ElephanaticsWhat is Rewilding?
Rewilding, or re-wilding, activities are conservation efforts aimed at restoring and protecting natural processes and wilderness areas. This may include providing connectivity between such areas and protecting or reintroducing apex predators and keystone species.
Conservation work by Elephanatics’ Dr. Rene Beyers, Director, African Elephant Specialist:
Abstract from Guiding Principles for Rewilding:
Rewilding as an approach to large landscape restoration has been gaining substantial traction. We describe it as the process of restoring native ecosystems, following major human disturbance, to create a complete food web at all trophic levels as a sustainable and resilient ecosystem using biota that would have been present had the disturbance not occurred. Rewilding can be seen on a continuum of ecological restoration towards increased ecosystem integrity and autonomy and reduced human impact and intervention. It is complementary to other conservation approaches, such as protection and community conservation, which so far have failed to stop the continuous decline of species and degradation of nature. Rewilding has an important social dimension, engaging communities in the restoration of “wild” nature and providing hope for healthier ecosystems. The IUCN CEM Task Force on Rewilding consults with a broad community of experts and practitioners and aims to provide IUCN with a clear understanding of rewilding and a link to CEM priority areas. So far, the task force conducted a systematic review of the literature, developed initial guiding principles and performed a survey of rewilding pioneers. Two workshops in the US and Europe were held with academics, advocates, and rewilding practitioners. The workshops highlighted similarities and differences between the two continents in the ecological and human aspects of rewilding. A set of principles emerged as part of an ongoing development.
Continue reading more in link – Guiding Principles for Rewilding
Exploring Restoration, Rewilding, and Human Health
©2021 IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature
View full screen – Presentation Slides
Angela Andrade*, IUCN CEM Chair – Rene Beyers, Research Associate, Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia (Canada) – Stephen Carver, Senior Lecturer, School of Geography, University of Leeds; Co-chair, IUCN CEM Rewilding Thematic Group (UK) – Ian Convery, Professor of Environment and Society, University of Cumbria; Co-chair, IUCN CEM Rewilding Thematic Group (UK) – Adam Eagle, Chief Executive Officer, The LifescapeProject (UK) – Angie Luis, Professor of Disease Ecology, University of Montana (USA) –
Laurie B. Marczak, Scientific Publications Manager, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington (USA) – Cara R. Nelson, Professor of Restoration Ecology, University of Montana; Chair, IUCN CEM Ecosystem Restoration Thematic Group (USA) – Darrell Smith, Lecturer, Centre for National Parks& Protected Areas, Department of Science, Natural Resources & Outdoor Studies (UK) – Céline Surette, Professor, Faculty of Sciences, Université de Moncton (Canada) – Gerardo Suzan, Professor, Departamento de Etología y Fauna Silvestre, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Mexico) – Liette Vasseur, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University; Vice-chair, IUCN CEM North America and Chair, IUCN CEM Ecosystem Governance Thematic Group (Canada) – Carlos Zambrana-Torrelio, Associate Vice President for Conservation and Health, EcoHealthAlliance; Chair, IUCN CEM Ecosystem Management & Human Health (Bolivia/USA)
June 2020
Commission on Ecosystem Management – Ecosystem Restoration Webinars
