1. Research & Planning

If there is a need to translocate an animal, there needs to be research and planning beforehand. Experts in ecology, animal behaviour and habitat requirements will conduct feasibility studies, while social scientists may lead a public consultation process. Fundraisers, legal experts and government agencies all have their role to play in this initial phase Good preparation will ensure a smooth process and for that a lot of different parties and roles are involved.

2. Management

Any initiative needs management. This most often requires managers to oversee the whole process supported by administrative staff to help with documentation and correspondence. Accountants or a finance team are responsible for budgeting, financial planning, tracking expenditure, ensuring compliance with financial regulations and providing financial analysis and reporting to support decision-making.

3. Communication

To create sufficient support (before, during and after the release), local communities, landowners and stakeholders need to be engaged. This is where different communication roles come into play. Community outreach specialists, public relations specialists, marketing professionals and social media managers are all needed. Environmental journalists, photographers/videographers, web designers and all sort of content creators are essential to help share information and build dialogue.

4. Pre-release preparation

Ahead of a release another set of roles come into play. Captive breeding experts may breed and raise lynx for reintroduction. Animal caretakers and veterinarians ensure the health and welfare of the lynx during captivity and transport. Roles vary from logisticians to drivers and they all contribute to the rewilding cause.

5. Release & Monitoring

Before the release there are many different roles involved. During and after the release, field biologists, wildlife technicians, data scientists and researchers may be needed too. Tasks range from monitoring the animals(s) by collecting data on movement, behaviour, survival and reproductive success to managing data collection, storage and analyses, and potentially writing scientific publications to inform future efforts.

As you can see, it is not necessary to own land to start rewilding. People without access to land can become active rewilders in many different ways:

• They can work for rewilding organisations and initiatives, in either a paid or voluntary capacity.
• They can participate in rewilding actions at a whole range of scales.
• They can act as advocates for rewilding by informing and motivating others through social media, networks an events.
• By staying informed about the latest developments in rewilding they can become thought leaders and ensure others are inspired by accurate and impactful communications.