A world away in the misty Scottish Highlands, a quiet victory for wildlife is echoing with relevance for Kenya. After a decade of dedicated work, a rewilding charity has successfully expanded the range of the native red squirrel, a species once driven to the brink by habitat loss and a deadly virus carried by an invasive cousin.

For Kenyans, this is more than a foreign curiosity. It is a case study in what is possible. As our nation balances economic growth with the preservation of its world-renowned biodiversity, Scotland's success provides a hopeful, practical model for reversing the decline of our own threatened species.

A Calculated Comeback

The project, led by the charity Trees for Life, has been methodical. Small numbers of healthy red squirrels were carefully moved from strongholds in central Scotland to specially chosen woodlands in the northwest, areas free from the invasive non-native grey squirrel. The greys, introduced from North America, not only outcompete reds for food but also carry a squirrel pox virus that is fatal to the native species.

"This rewilding success story is offering hope for the long-term survival of Scotland’s much-loved red squirrels," noted Becky Priestley, a project manager at Trees for Life. The result has been the establishment of over a dozen new, thriving populations, expanding their territory by more than a quarter.

The Kenyan Parallel

The challenges faced by Scotland's red squirrels—habitat destruction and pressure from invasive species—are deeply familiar in Kenya. Our agricultural sector has been hit hard by invasive pests like the fall armyworm, which has caused devastating maize losses. Meanwhile, invasive plants like *Prosopis juliflora* (mathenge) are choking vast rangelands, degrading ecosystems that support both livestock and wildlife.

However, like in Scotland, there is reason for optimism. Kenya is recognised as a global leader in community-based conservation, with inspiring successes in reviving key populations. These efforts have led to tangible results:

• Black Rhino Revival: Through dedicated sanctuary programs and anti-poaching measures, black rhino numbers are slowly but steadily increasing.
• Elephant Population Growth: Strict enforcement and the use of technology have seen elephant numbers grow to over 36,000, a remarkable recovery from the poaching crisis of past decades.
• Community Conservancies: Over 230 conservancies now cover millions of acres, empowering local communities to protect wildlife while benefiting from eco-tourism and sustainable land management.

These successes, much like the squirrel project, are built on a combination of scientific strategy, strong partnerships, and deep community involvement.

Lessons for the Future

The Scottish initiative highlights the power of reintroduction and creating safe havens for vulnerable species. Here in Kenya, similar rewilding and habitat restoration projects are underway, from restoring forests at Brackenhurst to ambitious plans around the Tsavo and Mount Kenya ecosystems.

As Trees for Life plans to bring back other keystone animals like beavers and lynx to the Highlands, it serves as a reminder that ambitious conservation can yield powerful results. For Kenya, the path forward involves scaling up our proven models of community-led conservation and tackling the threat of invasive species with the same focused determination that brought the red squirrel back from the edge.