There’s been lots of recent chatter about rewilding. In the midst of a climate crisis,
massively declining biodiversity, decimated ecosystems and thousands of species
of wildlife literally dying off, we need answers — and quick. Many
environmentalists believe rewilding to be the answer.
Rewilding is the process of restoring natural ecosystems and reintroducing
native species to landscapes, areas and regions. Writing on LinkedIn this month, Pooran
Desai — sustainable
development guru and originator of the One Planet initiative — said that “rewilding
is becoming THE most meaningful job out there.” Note his use of capitals.
He is not alone in betting big on rewilding. In the UK, the term has entered
the mainstream consciousness in recent weeks thanks to the efforts of
environmentalist and financier Ben
Goldsmith. After his
15-year-old daughter tragically died in a quad bike accident, he set to work in
rewilding his family’s 300-acre estate in Somerset. Goldsmith says letting his hedges grow
thick and unruly, re-wiggling his stream to create wetland meadows and natural
pools for wildlife, ripping down
fences, and replacing his sheep and cows with native longhorn
cattle helped him grieve. He explains it all in a brilliant new podcast
series
and a book,
called God Is an Octopus: Loss, Love and a Calling to Nature.
The idea behind rewilding is that allowing
nature to reclaim its space enhances biodiversity, restores ecological balance
and mitigates the impacts of human activities. However, like any complex environmental strategy, rewilding comes with its own
set of pros and cons. Yes, by reintroducing keystone species and allowing
ecosystems to function naturally, rewilding can create habitats that support a
wide range of flora and fauna. This increased biodiversity can improve ecosystem
resilience and enhance ecosystem services.
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Rewilding can help to bring land back to its natural state and rectify the
damage we humans have caused over hundreds of years — including
deforestation,
habitat fragmentation and
pollution.
It regenerates soil fertility and helps sequester carbon. It can also safeguard
endangered species by providing them with suitable habitats for survival and
promoting genetic diversity. You only have to look at what’s happened in
Yellowstone National Park, where wolves have been
reintroduced
— helping to re-establish ecological balance and foster co-existence between
humans and wildlife.
In Europe, a partnership between Rewilding Europe and Exodus Travels
is working to rewild 5,000 hectares of the Italian
Apennines
over five years by engaging tourists’ help to restore regional biodiversity; and
numerous other projects are
in motion to reintroduce extinct or endangered species — including the European
bison, lynx and beaver — into their natural habitats. In Argentina, jaguars
are making a
comeback
to the Iberá Wetlands. In Africa, the Great Green
Wall is a
great example of how we can restore degraded landscapes at scale. In the US,
organizations such as the Cana
Foundation
are proving that the use of native plants can restore degraded landscapes,
promote biodiversity and boost climate resilience.
As was the case with Goldsmith, rewilding also has a unique capacity to
reconnect people with nature and revive cultural traditions tied to the land.
“In the aftermath of losing Iris — when everything seemed to be blackness
and darkness — I found that my love of nature carried me in a way that I wasn’t
expecting,” he says.
However, detractors warn of the social
disruption brought about by
the practice. Introducing large predators doesn’t go down too well with dairy
farmers, for example. Similarly, loggers see more value in trees being lopped
than being used as a safe haven for animals.
Rewilding can also lead to land-use conflicts, as it often requires substantial
areas of land. Property rights, economic impacts and the cultural values
associated with certain land uses are competing concerns that need to be
addressed.
While such arguments deserve air time, there is no denying the excitement
surrounding rewilding — especially during this decade of climate action and
clarion
calls
to restore critical biodiversity for our own survival. According to a new
study in Nature,
restoring the world’s wild animal populations could get us 95 percent of the way
towards the global target of removing 500 gigatons tons of carbon from the
atmosphere and meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.
“We need to see wild animals as the climate solutions they are, and fully
include them in the nature-climate agenda,” says Mighty Earth CEO Glenn
Hurowitz. “Putting animals
at the center of the climate debate is a powerful political tool to galvanize
action. Rewilding animals is something simple, powerful and engaging — and it’s
time to get at it.”
So, what’s all this got to do with business? Well, while rewilding is associated
with conservation organizations and government initiatives, brands can play a
crucial role in supporting and driving efforts. Of course, national regulations
are already encouraging firms to integrate biodiversity impact into their
accounts.
Rewilding efforts at scale could contribute significantly to meeting the targets
set out in the Global Biodiversity
Framework, adopted by more than 100
countries that promise to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.
The practice could also support supply-chain resilience — helping to protect the
long-term availability of important natural ingredients and resources, such as
timber and coffee. “We need to ensure that companies account for wildlife
impacts when making climate claims,” Hurowitz asserts. “Beef companies shouldn’t
say they’re ‘green’ if they buy from ranchers who slaughter wolves.”
Of course, brands can play their part by funding and sponsoring rewilding
projects — which often require substantial funding. By collaborating with
conservation organizations, government agencies or local communities, companies
can combine their resources and influence with the expertise of different
stakeholders to achieve shared conservation goals.
And isn’t it time for brands to use their creative clout to raise awareness
about rewilding and the importance of conservation — highlighting success
stories, and getting customers and employees excited about what’s possible to
inspire broader support?
Rewilding is a trend that shows no sign of waning. There is a clear business
case to invest in protecting and restoring nature — and rewilding can play a big
role.
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Content creator extraordinaire.
Tom is founder of storytelling strategy firm Narrative Matters — which helps organizations develop content that truly engages audiences around issues of global social, environmental and economic importance. He also provides strategic editorial insight and support to help organisations – from large corporates, to NGOs – build content strategies that focus on editorial that is accessible, shareable, intelligent and conversation-driving.
Published May 30, 2023 2pm EDT / 11am PDT / 7pm BST / 8pm CEST