Succession star Brian Cox backs call for Scotland to become world's first 'rewilding nation'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Hollywood star Brian Cox has backed calls for Scotland to be declared the world’s first “rewilding nation”. The Succession actor, 78, is urging people to support a charter drawn up by the Scottish Rewilding Alliance calling for nature to be restored across 30 per cent of our lands and seas.In a letter published in the Guardian, Dundee-born Cox wrote: “Scotland is a beautiful country – but all is not what it seems.

Scotland is one of the planet’s most nature-depleted countries.“Centuries of over-exploiting the country’s natural resources have left us with somewhere that looks beautiful but is dwindling day-by-day.” But he hailed Scots currently involved in more than 150 rewilding projects across the country.The award-winning stage and screen actor, best known recently for his portrayal of Logan Roy in hit HBO drama Succession, continued: “Scots are modest, so shouting about our achievements doesn’t come naturally.

But we should be proud of our rewilding progress…“Hundreds of people working to put things right again. Thousands more who know that rewilding can transform Scotland’s future for the better.“My appeal to readers is to stand with your fellow Scots and support the Rewilding Nation Charter – urging the Scottish Government to declare Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation, together with urgent action to make it so.” Rewilding means the restoration of nature on a large enough scale that it can then take care of itself.Scotland’s rewilding success stories include the reintroduction of beavers - considered ecosystem engineers - in areas like Argyll, Tayside and the Highlands.

However, the species’ return has been controversial with some farmers who say they can wreck and flood farmlandRewilding efforts have also