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Rewilding in a European Context

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Rewilding in a European Context INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES Rewilding in a European Context BY FRANS SCHEPERS and PAUL JEPSON ewilding is a powerful new term in conser- vation. Tis may be because it combines a sense of passion and feeling for wilder nature with Radvances in ecological science. In Europe, rewilding is gathering momentum as a young and vibrant movement of conservationists and citizens seeking a counterweight to our increasingly regulated lives, society, landscapes, and nature. It signifes a desire to rediscover the values of freedom, spontaneity, resilience, and wonder embodied in Europe’s natural heritage, and to revitalize conservation as a positive, future-oriented force. Rewilding is now widely reported in the European Frans Schepers Paul Jepson media. It is exciting, engaging, and challenging, and it promotes healthy debate and deliberation on what is nat- opportunity and indeed an imperative for larger rewilding ural and the natures we collectively wish to conserve and projects to link the restoration of natural processes with shape. In the context of Europe’s dynamic multicultural the modern economy and society. societies and landscapes, a distinct approach to rewild- Second, there has been an interesting resurgence of ing is unfolding – one that is shaped by our conservation iconic wildlife species in Europe over the last 40 to 50 heritage but that resets expectations of what is possible in years, both in mammals and birds. Wolf populations are European biodiversity conservation policy. In this article, rebuilding themselves in regions of Europe due to legal we present the latest thinking and developments on rewil- protection and processes of rural depopulation rather ding in Europe, with a focus on the eforts of Rewilding than active management. At the same time in large parts Europe and its many partners across the continent. of the continent, biodiversity is still decreasing due to the ongoing intensifcation of agriculture, forestry, and fsher- Rewilding in the European Context ies. Tus, the comeback of large carnivores is remarkable In Europe, just as in the United States, rewilding is and shows Europe has found ways of coexisteningwith developing in relation to the cultural and institutional such species, albeit not without challenges (Chapron et context of conservation. In the United States this context al. 2014). is infuenced by the wilderness ethic and the ability to Finally, the baseline for conservation policy in conserve functional ecosystems at a large scale. In Europe many European nations has been preindustrial agricul- there are some key diferences that afect the development ture, which requires the protection and maintenance of of rewilding. First, European ideas of the wild are wildlife-rich patches of cultural landscapes through active infuenced by long traditions of scientifc, recreational, scientifc management. Tis conservation approach, and cultural engagement with rugged landscapes. National which has been compared to restoring a painting that parks in regions such as the Alps and Pyrenees are much then needs curating, is at odds with the process-oriented more lived in and more developed in terms of recreational ethos of rewilding and the uncertain ecological and con- infrastructure than their US counterparts. Tis creates an servation dynamics this entails. AUGUST 2016 • VOLUME 22, NUMBER 2 International Journal of Wilderness 25 In the context of Europe, of nature conservation among Euro- • Reconnecting policy with a grass- rewilding is not synonymous with pean society. As such, rewilding in roots conservation sentiment and wilderness. It is about moving up the a European context is much broader a recognition that conservation scale of wildness within the constraints than “species reintroductions.” Te is a culturally dynamic as well as of what is possible. Rewilding is seen following principles are coming to a scientifc and technical pursuit as a process rather than a state, it is characterize and guide rewilding in (Jepson and Schepers 2016). about giving ecosystems a functional Europe as a distinct approach to con- “upgrade,” whatever their nature, servation. A Short History of Rewilding scale, or location. On a hypothetical • Restoring natural processes and Europe rewilding scale of 1–10, wilderness ecological dynamics, including A prominent factor in the emergence areas would already be at 9–10 and both those that are abiotic, such of European rewilding is the rise of restricting rewilding to this upper as river fows, and those that are functional ecology, which has exposed end would limit both its geographical biotic, such as the ecological web the extent to which in Europe we have scope and transformative potential. and food chain through reassem- come to accept degraded ecosystems bling lost guilds of animals in and introduced a new focus on A Working Definition for dynamic landscapes. restoring ecological functions. Also, European Rewilding • A gradated and situated approach, large-scale land abandonment and a Te scientifc literature presents a where the goal is to move up in substantial wildlife revival in regions number of defnitions of rewilding, the scale of wildness within the of Europe (Deinet et al. 2013) were but none fully captures the specifcs constraints of what is possible, identifed as a historic opportunity of Europe’s history, culture, landscape and interacting with local cul- for nature conservation and to build conditions, and the element of tural identities. new rural economies on wild values. coexistence, which are so relevant for • Taking inspiration from the past As a result, the number of popular conservation in Europe. In response, but not replicating it by develop- articles and books that connect Rewilding Europe published the ing new natural heritage and rewilding with public demand for following “working defnition” of values that evoke the past but more exciting engagements with rewilding in 2015 and is encouraging shape the future – with the point nature has increased rapidly during other organizations and initiatives to of reference in the future, not in the last few years. adopt it: the past. In 2008, conservationists in the Rewilding ensures that natural • Creating self-sustaining, robust eco- Netherlands, the United Kingdom, processes and wild species play systems (including reconnecting and Sweden began to explore the con- a much more prominent role in habitats and species populations servation opportunities presented by the land- and seascapes, meaning within wider landscapes) that these trends. Te group was particu- that after initial support, nature is provide resilience to external larly interested in engaging with the allowed to take more care of itself. threats and pressures, including dynamics of large-scale land abandon- Rewilding helps landscapes become the impact of climate change. ment of rural areas in Europe. Tey wilder, whilst also providing • Working toward the ideal of pas- were concerned that spontaneous opportunities for modern society to sive management, where once reforestation and declines in grazing reconnect with such wilder places restored, humans step back and associated with land abandonment for the beneft of all life. allow dynamic natural processes would result in a loss of the rich bio- to shape conservation outcomes. diversity, and that the exodus of skills, As such, rewilding is a multi- • Creating new natural assets that experience, and energy from rural faceted concept with three broad connect with modern society areas would undermine opportunities dimensions that interact with each and economy and promote to “steer” these landscapes towards other: (1) restoring and giving space innovation and enterprise in and a rewilded future where restored to natural processes, (2) reconnect- around natural areas, leading to ecological systems supported new ing wild(er) nature with the modern new nature-inspired economies nature-based economies. economy, and (3) responding to and that conversely also contribute Tis group was the founding shaping cosmopolitan perceptions to rewilding. inspiration for Rewilding Europe. 26 International Journal of Wilderness AUGUST 2016 • VOLUME 22, NUMBER 2 Tey set an agenda by asking if we heritage and an essential element of a Rewilding Europe central team. could develop and launch a new but modern, prosperous, and healthy Euro- Beyond developing these 10 complementary vision and approach pean society in the 21st century.” rewilding areas as showcases for its to conservation in Europe that would Rewilding Europe has devel- vision, Rewilding Europe is work- address such opportunities and chal- oped an ambitious strategy to put ing with the wider conservation lenges, and if we could pioneer and this vision into reality through fve community to create a supportive develop these new ideas in practice 10-year objectives (Figure 1). Tese environment for rewilding to take in areas across Europe, providing objectives are being pursued by root. An important step was made new perspectives for both nature and creating 10 rewilding areas in dif- thanks to eforts of Te WILD Foun- people. ferent geographical regions and in dation prior to and during WILD10 After three years of prepara- diferent socioeconomic settings in October 2013 in Salamanca tions and fund-raising, Rewilding across Europe. Areas have been (Spain), where “A Vision for a Wilder Europe was created in 2011 with chosen where rewilding is possible Europe” was presented and signed by support from the World Wide Fund at a scale of least 100,000 hectares 10 European
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