Douglas Macmillan

Biography

Growing up in rural Stirlingshire, I have never been very far away from wild places.  From a young age I have been a keen walker and nature lover, blessed to have places of awesome beauty and tranquility right on my doorstep.

My career has taken me from Scotland to many other countries in our world and has been dedicated to serving what I considered to be the best interests of biodiversity and landscape heritage as a forester, researcher and educator.  Whether working with Tibetan herders, or subsistence hunters in Vietnam, I have been fortunate to experience at first hand the challenges and rewards of conserving endangered species, habitats and landscapes, while also sustaining livelihoods and traditions. 

Now retired and working almost exclusively in Scotland, I remain passionate about wild places and their conservation, working with local communities. I am therefore delighted to have this opportunity to support the critical work of the John Muir Trust, and I look forward to meeting the challenges that lie ahead in a fast-changing world. 

Hopefully my expertise in conservation fund raising, deer and forestry management, financial incentives such as product certification, and the economics and policy of land use will help the Trust make further progress in conserving wild landscapes for future generations. I look forward to joining forces with the Board, staff and membership of the Trust to create a stronger space for wild places in this country.

Member since

2026