Half a Million Acres Rewilded: Transforming the Scottish Highlands
An ambitious 30-year initiative reconnects nature and communities across 500,000 acres of the Scottish Highlands, restoring lost habitats and boosting biodiversity.
The Scottish Highlands are witnessing an unprecedented ecological transformation. Over 500,000 acres stretching from Loch Ness to the western coast will be rewilded in one of the most ambitious restoration projects in European history. Known as the Affric Highlands initiative, this 30-year landscape-recovery effort is driven by the conservation charity Trees for Life, in partnership with Rewilding Europe and a growing coalition of local landowners, communities, and conservation groups.
Project Overview and Ambitions
The Affric Highlands project aims to transform the region into a vast, interconnected nature recovery area. Its goals are multidimensional:
- Restore native forests by planting millions of indigenous trees
- Rewet and restore peatlands for carbon capture and habitat health
- Reconnect fragmented wildlife habitats to support biodiversity
- Revitalize river systems for natural water flow and aquatic life
- Empower local communities with new economic and social opportunities
This initiative marks a crucial milestone in both local ecology and the broader rewilding movement championed across Europe.
The Scale: Linking Nature from Loch Ness to the West Coast
At its core, the Affric Highlands scheme will:
- Connect landholdings across Glens Cannich, Affric, Moriston, and Shiel
- Span from Loch Ness to Kintail on the western edge
- Cover an area equivalent to more than 200,000 hectares
This scale places Affric Highlands among the largest rewilding projects in the UK, and as the ninth flagship rewilding region under the umbrella of Rewilding Europe, alongside sites in Portugal, Romania, Croatia, Italy, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, and Sweden.
Restoring Scotland’s Lost Wildness: The Problem & Solution
Historical overgrazing, deforestation, and over-management have left much of the Highlands depleted—stripped of native woodland, drained peatlands, and heavily modified habitats. According to Trees for Life:
- Vast areas are treeless and denuded
- Poor land management has reduced species diversity
- Loss of habitat has contributed to the decline of iconic Scottish fauna, including the Scottish wildcat
The Affric Highlands project sets out to reverse these trends through:
- Planting indigenous trees—nearly two million to date
- Rewetting exhausted peatlands to create carbon-storing ecosystems
- Restoring rivers so they can meander naturally, supporting aquatic life
- Reconnecting habitats to allow wildlife—such as the critically endangered wildcat—to move freely and thrive
Community-Centered Restoration
The Affric Highlands project stands out for its focus on grassroots, community-driven approaches:
- Coalition includes over 20 landowners and six organizations, covering at least a quarter of the area
- Emphasis on partnership with local people, ensuring their voices shape the direction and nature-based economic activities such as eco-tourism
- Community engagement is ongoing, with more stakeholders being brought in as the project develops
What others are reading
Quotes from Project Leaders
Frans Schepers, Managing Director of Rewilding Europe, stated: “Affric Highlands is a bold, exciting and inspiring venture for nature’s recovery as Scotland moves up the biodiversity league table… Including Affric Highlands in our portfolio will help magnify rewilding’s impact in the Highlands, and put it firmly on the global map.”
Steve Micklewright, CEO of Trees for Life, added: “Affric Highlands will take large-scale nature recovery to a new level, providing a catalyst for the local economy at the same time.”
Ecological Actions: Trees, Peatlands, and Wildlife
| Restoration Target | Actions | Expected Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Native Forests | Planting millions of indigenous trees | Expanded woodland habitat, increased biodiversity, carbon sequestration |
| Peatlands | Rewetting and restoring bogs | Natural carbon sinks, healthier hydrology, improved climate resilience |
| Rivers | Restoring meanders; removing barriers | Enhanced aquatic life, healthier fish populations, flood mitigation |
| Wildlife Habitats | Connecting fragmented landscapes | Facilitates wildlife movement and resurgence of threatened species |
| Scottish Wildcat | Habitat restoration, proposed reintroduction | Prevention of extinction, genetic diversity |
Affric Highlands: A Model for Global Rewilding
Rewilding Europe’s inclusion of Affric Highlands as its ninth large-scale project brings international attention and sets an example for restoration across the continent. The project is guided by:
- Europe-wide rewilding principles and best practices
- Shared knowledge and resources from other rewilding regions
- Funding from major foundations, notably the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Its goals align with the Scottish Rewilding Alliance’s vision for Scotland to become the world’s first “Rewilding Nation,” aiming to restore 30% of Scotland’s land and sea by 2030.
