Scottish Parliament Takes Steps Towards Becoming a Rewilding Nation
On Thursday, October 30th, 2025, Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) voted in favor of a new Land Reform Bill that will require large landowners to publish plans on how they will increase biodiversity. This decision has been praised by the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, who sees it as a significant step towards achieving a “Rewilding Nation.”
The Scottish Rewilding Alliance has been advocating for this change as part of their Rewilding Nation campaign, which has gained support from thousands of people across Scotland.
Under the new law, landowners with holdings over 1,000 hectares will be required to outline their efforts in boosting biodiversity and addressing climate change. This includes complying with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, adhering to deer management practices, and contributing towards net-zero emissions.
While many large landowners are already taking steps to restore nature and ensure ecosystem health, this new law will make it a legal duty for all of them to consult on and publish their land management plans, once the Scottish Government has established the necessary regulations.
The Scottish Rewilding Alliance emphasizes the crucial role that Scotland’s largest landholdings have in repairing the country’s biodiversity, mitigating the effects of climate change, and adapting to a changing environment.
Steve Micklewright, co-convenor of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance and chief executive of Trees for Life, which owns the 4,000-hectare Dudreggan estate near Loch Ness, states, “This new law represents a big step towards Scotland becoming the world’s first Rewilding Nation. How land is managed is a key part of tackling climate breakdown and reversing biodiversity loss – and in Scotland, where land ownership is highly concentrated, large landholdings have a key role in repairing Scotland’s ecosystems.”
There are currently 1,810 landholdings in Scotland over 1,000 hectares. While some are already actively restoring nature, the lack of land management plans outlining these efforts makes it difficult to collect data. This change to the bill was proposed in Parliament by Scottish Greens MSP for the Highlands and Islands, Ariane Burgess, and received cross-party support.
The Scottish Rewilding Alliance acknowledges the success of this decision but reminds the Scottish Government that more ambitious actions are needed to address the country’s nature depletion crisis. This includes providing support and funding to enable large landowners to restore biodiversity and take upscaled action towards ecosystem health.
Despite the government’s commitment to protect at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030, only 2.5% of Scotland’s land is currently being rewilded. At this rate, it will take 65 years to reach the goal of 30% rewilding coverage.
Rewilding is the large-scale restoration of nature to a self-sustaining state, focusing on restoring natural processes and reintroducing missing species where appropriate.
The Scottish Rewilding Alliance is calling on the Scottish Government to declare Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation and implement bold legislation to support rewilding. Polling has shown that over 80% of the Scottish public supports this idea.
The Alliance’s Pathway to a Rewilding Nation outlines a clear vision for a wilder and fairer future for Scotland. Rewilding campaigners across the country are urging political parties to include rewilding in their manifestos for the upcoming 2026 elections.
The Rewilding Nation campaign has garnered support from people of all walks of life in Scotland, including actors Brian Cox and Alan Cumming, musician Nathan Evans, Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio, and activists Laura Young (Less Waste Laura) and Somhairle.
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