Marine rewilding
10 Module summary
The planet has lost huge numbers of marine species and habitats. Rewilding the ocean and coastal zones offers a chance to return to a thriving and healthy environment for people and nature.
Multiple individual species and habitats are being actively restored, such as seagrass, coral and oysters. However, a truly integrated 'seascape' approach, that considers the ecosystem as a whole, is still in its infancy but gaining momentum.
Whatever the scale, communities and local interests can be involved and a just and fair transition to a healthier marine ecosystem, which includes people and nature together, is the ultimate aim.
The perfect combination to facilitate rewilding of the ocean and coastal zones is to protect, actively restore, reintroduce species and remove pressures. The opportunities are out there!
We would like to give special thanks to Blue Marine Foundation for sharing their knowledge for this module.
Now that you have completed this module, you should be able to:
- Determine what rewilding principles are most relevant and suitable to rewilding seascapes.
- Explain the ecological, social, climatic and economic importance of marine ecosystems.
- Assess the impacts of key threats to marine ecosystems and how they disrupt natural processes.
- Compare different approaches to rewilding within the marine environment.
- Evaluate the role of keystone species and natural processes in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems and assess how their restoration can enhance ecological balance.
- Analyse case studies of marine rewilding in Europe.
- Compare the similarities and differences between terrestrial and marine rewilding.
