Experts say that reintroducing wolves to Scotland could help forests to grow again.

The idea is that the wolves would control growing numbers of red deer, which are eating saplings (young trees). Fewer deer would mean more trees could grow. A report in Ecological Solutions And Evidence says that bigger forests could take in and store one million tonnes of CO2 (carbon dioxide) every year, helping in the fight against climate change.

The deer have had no natural predators since wolves were wiped out in Scotland around 250 years ago. The team say the wolves could be reintroduced to areas in the Cairngorms, southwest Highlands, central Highlands and northwest Highlands, to help reverse the loss of native woodland.

The researchers admit that not everyone supports the idea and that many people wouldn’t be happy with bringing wolves back, including farmers who may fear for the safety of their animals. But they argue that the benefits of reintroducing wolves need to be considered.