DOCSLIB.ORG

Innovative Finance Short Case Studies Innovative Finance

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Innovative Finance Short Case Studies Innovative Finance Innovative Finance Short Case Studies Innovative Finance Conservation Capital offers the following services within our Innovative Finance advisory division: Core Service: • New Financing Mechanisms Supporting Services: • Corporate Finance for Conservation Projects • Corporate Finance for Conservation Businesses • Natural Capital Valuation KEY TO SYMBOLS Tourism Residential Housing Agriculture Bio-products Livestock Public Sector Engagement Fisheries Private Sector Engagement Forestry Local Community Engagement Sport Hunting Developing Conservation Businesses 1 Umiliki Investments (pan-African) In partnership with African Wildlife Foundation, designed, capitalised - via the issuance of two ‘conservation bonds’ - and now manage Umiliki Investments as the first ever example of a fully commercial, collective investment fund for conservation enterprise in Africa, currently with US$ 7.4 million AUM across 9 investments, 3 sectors and 5 countries. 2 Rewilding Europe Capital (pan-European) In partnership with Rewilding Europe, designed, capitalised - with seed investors including the European Investment Bank, Dutch Postcode Lottery and a family foundation - and now manage Rewilding Europe Capital. The first example of a commercial conservation enterprise investment fund for rewilding enterprise in Europe, it currently operates with €6.5 million AUM and has completed 21 investments across 6 countries and 5 sectors. 3 Okavango Capital Partners (pan-African) Building on Umiliki Investments, Conservation Capital has co-founded a new investment group that aims to launch its first African fund targeting US$ 75 million AUM by Q1 2019. OCP will combine a commercial private equity driven approach with an active natural capital and ecosystems service focus, managed by a team that has collectively invested US$ 1 billion over 60 combined years of African operating experience. 4 Rhino Impact Investment (pan-African) Appointed by United for Wildlife - a group of international conservation NGOs - together with investment banks and law firms, on behalf of the UK’s Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex - to design, launch and manage a US$ 50 million outcomes- based financing model. It is the first ever investment instrument for species conservation targeting a financial return. Developing Conservation Businesses 5 Financing Biodiversity Offsets(Global) In partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society and Conservation International, we researched and completed a White Paper highlighting mechanisms for stimulating and structuring the financing of biodiversity offsets through institutional investors, private corporations and public funds. 6 Uganda Biodiversity Fund (Uganda) Following a business planning exercise, conducted with support from KfW Development Bank and the East African Development Bank, we designed the core governance, management and investment management structures for a proposed new Uganda Biodiversity Fund targeting a US$ 20 million initial revolving fund raise. The fund will focus on conservation projects and associated enterprises in Uganda. 7 Europe Wildlife Bank (Netherlands) Working with Rewilding Europe, played an integral role in designing the European Wildlife Bank – a ‘bank’ capitalised with mammal species targeted for reintroduction by Rewilding Europe. With a current ‘asset’ base of more than 750 animals, we arranged a €50,000 collateralized loan via Rewilding Europe Capital to purchase one of Europe’s last remaining herds of Maremmana cattle for the bank, securing a critical biological asset central to its mission. 8 Incentives For Old Growth Forest (pan-European) Partnered with Wild Europe to identify opportunities and associated instruments for ensuring that public and private landowners and users of old growth forests in Europe have sufficient financial incentives for engaging in their effective conservation. Corporate Finance for Conservation Projects 1 Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Kenya) Designed and secured equity funding for the founder US$ 21 million hybrid corporate and capital structure for the now world-famous, IUCN recognised Ol Pejeta Conservancy - the largest funding transaction in Kenya’s private sector conservation history at the time. 2 Loisaba (Kenya) Designed and secured debt and equity funding for the founder US$ 1.2 million hybrid corporate and capital structure for Loisaba - a pioneer commercial, integrated wildlife – livestock conservancy model, paving the way for the development of multiple such conservancies across Laikipia’s Ewaso ecosystem and beyond. 3 Borana Conservancy (Kenya) Designed and secured equity funding for the founder US$ 14 million hybrid corporate and capital structure for Borana - Kenya’s newest rhino sanctuary integrating wildlife with a diversified tourism, livestock, agriculture and residential commercial model. 