The Many Meanings of Rewilding: An Introduction and the Case for a Broad Conceptualisation

Environmental Values, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 27(4), P. 331 - 350

Published: July 8, 2018

In this paper, I (1) offer a general introduction of rewilding and (2) situate the concept in environmental philosophy. first part work from definitions typologies that have been put forth academic literature. To these, add secondary notions outside scientific literature are pertinent to meanings motivations beyond its use context. defend continued as single term, despite seemingly disparate usages, advance clustered eight overlapping characteristics way conceptualise these. argue breadth helps understanding wider interest an emerging phenomenon. paper's second part, turn three key issues philosophy order connect with historic themes of: exclusion humans wild or wilderness places, ontological purity areas through their non-human origins history, (3) cultural landscapes place. suggest carries on some main debate, but considering broadly allows tensions novel questions manifest important how should be discussed understood going forward.

Language: Английский

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Transformation of agricultural landscapes in the Anthropocene: Nature's contributions to people, agriculture and food security

Advances in ecological research/Advances in Ecological Research, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 193 - 253

Published: Jan. 1, 2020

Language: Английский

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Pleistocene Arctic megafaunal ecological engineering as a natural climate solution?

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 375(1794), P. 20190122 - 20190122

Published: Jan. 27, 2020

Natural climate solutions (NCS) in the Arctic hold potential to be implemented at a scale able substantially affect global climate. The strong feedbacks between carbon-rich permafrost, and herbivory suggest an NCS consisting of reverting current wet/moist moss shrub-dominated tundra sparse forest–tundra ecotone grassland through guild large herbivores. Grassland-dominated systems might delay permafrost thaw reduce carbon emissions—especially Yedoma regions, while increasing capture increased productivity grass forb deep root systems. Here we review environmental context megafaunal ecological engineering Arctic; explore mechanisms which it can help mitigate change; estimate its potential—based on bison horse, with aim evaluating feasibility generating ecosystem shift that is economically viable terms benefits sufficient play significant role change mitigation. Assuming megafaunal-driven find support for megafauna-based arctic yielding substantial income markets. However, scaling up such projects have effect challenging given number animals required over short period time. A first-cut business plan presented based practical information—costs infrastructure—from Pleistocene Park (northeastern Yakutia, Russia). 10 yr experimental phase incorporating three separate introductions herds approximately 1000 individuals each costed US$114 million, returns 0.3–0.4% −1 towards end period, greater than 1% after it. Institutional friction new technologies reintroductions are discussed. This article part theme issue ‘Climate ecosystems: threats, opportunities solutions'.

Language: Английский

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Elephant rewilding affects landscape openness and fauna habitat across a 92‐year period

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 33(3)

Published: Jan. 25, 2023

Trophic rewilding aims to promote biodiverse self-sustaining ecosystems through the restoration of ecologically important taxa and trophic interactions cascades they propagate. How effects manifest across broad temporal scales will determine ecosystem states; however, our understanding post-rewilding dynamics longer time periods is limited. Here we show that a megaherbivore, African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana), promotes landscape openness (i.e., various measures vegetation composition/complexity) modifies fauna habitat these continue up 92 years after reintroduction. We conducted space-for-time floristic survey assessment 17 attributes (e.g., diversity cover, ground wood, tree hollows) five comparable nature reserves in South savannah, where elephants were reintroduced between 1927 2003, finding reintroduction was positively correlated with some large-sized but negatively associated others coarse woody debris). then indexed site occurrence 2006 2018 using telemetry data found positive associations plant densities. Taken alongside longer-term survey, this suggests are attracted dense short term behavior increases long term. Our results suggest helps semi-open structure high importance for biodiversity. More generally, megafauna represents promising tool curb Earth's recent ecological losses highlights considering long-term responses when designing managing projects.

Language: Английский

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Ecological restoration and rewilding: two approaches with complementary goals?

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 99(3), P. 820 - 836

Published: Feb. 12, 2024

As we enter the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) and address urgent need to protect restore ecosystems their ecological functions at large scales, rewilding has been brought into limelight. Interest in this discipline is thus increasing, with a number of conceptual scientific papers published recent years. Increasing enthusiasm led discussions debates community about differences between restoration rewilding. The main goal review compare clarify position each field. Our results show that despite some (e.g. top-down versus bottom-up functional taxonomic approaches) notably distinct goals - recovery defined historically determined target ecosystem natural processes often no endpoint have common scope: following anthropogenic degradation. expanded progress However, it unclear whether there paradigm shift moving towards or vice versa. We underline complementarity time space To conclude, argue reconciliation these two fields nature conservation ensure could create synergy achieve scope.

Language: Английский

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