Scottish Government accused of shutting door on rewilding and beaver restoration

The Scottish Government has been criticised for cancelling a meeting about beaver restoration and failing to schedule a replacement, with activists warning that the “door is shutting” on biodiversity.

A meeting with the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, a coalition of more than 20 organisations, and former Minister for Climate Action Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, was scheduled for Wednesday but was cancelled without being rescheduled.

It was expected to discuss concerns over “stalled progress” on the recovery of beaver populations and the need for “courageous” leadership by ministers and government agency, NatureScot, however Dr Allan left government earlier this month.

The coalition warned that biodiversity risked being “marginalised” ahead of the Holyrood elections in 2026, despite high profile support for a bid for Scotland to become a “rewilding nation” including from actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Brian Cox.

In December 2024, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), in partnership with rewilding charity Trees for Life, submitted a licence application to NatureScot to release a family of beavers on its land in Glen Affric in the Highlands, after two years of extensive consultations.

The release had been proposed for Glen Affric (Alamy/PA). PA Media

Beavers create wetlands, soak up carbon dioxide, purify water and reduce flooding, and can bring in tourism, and polls showed 80% of people think the Scottish Government should support rewilding, according to the charities.

In April, NatureScot delayed a decision on granting a licence for a community-backed proposal to reintroduce beavers, citing concern, despite previously describing engagement as exemplary and the proposal as in line with policy.

Surveys showed that two-thirds of people surveyed support the beaver reintroduction, during two years of research, according to the coalition.

But a Freedom of Information request revealed it was perceived by a NatureScot official as “novel and contentious” and was referred to ministers, with a decision was delayed after lobbying, the charities claimed.

It was said to have prompted an intervention by local MSP and deputy first minister Kate Forbes, who is said to have raised the case with Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, according to a Freedom of Information request from investigative journalism publication the Ferret.

The coalition said it was concerned that NatureScot “is being hobbled by political game-playing ahead of an election year”, and appeasing others, including from National Farmers Union Scotland.

Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life, said: “Beavers have been present in the catchment for 15 years with no issues.

“The Glen Affric community is overwhelmingly in favour of an official reintroduction, and NatureScot officials described the public engagement as exemplary and ‘above and beyond’.

“NatureScot also tells us that it fully endorses the environmental case for beaver restoration in Glen Affric. So what is going on?

“This is bigger than a single family of beavers finding a new home on a national nature reserve.

“Why does the government keep marginalising efforts to restore biodiversity to satisfy vested interests? Can NatureScot show leadership and vision on large-scale nature recovery in the face of anti-nature lobbying?”

Karen Blackport, the Scottish Rewilding Alliance’s co-convenor and chief executive of Bright Green Nature, said: “The Scottish Government’s approach on beavers is a symptom of a bigger problem. It’s failing to take its biodiversity commitments seriously, and there are worrying questions around consistency, fairness and transparency in decision-making.

“Scotland has no need to languish as one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries – but we are lagging on nature recovery where we should be leading.”

Kevin Cumming, Rewilding Britain’s rewilding director and deputy convenor of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, said: “Rewilding offers hope for tackling the nature and climate emergencies, and a wealth of social and economic benefits for communities from jobs to health.

“Large-scale nature recovery should be prioritised not marginalised.

“If the Government is truly committed to protecting 30% of Scotland for nature by 2030 then it needs to stop shutting the door in the face of rewilding organisations.”

NatureScot director of green economy Robbie Kernahan said: “NatureScot is committed to expanding the beaver population across Scotland for the benefit of biodiversity, in line with Scotland’s Beaver Strategy.

“A huge amount of work has been taking place to ensure this, and a lot of progress has been made, with the population of beavers in Scotland expanding and their range increasing accordingly.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “Dr Alasdair Allan has left his position as minister for climate action. Obviously, as a result he is not in a position to take forward government meetings and time for a rescheduled meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action Gillian Martin has been offered.

“The Scottish Government is committed to the reintroduction of beaver populations where appropriate and our groundbreaking Nature Restoration Fund has supported hundreds of projects helping species, woodlands, rivers and seas. We are working with rural communities to ensure where species reintroductions are being considered land managers are carefully consulted.”