Defining rewilding for Scotland's public sector: research findings

6. Conclusions and Recommendations

Based on an evidence review and workshop on rewilding, this report proposes a new definition of rewilding for use by Scotland's public sector. This definition is compatible with existing international debates but is intended to be more accessible and relevant to a Scottish context.

We also recommend a number of options for future activities, to influence understanding of rewilding by different members of the public, and build confidence in how rewilding relates to other terms and processes relevant to the public sector in Scotland. Together, these recommendations should help enable engagement with nature and landscape management options suitable for Scotland.

This report has outlined the findings of research to investigate views on the term 'rewilding' and whether it is suitable for adoption in Scotland's public sector. The report has set out the findings of an evidence review and workshop on rewilding and proposes a new definition of rewilding for use by Scotland's public sector.

The evidence review establishes that rewilding is a term used very variably, with different meanings and interpretations both within the academic literature and in wider discourse in Scotland. However, most experts agree that rewilding emphasises establishing autonomous or self-sufficient natural processes: this a key difference from other terms and concepts in environmental management, though 'restoration' is a very closely related term. Rewilding can additionally invoke ideas of exclusion of people and the reintroduction of species; whilst this is not inherent to all visions of rewilding, it contributes to debates and controversy over the term.

International collaborative efforts have started to synthesise these debates over rewilding. As outlined in Chapter 3, a definition and guiding principles have been recently proposed by the Rewilding Thematic Group of the Commission on Ecosystem Management, of the International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN). The workshop on rewilding organised as part of this research focused on this work, but identified a number of issues to be considered in finding an accessible definition of rewilding appropriate for Scotland's public sector. The workshop also made clear that other terms and concepts are likely appropriate depending on context and audiences to be engaged with; and the need to understand rewilding as part of a wider set of landscape and nature management terms and practices. Many terms such as 'restoration' and 'regeneration' are already used by Scotland's public sector. Further work to understand the connections between rewilding and other terms and existing policy processes would be productive.

Drawing on these findings, the report sets out a proposed definition of rewilding for use by the public sector in Scotland. This is designed to be an accessible reference point for Scotland's public sector that can be used with non-specialist audiences outside of the public sector. The definition is also accompanied by international proposals for principles to explain and guide rewilding, which can be consulted where any further information or guidance on rewilding is needed.

Across Scotland, different actors outside of the public sector will likely continue to refer to rewilding in many and varied ways. The public sector can now have confidence in using this new definition that reflects international expert thinking and is also appropriate to Scotland. This indicates the need for steps to be taken to ensure good awareness of this definition; but also the need to expect and engage with other concepts and conceptions of rewilding.

The recommendations below suggest future activities, both to improve understanding of how rewilding is perceived by different members of the public, and how rewilding relates to other terms and processes relevant to the public sector in Scotland. Together, these recommendations should help public sector engagement for managing nature and landscapes for Scotland. Understanding how to use different concepts and when to choose different approaches will be essential if we are to tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, and support a Just Transition in Scotland.

Recommendations

If the proposed definition of rewilding is adopted, it is important that there is awareness of this, and it is consistently used by Scotland's public sector:

• Specific efforts should be taken to communicate it to all public sector organisations and groups that may need to refer to rewilding.
• A short briefing providing the definition, context and international guidance may help to support internal and external communication about rewilding.

An accessible definition, by itself, cannot reflect all principles and recommendations about rewilding practices:

• Those who need to work on or respond to rewilding proposals should consult the principles and guidance of the IUCN Rewilding Thematic Group and the European Rewilding Network.
• The co-chairs of the IUCN Rewilding Thematic Group have offered to support further work on a Scotland-specific definition and guidance. Any such work should also consider other key rewilding expert groups, including the European Rewilding Network.

Anyone considering using the term rewilding must be mindful of different interpretations of rewilding. Different members of the public may have quite different perceptions, and so rewilding may generate quite variable reactions:

• Research into public perceptions of rewilding – beyond those groups actively engaged in supporting and debating this activity – may be useful to help plan future communication by the public sector. 'The public' encompasses individuals with many different understandings, values, and interests; understanding the views of those in rural areas and communities local to rewilding proposals is especially important.
• Those planning engagement, for example around new proposals for site management, should expect to sometimes need to use other terminology in order to more clearly and less contentiously communicate intentions or expectations.

There is a spectrum of terms which are related to rewilding and already used by the public sector – including but not limited to 'restoration' and 'regeneration'.

• Producing a summary overview of the range of terms in use in Scotland that are related to conservation, nature, ecological and/or landscape management could be a useful reference guide for many purposes, not solely related to rewilding. The overview of terms – perhaps presented visually as in the examples in Annex 3 – should be accompanied by concise definitions and links to further guidance.
• It will be helpful to articulate the situations or settings when it will be especially useful or necessary for the public sector to refer to rewilding, in connection with pre-existing terminology, policies, priorities and obligations.
• Reviewing other international and national policy frameworks may help to identify if and when rewilding is referred to, and how it relates to existing public sector terminology, priorities, and processes.

The meanings and practices associated with rewilding are fast-changing and evolving, both within and beyond Scotland. For example, the definition and principles of rewilding proposed by the International Union for Nature Conservation's Thematic Rewilding Group are currently under debate within the IUCN. The existing discourse and analyses on rewilding provide useful insights, but there are also many points of tension and disagreement both within and beyond academia.

• In future, for example over the next 5-10 years, it may prove useful to revisit these rewilding debates and practices, to consider new insights and implications for understanding and defining rewilding in Scotland.