Dundreggan Estate: Home to the World’s First Rewilding Centre
Central to the Affric Highlands project is the transformation of Dundreggan Estate, the charity’s own 10,000-acre site in Glenmoriston. Already home to nearly two million native trees, Dundreggan will host the world’s first Rewilding Centre—a place where:
- The public can learn about rewilding and its benefits
- Eco-tourism can provide jobs and support local communities
- Conservation volunteers can get hands-on involvement in restoration
The centre is projected to open in 2023, positioning the Highlands as a showcase for rewilding’s economic, educational, and experiential value.
Social and Economic Benefits for the Highlands
Beyond ecological recovery, Affric Highlands is designed to deliver substantial benefits for local people:
- Nature-based tourism: Sustainable travel experiences that highlight wilderness restoration
- Job creation: Roles in conservation, education, hospitality, and eco-guiding
- Community empowerment: Rewilding brings pride and involvement to local life
- Education: Schools, universities, and visitors can engage with hands-on environmental learning
Because the project grows organically with community input, it is more resilient and likely to secure long-term success and support.
Partnerships and Collaboration
Affric Highlands is a converging point for conservation NGOs, local councils, stakeholder organizations, and individual landowners. To date:
- Over 20 landowners have joined the coalition, covering more than 25% of the area
- Six organizations help coordinate efforts and provide expertise
- Community workshops and public engagement sessions are ongoing
The aim is to foster lasting relationships and shared stewardship, balancing conservation needs with cultural and economic priorities.
International Context: Rewilding Europe’s Network
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| Affric Highlands | Scotland, UK |
| Greater Côa Valley | Portugal |
| Danube Delta | Ukraine, Romania, Moldova |
| Southern Carpathians | Romania |
| Velebit Mountains | Croatia |
| Central Apennines | Italy |
| Rhodope Mountains | Bulgaria |
| Oder Delta | Germany, Poland |
| Lapland | Sweden |
Affric Highlands joins this prestigious network, gaining access to technical knowledge, funding streams, and a broader platform to communicate results.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Why rewild the Scottish Highlands?
A: The Highlands have suffered extensive habitat loss, overgrazing, and species decline. Rewilding restores ecosystems, improves biodiversity, and helps fight climate change by storing carbon and strengthening natural processes.
Q: How long will the Affric Highlands project take?
A: The project plans for a 30-year timeline—spanning from 2023 into the 2050s—ensuring changes are generational and have time to take root.
Q: What makes this project different from other conservation efforts?
A: Affric Highlands stands out for its landscape scale, integration of community leadership, and international collaboration. It fuses ecological science with local empowerment and global conservation practices.
Q: How can local people benefit from rewilding?
A: New jobs, education opportunities, and tourism revenue are expected. Community members help design the project, ensuring local values and needs are respected.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing Affric Highlands?
A: Ecological restoration at this scale is challenged by land management histories, community skepticism, funding, and coordinating multiple stakeholders over decades.
Q: Will lost species, like the Scottish wildcat, return?
A: Habitat restoration is underway to create conditions suitable for species like the Scottish wildcat, with ongoing studies and plans for possible reintroduction.
Looking Ahead: Rewilding as a Hopeful Model
The Affric Highlands is more than a restoration project; it is a beacon of hope for reversing the damage done to wild places by centuries of misuse. With its community-centric, scientifically informed, and scale-conscious approach, the initiative sets a template for regions aiming to reconnect people and nature, locally and globally. It also demonstrates how ecological healing can go hand-in-hand with economic renewal and social empowerment—a vital lesson as societies worldwide grapple with the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.
References
- https://www.brightvibes.com/scottish-highlands-to-be-transformed-by-massive-rewilding-project/
- https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/affric-highlands-rewilding-scotland
- https://nbn.org.uk/news/rewilding-half-a-million-acres-of-scottish-highlands/
- https://industry.wild-scotland.co.uk/our-industry/news/uk-and-scottish-governments-recommend-vast-affric-highlands-rewilding-project-for-global-un-flagship-status
- https://sceptical.scot/2023/05/rewilding-the-highlands-glen-affric-and-dundreggan-point-the-way/
- https://xterraplanet.com/story/rewilding-returning-scotlands-lost-wilderness
- https://affrichighlands.org/category/news/
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