4 Faia Brava Reserve (Portugal) Leveraging the local presence of an NGO partner, Associação Transumância e Natureza, we arranged €150,000 of debt finance to fund the development of 4 innovative tourism ventures – including importing the Starbed concept first developed at Loisaba in Kenya. Their combined cross-market product offering has significantly boosted local conservation related economies and international recognition of Faia Brava as a tourism destination. Corporate Finance for Conservation Business 1 Rungwe Avocado Company (Tanzania) Arranged US$ 1.1 million of senior convertible debt finance via Umiliki Investments for this innovative agricultural development company - a clear example of how investment in sustainable agriculture can drive both improved livelihoods and increased conservation incentives in high value natural landscapes. The debt has been converted to equity. 2 Sabinyo Silverback Lodge (Rwanda) Structured US$ 1.2 million of blended development capital via Umiliki Investments for the first wholly community owned lodge in Rwanda, and now both a leading tourism destination and key player in the mountain gorilla conservation movement, including a US$ 250,000 debt financing package – probably the first example of commercial debt ever being taken out by a local community in a conservation business development context. 3 Khoadi-Hôas Conservancy (Namibia) Arranged US$ 245,000 of senior debt finance via Umiliki Investments to fund the development of Grootberg Lodge, as the first ever example of a foreign debt investment into a community conservancy to be approved by the Bank of Namibia. 4 Linking Livestock Markets To Conservation (Kenya) Arranged US$ 220,000 of senior debt finance via Umiliki Investments to fund the development of a pioneering trading partnership between one of Kenya’s largest commercial livestock operations and a growing base of pastoralist communities across the semi-arid savannah landscapes of northern Kenya. This leveraged US$ 7 million of follow-on investment by The Nature Conservancy. Corporate Finance for Conservation Business 5 Asilia Camps & Lodges (Tanzania, Kenya) Arranged US$ 2 million of senior debt finance via Umiliki Investments to fund the expansion of this conservation tourism group’s footprint into both traditional and frontier contexts. The funding structure includes an innovative performance-based rebate mechanism based on Asilia’s engagement in high value frontier conservation areas with negligible existing tourism economies. 6 COMACO (Zambia) Arranged US$ 400,000 of senior debt finance via Umiliki Investments to fund the expansion of this pioneering agricultural concern linking rural communities in one of Africa’s most important natural landscapes (the Luangwa Valley) with urban consumers through an entire value chain (production – processing – retail) of environmentally smart field-to-fork products. 7 Bale Mountains Lodge (Ethiopia) Arranged US$ 935,000 of senior debt finance via Umiliki Investments to fund the development of this eco-lodge in Bale Mountains National Park - the first ever conservation tourism facility to be developed within an Ethiopian national park, setting an important precedent for others to follow. 8 Limalimo Lodge (Ethiopia) Arranged US$ 872,000 of senior debt finance via Umiliki Investments to fund the development of this eco-lodge in Simien Mountains National Park – the second ever conservation tourism facility in an Ethiopian national park. Funding structure included an innovative royalty mechanism designed to generate funding for local education support initiatives. Corporate Finance for Conservation Business 9 The Forest (Kenya) Arranged US$ 1.4 million of senior debt finance via Umiliki Investments to fund the development of this adventure centre and eco-lodge as the first ever tourism development concession undertaken by the Kenya Forest Service. Specifically targeting Kenya’s rapidly emerging middle class, it welcomed 39,000 guests in its first full year of operation. 10 SnowChange Cooperative (Finland) In the first European deal of its kind, through Rewilding Europe Capital we structured a €275,000 loan to purchase and restore over 3,000 hectares of degraded peatlands providing considerable carbon sinks to support climate change mitigation. A pioneering carbon offset mechanism leveraging CORSIA aviation offset regulations constitutes the primary repayment model. 11 Lagosta Wilderness Reserve (Croatia) Arranged €80,000 of debt financing via Rewilding Europe Capital to purchase a controlling equity stake on behalf of Rewilding Europe in a 16,000-hectare hunting concession within Velebit Nature Park. Over 80% of the reserve is now a designated ‘no-take’
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Governing with Nature: a European Perspective on Putting Rewilding Rstb.Royalsocietypublishing.Org Principles Into Practice
