If science is not wrong, and We have decades of examples To believe that does notthe climatic emergency is increasingly important to try to go some step ahead of that elephant in the room that is made to us with the climate of our planet. In recent years we have seen proposals of all kinds, since Fill the diamond dust stratosphereuntil cause desert rains with solar farms. The United Kingdom has just added one that nobody saw coming.
Reintroduce the wolves in the highlands. Now, A study by the University of Leeds suggests that The reintroduction of wolves in the highlands of Scotland could promote the expansion of native forests and contribute significantly to carbon capture. According to researchers, this process It would allow to store up to 1 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) per yearwhich would represent approximately 5% of the carbon elimination objective of the United Kingdom in its forests.
Context: The impact of running out of no wolves. Over the centuries, the wolves have been persecuted throughout Europe due to its impact on livestock and the direct orders of monarchs. Namely: in England, King Eduardo I (1272-1307) ordered his total eradicationprocess that culminated under the reign of Enrique VII (1485-1509). In Scotland, due to its mountainous geography and low population density, The wolves managed to survive until the seventeenth centuryalthough with constant persecution. Already in 1283, rewards were paid for lobos hunters in Stirling, and In 1427, King Jacobo I of Scotland promulgated laws for extermination. However, His final disappearance occurred approximately 250 years ago.
For all these reasons, the eradication of the wolves generated ecological consequences, one of the most serious being the overpopulation of red deer, a creature out of control right now. In fact, Today it is estimated that there are 400,000 red deer in Scotlanda figure that has grown without control in the absence of natural predators. This increase has led to A serious overpair problemsince deer feed on young tree shoots, preventing the natural regeneration of forests.
How can the return of these creatures help. The study used A Markov predator-prison model to analyze the effects of the reintroduction of wolves on the ecological dynamics of Scotland. The findings suggest that A population of approximately 167 wolves would reduce the density of deer to less than four deer per square kilometerallowing trees to grow again naturally.
They count on their study that among the ecological and climatic benefits of this measure they include The expansion of native forestswhich currently cover only 4% of the Scottish territory, making it one of the less forested regions in Europe. Also carbon capture, with a potential of one million tons of co₂ per year Thanks to the increase in forest mass. And finally, the economic value of reintroduction, since Each wolf would contribute to the absorption of 6,080 tons of annuals, which is equivalent to 154,000 pounds per wolf in terms of carbon capture value.
The main author speaks. In this regard, Professor Dominick Spracklen, principal author of the study, stressed the need to address the climatic crisis and biodiversity crisis jointly. He stressed that natural processes, such as species reintroduction, can play a key role in the recovery of degraded ecosystems and generate benefits for both biodiversity and climate.
Challenges of the proposal. Of course, such an idea is not new. In fact, now We have seen other cases in the past where it was sent to predatory enclaves to tartar to limit or exterminate other animals, Sometimes with disastrous results. In addition, although the proposal has great ecological potential, the reintroduction of the wolf in Scotland remains a controversial issue and would require careful management, especially in areas close to human settlements and livestock areas.
The authors point out how problems to take into account Conflicts with farmers and farmerswho fear attacks on cattle, The resistance of deer hunterswhose activity could be affected by the reduction of the population of dams, and Public perception and social acceptancesince the presence of wolves generates concern in some rural communities.
In this regard, the study co -author, Lee Schofield, emphasized that before considering any reintroduction, It would be essential to carry out a public consultation and involvement process of the parties interested. He also stressed that conflicts between humans and predators are common, so any strategy must include policies that mitigate the impact on the population and economic activity.
The future of the wolf in Scotland. At European level, the wolves have managed to recover part of their historical territory, with an estimated population of 12,000 individuals in Western Europecurrently occupying 67% of its original area. In countries such as France and Germany, the reintroduction of the wolf has generated intense debates, and in some cases, Compensation programs for affected farmers have been implemented.
That said and how we indicate, if Scotland decides to move forward with the measure, it would join a growing global movement that seeks to reintroduce predators stop as a tool to restore ecosystems and face climate change. The success of this project would depend on the implementation of adequate management strategies that balance ecological conservation with the needs of local communities.