Latest news with #EcologicalSolutionsandEvidence
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
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.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
The Independent
18-02-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Scientists want to release 160 wolves in Scotland to help UK hit net zero target
Scientists have suggested reintroducing dozens of wolves into the Scottish Highlands in order to help the UK reach its climate targets. Researchers at the University of Leeds have suggested that the reintroduction of grey wolves to the Cairngorms, as well as the south-west, north-west and central Highlands, could help reduce the issue of red deer eating tree saplings, which stops natural woodland regeneration. The scientists predicted that a population of 167 wolves would thrive if reintroduced into the wild and would be enough to reduce red deer populations to a level that would allow trees to regenerate naturally. This could expand the native woodland, which could take in and store a million tons of carbon dioxide each year, equating to about five per cent of the carbon removal target for UK woodlands, researchers said. Each wolf would lead to an annual carbon uptake capability of 6,080 tonnes of CO2, which the researchers estimated would make each of them 'worth' £154,000, according to the accepted current valuations of carbon. It's the first time that the impact of reintroducing wolves for woodland expansion and carbon storage in the UK has been assessed. Wolves were eradicated from Scotland about 250 years ago, leaving deer with no natural predators. The wolf population in Western Europe is approximately 12,000. Meanwhile, British deer numbers have increased from about 450,000 to two million today. The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence journal, acknowledged the idea is controversial, not least with farmers worried about livestock. Researchers acknowledged the idea's potential controversies when it comes to farmers' livestock. The growing number of wolf numbers in Europe previously led to their protected status being downgraded in 2024, which appeased farmers, but caused concern for environmentalists. Co-author of the study, Lee Schofield, said that they recognised 'that substantial and wide-ranging stakeholder and public engagement would clearly be essential before any wolf reintroduction could be considered". He said the aim was to "provide new information to inform ongoing and future discussions about the possibility of wolf reintroductions both in the UK and elsewhere". The study 's lead author, Prof Dominick Spracklen, said: 'There is an increasing acknowledgment that the climate and biodiversity crises cannot be managed in isolation. '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.'
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Wolves should be reintroduced to Scotland ‘to help hit net zero'
Wolves should be reintroduced to the Scottish Highlands to help meet net zero, researchers have suggested. Reintroducing the species could help curb the population of red deer, which limit the spread of native woodland by eating tree saplings, according to a study published on Monday in the Ecological Solutions and Evidence journal. A million tonnes of carbon could be removed from the atmosphere if the woodland around the Cairngorms, south-west, north-west and central Highlands was allowed to naturally regenerate, the study found. This would contribute around five per cent of the UK's carbon removal target to help offset emissions from elsewhere in the economy. Wolves were eradicated from Scotland around 250 years ago, leaving the red deer population with no natural predators. Red deer numbers have since shot up to around 400,000 in Scotland, despite efforts to keep the population under control by human intervention. The deer eat tree saplings, limiting the spread of woodland, which has been identified as vital in helping the UK meet its target to be net zero, meaning carbon neutral, by 2050. The research, led by scientists at the University of Leeds, is the first to calculate the impact reintroducing wolves would have on woodland expansion and carbon storage in the UK. 'There is an increasing acknowledgement that the climate and biodiversity crises cannot be managed in isolation,' said lead author Professor Dominick Spracklen, from the university's School of Earth and Environment. '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 researchers said only four per cent of Scotland is covered by woodland today, making it one of the least forested places in Europe. Farming and rural groups have rejected any proposals to reintroduce wolves or other large predators, arguing they would kill livestock and pose a threat to people in the countryside. The return of wolves in parts of Europe has proved controversial, particularly after a wolf killed a horse belonging to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. Wolves kill between 30,000 and 40,000 livestock animals in Europe every year, the majority of which are sheep. Lee Schofield, a co-author of the study, said: 'Our aim is to provide new information to inform ongoing and future discussions about the possibility of wolf reintroductions both in the UK and elsewhere. 'We recognise that substantial and wide-ranging stakeholder and public engagement would clearly be essential before any wolf reintroduction could be considered. '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.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
How Wolves Could Help Bring Back Scottish Forests
Wolves have been gone from the Scottish Highlands for more than 200 years, and in their absence red deer have proliferated. Researchers say that returning wolves to the Highlands would keep deer in check, allowing large areas of native woodland to regrow. Red deer are fond of eating tree saplings, and as their numbers rise in northern Scotland, they are suppressing the growth of forests. Researchers modeled the impact of bringing wolves back to four large wildlands, finding that they would thin deer herds to the point where they stop eradicating fledgling forests. Researchers estimated that restored Scottish woodlands would absorb 1 million tons of carbon dioxide each year. The findings were published in Ecological Solutions and Evidence. Native woodland currently covers just 4 percent of Scotland, making it among the barest countries in Europe. Where trees are regrowing, they are largely behind fences. Authors note that Britain values each ton of carbon sequestered by woodland at $32. At that level, they say, the average wolf would be worth $194,000 annually.
The Guardian
17-02-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Wolves' reintroduction to Highlands could help native woodlands to recover, says study
Reintroducing wolves in the Scottish Highlands could lead to an expansion of native woodland which could take in and store 1m tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, researchers have suggested. A study led by researchers at the University of Leeds said that reintroducing the species into the Cairngorms, as well as the south-west, north-west and central Highlands could help curb the problem of red deer eating tree saplings, which stops natural woodland regeneration. The scientists estimated that if wolves were reintroduced, a population of about 167 of the animals would thrive, which they said is enough to reduce red deer populations to a level that would allow trees to regenerate naturally. The research suggested this alone could contribute to about 5% of the carbon removal target for UK woodlands, roughly equivalent to 1m tonnes. The study estimated that each wolf would lead to an annual carbon uptake capability of 6,080 tonnes of CO2, making each wolf worth about £154,000, using accepted valuations of carbon. The research, which was published on Monday in the Ecological Solutions and Evidence journal, is the first time that the impact of reintroducing wolves would have on woodland expansion and carbon storage in the UK has been recorded. The study's lead author, Prof Dominick Spracklen, from the university's school of earth and environment, said: 'There is an increasing acknowledgment that the climate and biodiversity crises cannot be managed in isolation. '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.' It is widely accepted that wolves were officially eradicated from Scotland about 250 years ago, though the exact year is not known. This left red deer with no natural predators, and while efforts have been made to keep the population under control, it has increased over the last 100 years to an estimated 400,000 today in Scotland alone. The researchers said only 4% of Scotland is covered by woodland today, making it one of the least forested places in Europe. The wolf population in western Europe is about 12,000, and the animals occupy 67% of their former territory. The researchers have said they expect some backlash to their research, particularly from farmers concerned about livestock and deer stalkers. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion The policy of reintroducing wolves as apex predators in Scotland has been intensely divisive, with some farmers and rural communities opposed to the measure. Wolf populations have also been lightning rods for discussion in Europe, where the species has had a remarkable comeback. But the researchers say the benefits must be considered. Lee Schofield, a co-author of the study, said: 'Our aim is to provide new information to inform ongoing and future discussions about the possibility of wolf reintroductions both in the UK and elsewhere. 'We recognise that substantial and wide-ranging stakeholder and public engagement would clearly be essential before any wolf reintroduction could be considered. '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.'