    Downloaded from http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/ on October 24, 2018 Governing with nature: a European perspective on putting rewilding rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org principles into practice P. Jepson1, F. Schepers2 and W. Helmer2 1School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK Research 2Rewilding Europe, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands Cite this article: Jepson P, Schepers F, PJ, 0000-0003-1419-9981 Helmer W. 2018 Governing with nature: a European perspective on putting rewilding Academic interest in rewilding is moving from commentary to discussion on future research agendas. The quality of rewilding research design will be principles into practice. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B enhanced if it is informed by knowledge of the rewilding practice. Here, 373: 20170434. we describe the conceptual origins and six case study examples of a mode http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2017.0434 of rewilding that emerged in the Dutch Delta and is being promoted and supported by Rewilding Europe, an umbrella organization established in Accepted: 11 August 2018 2011. The case experiences presented help position this version of rewilding in relation to the US 3C’s version and point towards a rewilding action philosophy characterized by pragmatic realism and pioneer projects One contribution of 16 to a theme issue around which multiactor networks interested in policy innovation and ‘Trophic rewilding: consequences for change form. We argue that scaling-up the models of rewilding presented ecosystems under
    [Show full text]
  • Aurochs Genetics, a Cornerstone of European Biodiversity
    Aurochs genetics, a cornerstone of European biodiversity Picture: Manolo Uno (c) Staffan Widstrand Authors: • drs. Ronald Goderie (Taurus Foundation); • dr. Johannes A. Lenstra (Utrecht University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine); • Maulik Upadhyay (pHD Wageningen University); • dr. Richard Crooijmans (Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University); • ir. Leo Linnartz (Ark Nature) Summary of: Aurochs Genetics, a cornerstone of biodiversity Preface In 2015 a report is written on Aurochs genetics, made possible by a grant from the Dutch Liberty Wildlife fund. This fund provided the Taurus foundation with a grant of EUR 20.000 to conduct genetic research on aurochs and its relation with nowadays so- called ‘primitive’ breeds. This is the summary of that report. This summary shortly describes the current state of affairs, what we do know early 2015 about the aurochs, about domestic cattle and the relationship of aurochs and the primitive breeds used in the Tauros Programme. Nijmegen, December 2015. page 2 Summary of: Aurochs Genetics, a cornerstone of biodiversity Table of contents Preface 2 Table of contents ......................................................................................................... 3 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 4 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 6 2 Aurochs: a short description .................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Bison Rewilding Plan 2014–2024 Rewilding Europe’S Contribution to the Comeback of the European Bison
    Bison Rewilding Plan 2014–2024 Rewilding Europe’s contribution to the comeback of the European bison Advised by the Zoological Society of London Rewilding Europe This report was made possible by generous grants Bison Rewilding Plan, 2014–2024 by the Swedish Postcode Lottery (Sweden) and the Liberty Wildlife Fund (The Netherlands). Author Joep van de Vlasakker, Rewilding Europe Advised by Dr Jennifer Crees, Zoological Society of London Dr Monika Böhm, Zoological Society of London Peer-reviewed by Prof Jens-Christian Svenning, Aarhus University, Denmark Dr Rafal Kowalczyk, Director Mammal Research Institute / Polish Academy of Sciences / Bialowieza A report by Rewilding Europe Toernooiveld 1 6525 ED Nijmegen The Netherlands www.rewildingeurope.com About Rewilding Europe Founded in 2011, Rewilding Europe (RE) wants to make Europe a wilder place, with much more space for wildlife, wilderness and natural processes, by bringing back a variety of wildlife for all to enjoy and exploring new ways for people to earn a fair living from the wild. RE aims to rewild one million hectares of land by 2022, creating 10 magnificent wildlife and wilderness areas, which together reflect a wide selection of European regions and ecosystems, flora and fauna. Further information: www.rewildingeurope.com About ZSL Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity whose vision is a world where animals are valued, and their conservation assured. Our mission, to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats, is realised through our groundbreaking science, our active conservation projects in more than 50 countries and our two Zoos, ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.
