Rewilding and Its Place in Nature Recovery

Rewilding has become a buzzword in the world of conservation, but what exactly does it mean, and how does it fit into broader nature recovery efforts? As a landowner, you may have heard of rewilding as a way to restore ecosystems, boost biodiversity, and let nature take its course. But rewilding is more than just "letting things go wild." It's a carefully considered approach to allow natural processes to reshape landscapes, helping to restore balance to ecosystems that have been disrupted by human activity.

In this article, we'll explore how rewilding fits into the larger nature recovery strategy and how it can improve biodiversity and ecosystem health on your land.

What is Rewilding?

Rewilding is a conservation strategy that focuses on restoring natural processes and allowing ecosystems to regenerate with minimal human intervention. The goal is to create self-sustaining habitats where wildlife can thrive without the need for constant management. Unlike traditional conservation efforts, which often involve intensive habitat management, rewilding allows nature to take the lead, fostering resilience and biodiversity in the long term.

The principles of rewilding typically include:

1. Restoring Natural Processes: This could mean allowing rivers to meander, letting trees naturally regenerate, or reintroducing species that have been lost from an area.
2. Minimising Human Intervention: Rather than actively managing every aspect of the ecosystem, rewilding gives nature the space to recover on its own. While some initial intervention may be needed to kickstart the process (such as tree planting or species reintroduction), the aim is for the ecosystem to become self-regulating.
3. Boosting Biodiversity: Rewilding aims to create a diverse, thriving ecosystem where many species of plants, animals, and microorganisms can coexist and support one another.

How Does Rewilding Fit Into Nature Recovery?

Rewilding is a vital component of nature recovery, particularly because it tackles the root causes of ecosystem degradation rather than focusing solely on individual species or habitats. In traditional conservation, efforts may be directed at protecting specific species or maintaining particular habitats, but rewilding looks at the bigger picture—restoring the processes that allow nature to function effectively as a whole.

Here’s how rewilding complements broader nature recovery strategies:

Restoring Ecosystem Functions

Nature recovery is about bringing life back to degraded landscapes, and rewilding does this by reactivating natural processes. By letting rivers flood, allowing forests to regenerate naturally, or encouraging natural grazing by herbivores, rewilding restores the dynamics that keep ecosystems healthy. This reduces the need for human intervention over time and helps create resilient ecosystems that can adapt to changes like climate shifts.
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Creating Space for Biodiversity
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Rewilding directly contributes to biodiversity by creating rich, varied habitats. These spaces provide opportunities for many species—both plant and animal—to thrive. For example, when woodland is allowed to regenerate naturally, it supports everything from insects and birds to mammals. Reintroducing species that have been lost from an area can also lead to the recovery of entire ecosystems. The return of predators, for instance, helps balance populations and allows a broader range of species to flourish.

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Natural Flood Management and Carbon Sequestration

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One of the key benefits of rewilding in the context of nature recovery is its role in natural flood management. By restoring wetlands, allowing rivers to follow their natural courses, and increasing tree cover, rewilding helps reduce the risk of flooding by slowing down water runoff. This aligns with broader nature recovery goals of improving water management and resilience to climate change.

Rewilding also plays a part in carbon sequestration, especially when reforesting areas or allowing native woodlands to return. These ecosystems act as carbon sinks, capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in vegetation and soil.

Can Rewilding Improve Local Biodiversity?

Yes, rewilding can have a transformative impact on local biodiversity, and the evidence for this is growing. When nature is allowed to reclaim and rebuild ecosystems, a rich web of life often emerges. Here are some of the key ways rewilding improves biodiversity:

1. Habitat Creation for Wildlife:
   • As natural processes resume in rewilded areas, a variety of habitats begin to form. Grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, and scrublands develop, each providing different niches for species to inhabit. This mosaic of habitats supports a wider range of species than more intensively managed landscapes.
   • For example, rewilding projects that focus on restoring native forests see a resurgence in woodland birds, insects, and small mammals. These animals, in turn, support higher predators like birds of prey, creating a balanced and dynamic ecosystem.
2. Reintroducing Keystone Species:
   • A key element of rewilding is the reintroduction of species that play critical roles in ecosystems, known as keystone species. These species often have a disproportionate effect on their environment. For example, beavers are often reintroduced in rewilding projects because their dam-building activities create wetlands, which support an array of other species. Similarly, the reintroduction of large herbivores or predators helps maintain the balance between different species in the food chain.
   • Even smaller interventions, like encouraging native plant species to re-establish themselves, can have a huge ripple effect on biodiversity.
3. Supporting Pollinators and Insects:
   • Rewilding projects also provide critical habitats for pollinators, which are essential for the health of many ecosystems. When natural meadows and wildflower patches are allowed to flourish, they support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, whose populations are under pressure in more intensively farmed or managed landscapes. This has a direct benefit on local biodiversity, as many plant species depend on pollinators to reproduce.

How Does Rewilding Differ from Traditional Conservation?

While both rewilding and traditional conservation aim to protect and restore ecosystems, they take different approaches. Traditional conservation often involves managing specific species or habitats to ensure their survival, which can require ongoing human intervention. For example, in a traditional conservation project, a team might actively manage a wetland by cutting back certain plants to keep the ecosystem in balance.

Rewilding, on the other hand, is about stepping back and letting natural processes take over. After an initial push (like reintroducing a species or planting trees), the idea is to reduce human involvement and let the ecosystem find its own balance. Rewilding often leads to unexpected outcomes, as nature doesn’t always follow a set plan, but that’s part of the beauty of it. Ecosystems evolve, adapt, and become more resilient when left to their own devices.

Getting Started with Rewilding on Your Land

As a landowner, you don’t need to own vast estates to engage in rewilding. Whether you have a few acres or larger expanses of land, rewilding can be tailored to suit your space. Here are a few ways to get started:

1. Let Nature Lead: Start by reducing human intervention in parts of your land. Allow areas to grow wild, avoid mowing certain patches, or plant native species and let them take root naturally.
2. Rewild in Stages: You don’t have to transform your entire property all at once. Consider rewilding sections of your land over time. You can start with hedgerows, woodland edges, or streams, gradually allowing nature to reclaim these spaces.
3. Support Local Species: Introduce or encourage native plants and animals that will thrive in your local environment. Look into the possibility of reintroducing species that have been lost from the area or providing habitats for pollinators, birds, and small mammals.

Rewilding is a transformative and hopeful approach to nature recovery. By stepping back and letting natural processes take the lead, you can help create resilient ecosystems, boost local biodiversity, and restore the natural balance of your land. Whether you choose to rewild a small corner or a large portion of your land, your efforts will contribute to a healthier, more diverse environment that can thrive for generations to come.

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