Rewild a quarter of UK to fight climate crisis, campaigners urge

A quarter of the UK’s land could be restored to nature, making a significant contribution towards cutting the nation’s carbon emissions to zero, under a new rewilding proposal.

Regenerated woodland at Alladale wilderness reserve in Sutherland, Scotland.

The plan, published by Rewilding Britain, calls for billions of pounds in farm subsidies to be redirected towards creating native woodlands and meadows and protecting peat bogs and salt marshes. The group says wildlife would benefit, farmers would not lose money and food production need not fall.

The environment secretary, Michael Gove, is in favour of natural solutions to the climate crisis and huge losses of wildlife, and the government has pledged it will ensure “public money is spent on public goods” after the UK leaves the EU’s subsidy regime.

Read the story from The Guardian by Damian Carrington - “Rewild a quarter of UK to fight climate crisis, campaigners urge.”