    [Show full text]
  • Rewilding Europe
    Rewilding Europe Making Europe a Wilder Place • Turning problems into opportunities • Rewilding a million hectares • Building Rewilding enterprises • Massive public outreach S S taffan taffan taffan M AN Wi Wi u dstrand dstrand dstrand EL P rest i / / / w w w i i i ld wonders of e wonders ld of e wonders ld of e wonders ld u u u rope rope rope Bringing back the variety of life for us all to enjoy. Exploring new ways for people to earn a fair living from the wild. Colofon Rewilding Europe originates from an initiative by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Netherlands, ARK Nature, Wild Wonders of Europe and Conservation Capital © 2012 Text: Magnus Sylvén, Staffan Widstrand, Rewilding Europe Frans Schepers, Neil Birnie, Twan Teunissen/ Toernooiveld 1 Rewilding Europe 6525 ED Nijmegen © 2012 Photographs: Wild Wonders of Europe The Netherlands Cover photo: Staffan Widstrand. Back cover photo: Diego López/Wild Wonders of Europe [email protected] Graphics: Roel Venderbosch www.rewildingeurope.com Design: Nies & Partners www.facebook.com/rewildingeurope Logo and style: Plural design Print: Van Eck & Oosterink Rewilding Europe is an ambitious, new initiative which Danube Delta (Romania), the Eastern Carpathians aims to turn a problematic situation into an opportunity. (Poland, Slovakia), the Southern Carpathians (Romania), The urbanisation and the depopulation of rural areas is Velebit (Croatia) and Western Iberia (Portugal, Spain). In What are presently resulting in large-scale land abandonment of 2011, the Rewilding Europe Foundation, a not-for-profit the countryside in many parts of Europe. Instead of only foundation, was formally registered. In 2013, an additional being perceived as a problem, this could also be turned set of five rewilding areas will be presented at WILD 10, into an opportunity.
    [Show full text]
  • Rewilding John Carey, Science Writer
    CORE CONCEPTS CORE CONCEPTS Rewilding John Carey, Science Writer America’s vast forests and plains, Siberia’s tundra, or Such a restoration would bring back vital but lost Romania’s Carpathian Mountains may seem wild and ecological processes and benefits, Martin and others full of life. But they’re all missing something big: the large came to believe. Without mammoths and millions of animals that vanished by the end of the Pleistocene Ep- aurochs and other grazers (and wolves and big cats to och, roughly 10,000 years ago. In the United States, only keep the herbivores in check), the enormously pro- bones and echoing footsteps remain of the mammoths, ductive grasslands of the Pleistocene turned into camels, massive armadillo-like glyptodonts, lions, dire today’s far less productive forest, shrub land, and wolves, and saber-toothed cats that roamed for millennia. mossy tundra, with a major loss of ecosystem com- “Without knowing it, Americans live in a land of ghosts,” plexity and diversity. “Paul realized there was a big wrote the late University of Arizona scientist Paul Martin missing ecosystem component—the megafauna,” ex- in his 2005 book, Twilight of the Mammoths: Ice Age plains Harry Greene, professor of ecology and evolu- Extinctions and the Rewilding of America (1). tionary biology at Cornell. “Everything in North Some scientists and others now argue that we America evolved with about 58 to 60 big mammals should be bringing some of those ghosts back, part of that went extinct.” a controversial movement to “rewild” parts of Europe That realization sparked a growing effort to recre- and North America, whether by reintroducing extant ate the lost past, especially in Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • Three-Year Strategic Plan 2017-2019
    Three-Year Strategic Plan 2017-2019 Approved by the Supervisory Board of Rewilding Europe Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 29 November 2016 Rewilding Europe – Strategic Plan 2017-2019 Page 1 1. Corporate positioning 1.1. The initiative Rewilding Europe is the first and only European-wide initiative that uses a unique and historical opportunity in Europe to advocate a vision for a wilder Europe. This is done through creating large areas of wild nature and abundant wildlife across our continent that become inspirational showcases in this process, working in support of both Europe’s nature and people. Historic opportunity Rewilding Europe was initiated and founded in 2011 by a number of individuals that want to take advantage of a historic opportunity that is unfolding in Europe, caused by: - Large scale land abandonment in rural areas in Europe (both in agricultural and in forested areas), where associated