Terrestrial rewilding

8.3 The importance of local governance

National governments in Europe have a responsibility to ensure adequate enforcement systems to deter illegal activities such as poaching and habitat destruction. They may also offer compensation schemes for those that suffer the most severe losses as a result of living with wilder nature.

Complementary to this overarching enforcement and compensation role, community-based governance can be instrumental in fostering cooperation and preventing and mitigating coexistence issues.

Community-based governance usually involves bringing together local community members including landowners, farmers, hunters, fishermen, local business owners, NGOs, local government representatives (e.g. at the municipal level), and technical advisors (e.g. from agencies in charge of wildlife or agriculture).

Shepherd leading his sheep to a paddock. Southern Carpathians, Munții Ṭarcu, Caraș-Severin, Romania. Credit: Florian Möllers / Wild Wonders of Europe.

Together, they form a representative group that can share and analyse information, make decisions, help enforce those decisions (within an existing set of regulations), and resolve issues. They ideally work in line with a framework of transparent processes and principles that have been agreed in advance and in compliance with legal requirements.

Collaborative management approaches such as this empower local communities to identify, plan for, and mitigate current and potential coexistence issues, and can help those that are most exposed or vulnerable to find the necessary emotional, technical, and financial support.

This process brings diverse local interests in line with rewilding efforts, increasing cooperation and reducing fears and misunderstandings that can lead to coexistence challenges.