Methods of Conservation: Rewilding

What is rewilding? Rewilding is a large-scale effort that focuses on ecosystem health and restoring sustainable biodiversity. The goals of rewilding consist of restoring healthy and sustainable ecosystem function and lessening the species extinction crisis. Rewilding is necessary for environments where the balance of ecosystem function has been disturbed.

There are a few requirements to achieve rewilding. First, the identification of wild core areas. Second, the determination of what habitats and species are present. Third, the assessment of the health of the ecosystem in the area. Fourth, determining if there are pollutants. And lastly, finding out the history and ownership of the land to determine if there are any wildlife corridors to other core areas.

In simple instances, assessing the land and removing any remnants of humans such as fences, roads, or dams, and stopping fishing, hunting, or harvesting may be sufficient to allow the area to rewild on its own. In more complex cases, the planting of depleted plant species and the reintroduction of depleted wildlife may be needed.