socio-economic problems can be turned into new opportunities, - A substantial comeback of a number of iconic and keystone wildlife species, offering great opportunities for Europeans to enjoy and benefit from this wildlife resurgence, - An increasing demand – alongside increasing urbanisation – for urban people who want to go out and experience wild nature and see wildlife, combined with an increasing tolerance towards wild animals, - A more favourable European policy towards wildlife, wilderness and rewilding, in particular related to the recently approved wilderness resolution and new biodiversity strategy for Europe, the existence if the Natura 2000 Network, the Emerald Network and the Habitat and Bird Directives, - The opportunity rewilding provides as a cost-effective way to manage Natura 2000 areas – Europe’s main network of protected areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Movement and Spatial Distribution of Mammal Species at Wildlife Crossings in the Abruzzo Region of the Central Apennines, Italy
    Page | 1 Plymouth, PL4 8AA Movement and Spatial Distribution of Mammal Species at wildlife crossings in the Abruzzo region of the Central Apennines, Italy. May 2020 Student Name: Guy J. C. Slater-Harris Student Number: Programme: BSc Environmental Science Module: ENVS3001 Project Advisor: Dr. Richard Sandford Word count: 6243 Disclaimer The research presented in this dissertation is original and has been carried out by the undersigned except where otherwise stated Page | 2 Abstract This importance of wildlife connectivity in fragmented habitats is widely known. This study aimed to assess the use of wildlife crossings within a wildlife corridor in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Wildlife corridors, along a stretch of state road SS17, maintained in an effort to reduce the impacts of habitat fragmentation, mitigate human-wildlife conflict and reduce biodiversity loss, were monitored with camera traps over a period of three months. The camera traps were used to record and monitor the number of individual animals/species utilising wildlife crossings and the footage was reviewed in order to identify possible trends in the movement of spatial distribution of species in relation to certain factors specifically predator presence, altitude, time. Fourteen wild species and two domestic species were identified utilising the wildlife crossings. Red Deer and Roe Deer were the most frequently observed species. Animals were recorded on the crossing more often at night time than during the day. Possible correlation in Red and Roe Deer numbers in relation to predator presence and altitude were investigated, and though no significant correlation was determined, there appeared to be a trend which could form the hypothesis of a further study.
    [Show full text]
  • Three-Year Strategic Plan 2019-2021
    Three-Year Strategic Plan 2019-2021 Approved by the Supervisory Board of Rewilding Europe Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 25 March 2019 1 1. Corporate positioning 1.1. The initiative Rewilding Europe is the first and only European-wide initiative that uses a unique and historical opportunity in Europe to advocate a vision for a wilder Europe. This is done through creating large areas of wild nature and abundant wildlife across our continent that become inspirational showcases in this process, working in support of both Europe’s nature and people. Historic opportunity Rewilding Europe was initiated and founded in 2011 by a number of individuals that want to take advantage of a historic opportunity that is unfolding in Europe, caused by: - Large scale land abandonment in rural areas in Europe (both in agricultural and in forested areas), where associated socio-economic problems can be turned into new opportunities, - A substantial comeback of a number of iconic and keystone wildlife species, offering great opportunities for Europeans to enJoy and benefit from this wildlife resurgence, - An increasing demand – alongside increasing urbanisation – for urban people who want to go out and experience wild nature and see wildlife, combined with an increasing tolerance towards wild animals, - The opportunity rewilding provides as a cost-effective way to manage Natura 2000 areas – Europe’s main network of protected areas. - Developing European nature policy, such as the new EU Biodiversity Strategy post 2020, and relevant sectors such as climate change, water management, energy, agriculture and circular economy. Vision Wild nature1 is recognised as a fundamental part of Europe's heritage and an essential element in a modern, prosperous, and healthy society.
