REWILDING STORIES
"SCOTLAND: The Big Picture needs to paint pictures and tell compelling stories about new tomorrows."
Featured Story
THE WOLF: TOO WILD FOR SCOTLAND? (part 2)
“Ironically, the species regarded by many as a threat and menace to our survival, has turned out to be a test of how likely we are to achieve a sustainable relationship with the natural world.”
Marco Musiani et al., A New Era for Wolves and People
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THE WOLF: TOO WILD FOR SCOTLAND? (part 1)
As wolves continue to recolonise many parts of Europe, including heavily-populated countries like the Netherlands and Belgium, discussion around their return to the British Isles remains symptomatic of a nation undecided on its future relationship with nature.
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REWILDING GONE WRONG? Lessons from the Oostvaardersplassen
Some people call the Oostvaardersplassen a rewilding experiment gone wrong. But if that is the case, what lessons can we learn from this controversial Dutch nature reserve as we try to map the relatively uncharted waters of letting nature take the lead, in our endeavours to restore wildness to Europe’s landscapes?
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BERLIN'S BOAR WARS
Each spring the bustling city of Berlin becomes home to a group of enterprising animals who thrive in its parks, cemeteries and gardens. With the potential for conflict high, how do the people of Berlin react to their seasonal neighbours?
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MAKING BEAVERS MAINSTREAM
Our relationship with the beaver is a complicated one. Over four centuries ago, we valued their scent glands, meat and fur so highly, we eventually exterminated them from Britain. Today, they’re back, and we’re discovering once again how valuable they are. It turns out that beavers are worth far more alive than dead.
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2020: WAKING UP TO THE NEW TRAVEL NORMAL
Once travellers are back on the road, there is hope that they will choose experiences that have a positive environmental impact. But what do those experiences look like and how easy are they to find? Holly Tuppen discusses how post-pandemic wanderlust could be a force for good.
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UISGE BEATHA: THE WATER OF LIFE
Far from being just landscape eye candy and a refuge for biodiversity, Scotland's native birch woods have much to offer, if you know where to look.
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AT DARLEY
Consensus over land use in Scotland can seem elusive; perspectives can appear entrenched. Common ground however, is not only a platform for progress but more easily found than we’re led to believe.
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FIGHT OR FLIGHT?
Conflict over land use in the Scottish uplands is nothing new. Environmental scientist Isla Hodgson, argues that the debate over driven grouse shooting is part of a global epidemic.
#BuildingBridges
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WOLVES AND WILDING: A CONVERSATION
In 2018 we met up with Colin Murdoch, a west coast deer stalker who gave us his perspective on rewilding in The Voice. Colin then asked to turn the tables and on a blustery December morning in Lochcarron, he posed some challenging questions to our Director, Peter Cairns.
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