A solution to the climate crisis has been discovered: what’s the connection to the return of wolves in Scotland?

In recent years, scientists have increasingly warned about the climate crisis looming over the planet: as a result, the world has been hit by unprecedented heat waves and droughts, and global sea levels are rising, which will impact the lives of coastal communities. Now, researchers believe they have found a way to address the climate emergency facing the planet, as reported by PHYS.org.

A team of researchers from the University of Leeds has discovered that the reintroduction of wolves to the Scottish Highlands could lead to the expansion of local forests, which could absorb and store around one million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.

During the study, scientists modeled the potential impact of wolves in four areas classified as Scottish wilderness, where the browsing of young trees by growing populations of red deer suppresses the natural regeneration of trees and forests.

The team employed a predator-prey model, which allowed them to assess the return of wolves to the Cairngorms, the Southwest Highlands, the Central Highlands, and the Northwest Highlands. It is estimated that this would result in a total population of around 167 wolves—enough to reduce the red deer population to a level that would allow trees to naturally recover.

It is believed that wolf control over red deer could facilitate the expansion of local forests, which would absorb approximately one million tons of CO2 annually. Researchers calculated that each wolf could contribute to an annual carbon absorption capacity of 6,080 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

The authors of the study note that this is the first instance of assessing the potential impact of wolf reintroduction on forest expansion and carbon storage. The team believes that the results provide additional evidence of the important role large carnivores can play in addressing the climate crisis.

According to lead author Dominic Spracklen from the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds, there is growing evidence that climate and biodiversity cannot be managed in isolation.

It is noteworthy that wolves were exterminated in Scotland about 250 years ago, leaving red deer without natural predators, which has allowed their population to grow across the country. Despite ongoing management efforts, the population of red deer in Scotland has significantly increased over the past century, with the latest estimates reaching 400,000.

The lack of natural tree regeneration has contributed to the long-term decline and loss of natural forests. Data indicate that today, Scotland has one of the lowest levels of natural forests in Europe, covering only 4% of the country's area.

Researchers acknowledge that the debates surrounding the reintroduction of wolves to the Scottish Highlands will not be without controversy, particularly among farmers and deer hunters.