Achi news desk-
Alliance member Rewilding Britain set out to raise £200,000 for the Rewilding Nation campaign as part of this year’s Big Give Green Matching Fund, which runs until midday on April 25, with all donations up to £100,000 matched by Big Give.
The fundraising campaign, which was launched at midday on April 18, raised £200,000 in just six days – 24 hours ahead of its original one-week target.
The Alliance said its Rewilding Nation Charter, which calls on the Scottish Government to declare Scotland a rewilding nation, had been signed by thousands of people.
READ MORE: The world’s first rewilding center near Loch Ness opens its doors to the public
Kevin Cumming, director of rewilding at Rewilding Britain and a member of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance steering group, said: “The increase in support for our ground-breaking Rewilding Nation campaign – through donations and by signing the Rewilding Nation Charter – shows such a wild Scottish trip. inspires people from all walks of life.
“A huge thank you to the thousands of people who have donated and signed the Charter. Scotland has a real moment of choice and opportunity here – offering hope for tackling nature and climate crises, while creating a cascade of benefits for local people and communities.
“That includes better health, new jobs, food security, and healthy rivers and seas.”
Earlier this month, Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio backed the Rewilding Nation campaign in an Instagram post that has been liked almost 100,000 times, saying: “With this campaign, Scotland could be a world leader in terms of re-wilding its landscapes, ensuring clean air and water. , store carbon, reduce flooding, restore wildlife, and improve the lives of local people.”
The alliance said that Scotland is one of the most degraded countries in terms of nature in the world but believes that 30% of it can be re-wilded by restoring habitats including peatlands, native woodlands, wetlands, rivers and seas, without losing productive farmland. .
Funds raised during the Big Give week will support outreach work such as events with communities, meetings with politicians and policy makers, a new community re-wilding guide, and making the campaign widely available in Gaelic.
A member of the Trees for Life Alliance has invited Leonardo DiCaprio to visit the charity’s Dundreggan Rewilding Center near Loch Ness in the Highlands.
The center celebrates reforestation and Gaelic culture, and offers a gateway for visitors to explore the Dundreggan Trees for Life estate, part of the African Highlands, the UK’s largest reforestation landscape.
Anyone wishing to sign the charter can do so at https://www.rewild.scot/charter.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Restoring Scotland’s natural environment is a key way we can help tackle the twin challenges of nature loss and climate change, including many of the interventions that promoted by the Scottish Rewilding Alliance.
“Our £65 million Nature Restoration Fund has committed nearly £40 million since 2021 to unlock the full potential of nature restoration projects for communities.
“The Fund has supported local businesses to promote nature tourism, helped landowners with pollination projects to boost food production and supported better access to green spaces and our marine environment across Scotland.”
