BY BERT BURNETT
Rewilding, a concept that promotes restoring ecosystems to their natural state, has gained popularity in the UK as a solution to environmental degradation. The current government is apparently fond of it.
Advocates herald it as a means to combat climate change, enhance biodiversity, and reconnect people with nature. However, the reality of rewilding is often far more complex and fraught with challenges. The recent experience with the Fairburn estate in the Cairngorms serves as a stark reminder of the pitfalls inherent in rewilding projects.
The Fairburn estate was initially celebrated for its ambitious tree planting scheme aimed at offsetting carbon emissions and revitalising the local ecosystem. With significant investment and community support, it was poised to become a model for rewilding initiatives throughout the UK. Yet, as the project unfolded, it quickly became clear that the expectations set were not only unrealistic but detached from the realities of land management and local community dynamics.
It’s not the only rewilding site that is making mistakes … the whole concept is flawed. The land on which the trees are being planted already captures more carbon than forested areas. Planting more trees, depending on the soil where they are being planted, may well release carbon from the soil in bigger quantities than the trees themselves can collect. During dry spells trees suck the moisture from the earth drying it out and releasing carbon trapped there for hundreds of years. The open land on which these trees were being planted at Fairburn is home to a whole eco system unique to the UK which holds around 70% of the world’s heather moorlands. Covering it in trees destroys that eco system forever.
One of the primary issues arising from the Fairburn estate’s rewilding initiative was the lack of genuine community engagement. In their pursuit of environmental goals, the owners failed to involve local residents in the decision-making process. This oversight sowed discord and mistrust among community members, who felt alienated and disregarded. Instead of being part of a collaborative effort, locals became adversaries, voicing concerns over land usage and the long-term impact on traditional livelihoods.
The estate’s rollout exemplifies a fundamental flaw in many rewilding projects: environmental agendas often clash with local socio-economic realities.
Moreover, the ecological promises of rewilding have proven elusive in practice. The Fairburn estate’s tree planting efforts were poorly executed, leading to significant mortality rates among young saplings. Many of the areas designated for rewilding did not have the ecological conditions necessary for success, highlighting a lack of rigorous planning and site assessment. The ambition to transform these landscapes overlooked the complexities of planting native species in a climate stressed by changing weather patterns. As a result, large areas of the initiative remain barren, betraying the original goals of habitat restoration and biodiversity enhancement.
The failure of this project serves as a cautionary tale regarding the idealistic assumptions underpinning rewilding. At its core, rewilding often operates on the misconception that nature can restore itself if given the space and time. However, this ignores the fact that many ecosystems are already under immense pressure from invasive species. The challenges faced by the Fairburn estate reveal that without careful planning, continuous monitoring, and active management, rewilding can easily devolve into another form of land mismanagement.
Furthermore, the backlash against the Fairburn estate’s efforts highlights another crucial aspect of rewilding: the potential for social division. While some community members embraced the idea, others rebelled, leading to a fragmented local landscape where conservation efforts are seen as threats rather than opportunities. This division is detrimental not only to the success of rewilding initiatives but also to the broader movement towards environmental sustainability.
Rewilding in the UK must evolve from its current idealistic notions towards a more pragmatic approach that considers both ecological needs and the voices of local communities. Only then can it genuinely contribute to a sustainable future.
Bert Burnett is a retired gamekeeper of more than fifty years experience.