In response to the Programme for Government announced by the Scottish Government recently, Karen Blackport, co-convenor of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance and chief executive of Bright Green Nature, said:
“Once again, nature is the Scottish Government’s blind spot, undermining John Swinney’s promises to make Scots healthier and wealthier. Today’s Programme for Government is a missed opportunity for transforming Scotland from one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries to a forward-looking Rewilding Nation with 30% nature recovery across land and sea.
“Rewilding boosts health, jobs and local economies, and helps tackle climate breakdown – but the government still lacks a nature minister or a plan for the large-scale recovery of Scotland’s ecosystems. Instead, ministers are backtracking on beavers, stalling on real protections for marine areas, and showing a loss of nerve on lynx reintroduction by dodging reasoned debate on this crucial issue.
“We want to see a Programme for Government that makes Scotland healthier, wealthier, and wilder.”
