What is Rewilding?

What is “Rewilding” and can it be done in Devon?

One of the seemingly new “Buzzwords” in the field of Conservation is “Rewilding”, but what

exactly is it? 

If you look for a definition of the word, then you will find the following:

“Rewilding is a form of ecological restoration aimed at increasing biodiversity and restoring

natural processes. It differs from other forms of ecological restoration in that rewilding

aspires to reduce human influence on ecosystems.”

In essence, Rewilding is using nature in a way that helps the land to heal itself.

When we look at the verdant rolling hills of Dartmoor you could be forgiven for thinking that it

is a healthy, diverse and productive place for wildlife to thrive.

However, if we look at what our countryside used to be like before mankind made its mark on it the reality is dramatically different.

Dartmoor was once part of a huge, continuous broadleaf forest teaming with life. 

It was home to a diverse number of plant and animal species from the smallest of insects to large carnivores such as Lynx, Wolf and Brown Bear.

In the cascading streams and rivers you would find beavers and Otters. 

Salmon and trout were abundant and, in the estuaries, lay vast beds of native oysters. Just off the coast you would find complex marine ecosystems with abundant fish life supporting large numbers of sharks and whales. 

Animals such as Fallow Deer, Grey Squirrel domestic sheep and cattle were yet to arrive.

In their place native herbivores such as Wild Boar, and Aurochs (an ancient breed of wild cattle) and Red Deer would live in harmony. 

Their numbers controlled by predators to prevent over-grazing of the forests and grasslands.

In this truly wild state Nature thrived. 

Species of plants and animals coexisted without the need for intervention. 

Grasslands and forests locked up carbon and controlled the flow of water with the whole of Nature contributing enormously to a balanced environment.

The rewilding movement aims to restore, at least in part, this natural balance by allowing the

land to heal itself.

Historically conservation has relied heavily on human intervention such as active tree

planting, peat bog restoration, managing the land for individual species and focusing on

single habitats.

These efforts do yield positive outcomes; however, these outcomes are very often limited by

the narrow focus of the work.

We have come to realise that the best way to restore nature is to let nature restore itself. 

By removing manmade constrictions on the environment, we see habitats recover rapidly with dramatic results. 

Re-wiggling rivers and streams, removing damns and weirs results in a rapid recovery in the number of fish, invertebrate and mammal species in these wetland habitats. 

The presence of Beaver in the landscape speeds up this process even more.

Significantly reducing grazing pressure on grasslands, meadows and forests by reducing the

number of large grazing animals (sheep, cattle and deer) allows these habitats to rebound.

Forests rejuvenate, wildflower meadows thrive and as a result pollinating insects and the

food web that relies on them return in very short order.

The ultimate goal of many rewilding programmes is to carry out these transformations on a

very large scale. 

These projects are often called Landscape Scale. 

Some prime examples in the UK can be found in the Scotland with projects like The Affric Highlands (Affric Highlands | Rewilding Europe). 

In Europe a couple of outstanding examples include The Southern Carpathians (Southern Carpathians | Rewilding Europe) and The Greater Coa Valley (Greater Côa Valley | Rewilding Europe).

Often the end target in these conservation programmes is the re-introduction of large

predators as they are regarded as key stones required to allow naturally self-regulating

ecosystems.

In mainland Europe the focus is often on wolves, bears and Lynx. 

Indeed, these species have been proposed for rewilding projects here in the UK but to date no project has ever been granted permission.

Perhaps we can start smaller? 

There are proposals here in the Southwest to look at the reintroduction of the European Wildcat and the Pine Marten. 

Both species existed in our landscapes in recent history and pose no threat to humans on native wildlife. 

Would you support a managed reintroduction programme for either of these species here in the Southwest? 

What would be you concerns, if you have them?

At Dartmoor Zoo we have Iberian Wolves, Carpathian Lynx and European Wildcat. 

We are active participants in the Conservation Breeding Programmes for these important species and going forward we will be working with the project teams on the ground making these Rewilding Projects work.