Rewilding
What
we will cover:
What
rewilding is?
Why
it is needed?
Potential
benefits of
rewilding.
Case
studies.
Debate.
Rewilding

Rewilding is large-scale conservation aimed at restoring and
protecting natural processes and core wilderness areas, providing
connectivity between such areas, and protecting or reintroducing
apex predators and keystone species.

The ultimate goal of rewilding efforts is to create ecosystems
requiring passive management by limiting human control of
ecosystems.

Successful long term rewilding projects should be considered to have
little to no human-based ecological management, as successful
reintroduction of keystone species creates a self-regulatory and selfsustaining stable ecosystem, with near pre-human levels of
biodiversity.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/video
/2013/may/30/rewilding-animation-george-monbiotvideo
Sustainability

A sustainable ecosystem
is a biological
environment and series
of habitats that is able
to thrive and support
itself without outside
influence or assistance.

In ideal sustainable
ecosystems, everything
is already provided
within the ecosystem
for life to survive.
Traditional
methods
of
management
Why are these ecosystems not self
regulating?
Why are ecosystems
out of balance?

Fragmented habitats

Over exploitation by people

Loss of apex predators

Loss of keystone species

Pollution
Case studies

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/28/return-of-thebison-herd-makes-surprising-comeback-on-dutch-coast

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/19/eager-beaversexperts-at-recreating-wildlife-rich-wetlands-study-reveals

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/20/gray-wolf-usreintroduction-yellowstone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q
TASK

Mar Lodge estate in the Cairngorms, owned by the National Trust want to
introduce Grey Wolves, Brown Bears, Beavers and the Eurasian Lynx back into the
estate, and manage it as a rewilding study.




National Trust
Scottish Environment Agency
British Mountaineering Council
Scottish Association of Hoteliers



Local MPs
National Farmers Union
You will look at the following resources as a group and come up with a five
minute presentation, using evidence, arguing your groups’ side.
Starting points for research

https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/

https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/wolf-reintroductionchanges-ecosystem

https://www.livingwithwolves.org/wolf-issues/ranching-solution/

https://www.fastcompany.com/90378731/the-rewilding-wolves-and-bearsare-returning-to-europe

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/dec/18/brown-bearswolves-and-lynx-numbers-rising-in-europe

https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/mar-lodge-estate

https://www.nfuonline.com/news/staff-blogs/idea-of-rewilding-britainignores-economic-impact/

https://www.nfuonline.com/news/latest-news/blog-rewilding-national-parksthe-farmers-friend-or-enemy/