21-02-2025
Wolves Could Be an Unlikely Hero in the Fight to Save Humanity
Grey wolves were excised from Scotland roughly 250 years ago, ending decades of attempted eradication.
Fortunately for Scotland's climate, reintroducing wolves to the region could lead to native woodland growth and increased CO2 sequestration.
Large carnivores, in fact, may be a nature-based solution to parts of the climate crisis.
When we learn about ecosystems in elementary school, we're taught that animals at the top of the food chain (lions, tigers, alligators, etc...) have no natural predators. As a result it can be hard to fathom that some of their populations have declined to the point of extinction—until, that is, you remember humans. We humans aren't considered 'natural predators,' but we are largely responsible for the disappearance of these ecological kings in many regions.
Wolves, in particular, have a long history of being tormented by humans. According to the UK Wolf Conservation Trust, the earliest extermination record in Scotland dates back to 1238, when an allowance was paid to 'one hunter of wolves.' One king—James I of Scotland—passed an act in 1427 requiring all lords to seek out and kill wolves. In later years, the Earl of Atholl held multiple wolf hunts.
Despite being routinely slaughtered, wolves persevered in Scotland until roughly 250 years ago. Now, a new study published in the journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence suggests reintroducing them to the region may drastically reduce carbon dioxide levels.
It may seem counterintuitive at first. After all, why would adding another species that eats and breathes have positive effects on CO2 levels? Well, it all goes back to the food chain.
The study explains that apex predators play their role in the carbon cycle by controlling wild herbivore populations. In Scotland, the population of red deer has soared as high as 400,000 (that's roughly one deer for every 14 people in the country) without grey wolves hunting them. Deer, and in certain areas sheep, prevent tree saplings from growing across the region.
According to the study, reintroducing large carnivores to control deer abundance could lead to woodland expansion that would absorb up to 1 million metric tonnes of CO2 each year. This would make up 5% of the carbon removal target for United Kingdom woodlands. At the current cost of carbon dioxide removal and storage, the team estimates each wolf would be worth up to £154,000 (roughly $194,000 USD) per year—though, the estimate doesn't include the initial cost required to reestablish the population. The study also doesn't consider how changing herbivore dynamics and woodland expansion could affect soil carbon.
'There is an increasing acknowledgement that the climate and biodiversity crises cannot be managed in isolation,' Dominick Sprackled, lead author of the study, said in a press release. 'We need to look at the potential role of natural processes such as the reintroduction of species to recover our degraded ecosystems and these in turn can deliver co-benefits for climate and nature recovery.'
The study isn't without controversy, however. Conflict between humans and large predators is a major point of contention, as reintroducing carnivores could potentially interfere with activities like raising livestock.
'We recognize that substantial and wide-ranging stakeholder and public engagement would clearly be essential before any wolf reintroduction could be considered,' the researchers wrote. 'Human-wildlife conflicts involving carnivores are common and must be addressed through public policies that account for people's attitudes for a reintroduction to be successful.'
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