What is rewilding and why is it important?
Introduction
In this module you will learn about the main concepts and principles of rewilding and how they serve as a holistic approach to ecological restoration.
You will explore what sets rewilding apart from other restoration and conservation approaches, highlighting its unique benefits and applications.
You will learn how rewilding connects to broader social, political and environmental issues, such as land use change and climate change. Importantly, you will learn to ‘think big’ – to take inspiration from the past to imagine a bold new future for nature in Europe.
Learning outcomes
After completing this module, you should be able to:
- Correctly identify the concepts and principles of rewilding, in relation to their context, including its benefits for nature and people, and its ‘big picture’ approach to enhancing natural processes.
- Describe the concept of shifting baseline syndrome, its impact on perceptions of ecosystem health, and strategies to counteract it by examining ecological history.
- Recognise how rewilding aims to restore the functional roles of lost wildlife species, focusing on natural processes and interactions to inform future conservation efforts.
- Analyse the causes and socio-economic challenges of rural depopulation and explore how rewilding can transform rural communities and develop nature-based economies.
- Relate the historical and legal context of conservation in Europe and assess the role of protected areas and legal constraints in rewilding efforts.
- Analyse how rewilding can serve as a nature-based solution to climate change by restoring carbon-rich ecosystems, enhancing natural carbon capture, and promoting climate resilience for both nature and people.
Watch this introductory video, in which Frans Schepers shares his rewilding vision with you.