In an ambitious 30-year-long project, a large portion of the Scottish Highlands will be restored to their wild, natural state. This will provide sustainable, grassroots nature-based tourism opportunities throughout Scotland.
Half a million acres (200,000 ha) of land will be rewilded by the Affric Highlands Project, which spans the entire Scottish Highlands, from Loch Ness to Scotland's west coast. Trees for Life charity leads the social and ecological movement that brings together landowners, local communities, and other stakeholders to restore nature and return the land to its natural state. It will last for 30 years.
Affric Highlands will restore a large area of land from Loch Ness to Scotland’s west coast back to its natural state Getty Images/iStockphoto
"With Scotland's rewilding movement rapidly growing and the Scottish Rewilding Alliance calling for Scotland the first Rewilding Nation with the rewilding or restoration of 30% of its land and sea by 2030, the Affric Highlands will be a major step forward in large-scale nature recovery, providing a catalyst for local economies," stated Steve Micklewright chief executive of Trees for Life.
This project is the largest of its kind in the UK. It is expected to boost the local economy and create opportunities for nature-based tourism. Lonely Planet was told by a spokesperson for Trees for Life that some of the ideas will be developed moving forwards. "Affric Highlands has a grassroots, community-driven approach. The focus is on putting the community at center of any discussion about how to develop tourism in the region.
Trees for Life will plant two million native trees, including Scots Pines.
According to Trees for Life, much of the land that covers Glens Cannich and Affric, Moriston, and Shiel is "overgrazed and treeless", denuded and drained to such an extent that humans can no longer modify it, Trees for Life says. Affric Highlands plans to reverse the damage and plant two million native trees in order to restore the landscape to its woodland state. The river will have more room to flow naturally. Peatlands will be rewetted to make them carbon-storing ecosystems. Habitats will now be connected to allow wildlife movement. Work is also underway to reintroduce Scotland's critically endangered wildcat.
Rewilding Europe officially welcomed the project as the ninth member in its network of large-scale European rewilding projects. Others projects include Portugal's Greater Ca Valley, the Danube Delta of Ukraine, Romania and Moldova; Romania's Southern Carpathians; Croatias Velebit Mountains and Italy's Central Apennines; Bulgarias Rhodope Mountains and the Oder Delta in Germany or Poland; and Swedish Lapland.
Dundreggan Chris Aldridge: Nature tourism
When Dundreggan's former hunting property is turned into the "world’s first Rewilding Center", in 2023, people will be able to get involved directly. There are also opportunities for volunteers to Trees for Life's conservation week weeks.
