

A year ago, we launched our Pathway to a #RewildingNation – a clear, practical route towards a Scotland where nature can recover and thrive. Since then, one thing has stood out above all else: you. Again and again in 2025, our members and supporters have shown up, spoken out and kept rewilding on the political radar in a year when it could easily have slipped off. Because of that commitment, rewilding is becoming impossible for decision-makers to ignore. As we head into 2026, we can’t let that momentum slow. A pivotal election is on the horizon – and what’s in party manifestos now will shape Scotland’s future for decades. 80% of Scottish people want their government to support rewilding. Our Pathway highlights the key steps for turning that public mandate into action. So let’s make it unmistakably clear: we want a Rewilding Nation where at least 30% of land and sea are managed for nature recovery. One last time this year, remind your MSP that voters are watching. Ask them to rewild their manifesto. It takes just 1 minute: ✍️ rewild.pulse.ly/6krzwohlhq 🎨Illustrations by Ed Harrison 📷 Photo by Michael Bannister

Once again, the @scotgov has delayed action to protect Scotland’s marine ecosystems. The long-promised consultation on strengthening marine protections has been pushed back, even as our seas continue to degrade. Scotland has Marine Protected Areas on paper, but too many remain ineffective, with damaging industrial activities still allowed. Our seas bear the scars of historic losses – collapsed fish stocks, emptied seabeds and hollowed out coastal communities. Marine ecosystems can recover when given proper protection, as rewilding efforts around the world have shown time and again. But recovery requires clear timelines, strong management and certainty for both nature and communities – not ongoing delay. Decisive action now would prevent further loss of biodiversity, carbon-rich habitats and the resilience of our coastal communities – while allowing Scotland to meet its commitments to nature recovery and climate leadership. With so much to gain, why does decisive protection continue to be delayed? Where is the political will to deliver clear timelines and meaningful marine protections? If the government won’t prioritise our seas, we can. Sign the @ourseas_scot Coalition call to protect at least 30% of inshore seas from bottom-trawling and scallop-dredging. ✍️ eaction.pulse.ly/n37mire4hp 📷 Peter Cairns / @ScotlandTBP #SaveOurSeas #MarineProtectedAreas #SustainableSeas

Scotland’s iconic wildcat is making its comeback – and it’s rewilding that’s making it possible. 🐾 The @SaveOurWildcats project, run by the @rzss in collaboration with @NatureScot and other partners, is restoring a species that was on the brink of disappearing from our landscapes. With captive-bred wildcats now returning to the Cairngorms – and the first wild-born kittens in years – this is one of Scotland’s most inspiring conservation success stories. The reintroduction of missing predators is a key pillar of rewilding, alongside rebuilding healthy ecosystems and natural processes for the benefit of nature, climate and people. To celebrate the return of wildcats is to celebrate rewilding in practice. 🔗 Read more in this great piece from Earth.org: earth.pulse.ly/otygjsgofe 📷 Peter Cairns / @ScotlandTBP #ScottishWildcat #Reintroduction #RewildingScotland @ArianeBurgessHI @TimEagleHI @RhodaGrant @jhalcrojohnston @1edmountain @EmmaRoddickSNP @Douglas4Moray