Large herbivores (e.g. deer, bison, and wild boar) engage in activities such as grazing, wallowing, and tree breaking, which create a variety of habitats and promote plant, insect, bird, and fungi diversity. These activities help to maintain open areas within forests, which are important for many species.

In many European forests the absence or low density of large herbivores due to hunting or habitat fragmentation limits these natural processes, leading to more homogeneous and less dynamic forest structures.

Soil disturbance and its key role in nature. Credit: Jeroen Helmer / ARK Rewilding Netherlands.

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