Findhorn charity's ambitious rewilding project recommended for global UN World Restoration Flagship status
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A FINDHORN based charity's ambitious rewilding project in the Scottish Highlands has been earmarked for global UN flagship status.
Led by Trees for Life, Affric Highlands is a community-focused 30-year plan to create a nature recovery area of over half a million acres from Loch Ness to the west coast.
It will lead to the restoration of woodland, peatland and riverside habitats to help save native species from extinction as well as boost biodiversity and sustain nature-based jobs while supporting re-peopling.
The UK Government and Scottish Governments have recommended Affric Highlands for UN World Restoration Flagship status – joining a prestigious roster of global projects, whose final shortlist of ten will be announced later this month.
Steve Micklewright, Chief Executive of Trees for Life, said: “The huge environmental challenges of the coming decade need to be met with huge ambition.
"Affric Highlands is about scaling up ecological restoration, working collaboratively, and seeing nature as a key ally in tackling climate breakdown.
"We want to show how nature, local communities and livelihoods can help each other thrive.
“We’re delighted that both the Scottish and UK Governments have given Affric Highlands their endorsement for flagship status. It’s increasingly clear that rewilding offers hope for nature, climate and people.”
Affric Highlands' ambition is to demonstrate how the return of nature and recovery of landscapes can strengthen existing livelihoods and create new opportunities.
Stephanie Kiel, Affric Highlands Team Leader, said: “We are working closely with a range of different landowners and land managers to develop and link-up nature restoration projects across the Affric Highlands area, which encompasses Glens Affric, Cannich, Moriston and Shiel.
"People are a central part of this vision, and more resilient ecosystems will support a greater diversity of job opportunities that can help sustain rural communities."
Golden eagles, red squirrels, red grouse, short-eared owls, mountain hares, trout, ospreys and otters should all benefit from the improved and better-connected wild habitats.
Competition for UN World Restoration Flagship status is extremely strong, with over 400 nominations expected from around the world.
Trees for Life has been rewilding parts of the Affric Highlands landscape for the past three decades, supporting the expansion of native pinewoods in Glen Affric.
At the charity’s flagship Dundreggan Rewilding Estate in Glenmoriston near Loch Ness, it is restoring the Caledonian Forest and growing tens of thousands of trees from locally-sourced seed each year.
In early 2023, Dundreggan will become home to the world’s first Rewilding Centre – showcasing how large-scale nature recovery can create jobs and benefit local communities.
For more details, see treesforlife.org.uk.
