Defining rewilding for Scotland's public sector: research findings

Highlights

What is the purpose of this report?

In the last 10 years it has become increasingly common to hear the term 'Rewilding' mentioned in Scotland, especially within the media and by some land managers. However, the term and its definition remain contested and it has not been universally adopted. The Scottish Government commissioned this research to investigate views on the term 'rewilding' and whether it is suitable for adoption in Scotland's public sector.

What did we do?

We conducted an evidence review of key 'Rewilding' concepts and definitions relevant for use in Scotland, followed by a deliberative workshop with public sector representatives. The work was carried out in Spring 2023.

What did we learn in the evidence review?

Interpretations vary, but most experts agree that rewilding means working to restore ecosystem function, resulting in autonomous (self-sufficient) natural processes that require relatively little human intervention. Rewilding may involve introducing species, to replace those lost due to human impacts. Many also associate rewilding with the exclusion of human activity, which can be controversial. However, in recent debates over rewilding, those who endorse rewilding have often been keen to emphasise that it can involve and/or benefit society. 'Restoration' is a closely related term with slightly less emphasis on achieving natural autonomy and less controversial associations.

In recognition of these debates, in 2017 the Commision for Ecosystem Management of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) authorised a Rewilding Thematic Group (RTG) to 'synthesis and streamline' the theory on rewilding. The resulting definition and principles are a key reference point. Another group relevant to Scotland is the European Rewilding Network.

Rewilding practices in Scotland, as well as the wider UK, reflect and contribute to the European and international debates on rewilding. Rewilding initiatives vary in their setting, scope and visions of 'wildness'. Many plan to engage with local communities or other groups in society, or produce some kind of benefit for society, ranging from inspiration to investments in local areas. Initiatives are mainly led by individual site managers; the term 'rewilding' is not widely adopted by either the public sector or not-for-profit organisations working for nature conservation in Scotland. For these groups, restoration is a more dominant and preferred term.

What did we learn in the workshop?

In the workshop, there was some support for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Rewilding Thematic Group's definition and principles; but also some caution and concerns. These primarily focused on: the potential lack of attention given to societal issues in the process of rewilding, for example community empowerment, rights and justice; and the accessibility of the statement's language, as it uses scientific terms that may be unfamiliar to a non-specialist audiences. Therefore, proposing a new definition was recommended.

Whilst many workshop participants were positive about clarifying the meaning of rewilding, at least a third of workshop participants voiced doubts about the need to refer to rewilding. This relates to the lack of clear policy drivers for using the term, but also the varied interpretations and emotions it can provoke. Some workshop participants felt that other terminology and framings may be useful depending on the situation and audience. No one term or concept is 'best': rewilding must be seen as part of a continuum of landscape management approaches to support the well-being of Scotland's nature and society.

What recommendations do we make?

• Based on the evidence review and the workshop findings, we propose this new definition for Scotland:

"Rewilding means enabling nature's recovery, whilst reflecting and respecting Scotland's society and heritage, to achieve more resilient and autonomous ecosystems.

Rewilding is part of a set of terms and approaches to landscape and nature management; it differs from other approaches in seeking to enable natural processes which eventually require relatively little management by humans.

As with all landscape management, rewilding should be achieved by processes that engage and ideally benefit local communities, in line with Scotland's Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement, to support a Just Transition."

• This definition is intended to be positive, accessible, and compatible with international and European expert positions. The first sentence can be used by itself as a shorter definition if conciseness is needed.
• For more information, we recommend consulting the IUCN Rewilding Thematic Group's ten guiding principles for rewilding in conjunction with the Scottish Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement.
• We suggest further attention to articulating when and how public sector actors should refer to rewilding, alongside guidance on communication. All positions and guidance on rewilding may need to be revisited in future, to reflect evolving debates and emerging practices.
• Lastly, rewilding should always be seen as part of a wider set of landscape and nature management terms and practices. The choice of terminology and design of approaches will depend on specific contexts, to reflect the overall goal of managing nature and landscapes in support of a Just Transition.