    [Show full text]
  • Rewilding-Europe-Brochure-2012.Pdf
    Rewilding Europe Making Europe a Wilder Place • Turning problems into opportunities • Rewilding a million hectares • Building Rewilding enterprises • Massive public outreach S S taffan taffan taffan taffan M AN Wi Wi u dstrand dstrand dstrand dstrand el el P rest i / / / w w w i i i ld wonders of e wonders ld ld wonders of e wonders ld ld wonders of e wonders ld u u u rope rope rope Bringing back the variety of life for us all to enjoy. Exploring new ways for people to earn a fair living from the wild. Colofon Rewilding Europe originates from an initiative by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Netherlands, ARK Nature, Wild Wonders of Europe and Conservation Capital © 2012 Text: Magnus Sylvén, Staffan Widstrand, Rewilding Europe Frans Schepers, Neil Birnie, Twan Teunissen/ Toernooiveld 1 Rewilding Europe 6525 ED Nijmegen © 2012 Photographs: Wild Wonders of Europe The Netherlands Cover photo: Staffan Widstrand. Back cover photo: Diego López/Wild Wonders of Europe [email protected] Graphics: Roel Venderbosch www.rewildingeurope.com Design: Nies & Partners www.facebook.com/rewildingeurope Logo and style: Plural design Print: Van Eck & Oosterink Rewilding Europe is an ambitious, new initiative which Danube Delta (Romania), the Eastern Carpathians aims to turn a problematic situation into an opportunity. (Poland, Slovakia), the Southern Carpathians (Romania), The urbanisation and the depopulation of rural areas is Velebit (Croatia) and Western Iberia (Portugal, Spain). In What are presently resulting in large-scale land abandonment of 2011, the Rewilding Europe Foundation, a not-for-profit the countryside in many parts of Europe. Instead of only foundation, was formally registered.
    [Show full text]
  • Making Rewilding Fit for Policy
    Received: 16 October 2017 | Accepted: 19 December 2017 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13082 POLICY DIRECTION Making rewilding fit for policy Nathalie Pettorelli1 | Jos Barlow2 | Philip A. Stephens3 | Sarah M. Durant1 | Ben Connor4 | Henrike Schulte to Bühne1 | Christopher J. Sandom5 | Jonathan Wentworth6 | Johan T. du Toit7 1Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK; 2Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK; 3Conservation Ecology Group, Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK; 4British Ecological Society, Charles Darwin House, London, UK; 5School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK; 6Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Houses of Parliament, London, UK and 7Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA Correspondence Nathalie Pettorelli Abstract Email: [email protected] 1. Rewilding, here defined as “the reorganisation of biota and ecosystem processes to Handling Editor: Martin Nuñez set an identified social–ecological system on a preferred trajectory, leading to the self- sustaining provision of ecosystem services with minimal ongoing manage- ment,” is increasingly considered as an environmental management option, with potential for enhancing both biodiversity and ecosystem services. 2. Despite burgeoning interest in the concept, there are uncertainties and difficulties as- sociated with the practical implementation of rewilding projects, while the evidence available for facilitating sound decision- making for rewilding
    [Show full text]
  • NATURAL GRAZING Practices in the Rewilding of Cattle and Horses Text Roeland Vermeulen / FREE Nature
    NATURAL GRAZING Practices in the rewilding of cattle and horses Text Roeland Vermeulen / FREE Nature Cover photogrpaph This document has been revised and reviewed for Rewilding Europe. Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe ISBN Drawings 978-90-822514-2-5 Jeroen Helmer / ARK Nature, Esther Linnartz / ARK Nature © 2015 All texts: Roeland Vermeulen, FREE Nature Graphic design © 2015 All photographs: the respective photographers and the image sources Kristjan Jung / Rewilding Europe NATURAL GRAZING Practices in the rewilding of cattle and horses ROELAND VERMEULEN • FREE NATURE JULY 2015 Table of contents 1. Natural grazing: a natural process . 3 1.1 Co-evolution of plants and herbivores. 3 1.2 Natural grazing: a natural process . 3 2. Herbivory; species and strategy . 4 2.1 From caterpillar to bison . 4 2.2 Species and feeding strategies . 4 2.3 Wild horses and cattle: a crucial link. 5 2.3.1 Aurochs and cattle . 6 2.3.2 Wild horses . 6 2.4 Interactions between species. 6 2.5 Natural population densities . 6 2.6 Minimum range. 7 3. Rewilding horses and cattle . 8 3.1 Lost wild ancestors . 8 3.2 Breeds and diversity . 9 3.3 Selecting criteria . .10 3.4 Wild cattle . .11 3.5 Horses . .11 4. Rewilding practices. .12 4.1 To become self supporting. .12 4.2 Human versus natural selection . 12 4.3 Genetic management and inbreeding . 14 4.4 Dealing with water shortage . .15 4.5 Dealing with severe winters . 15 4.6 Release into the wild . 15 4.7 Damage control . .16 4.8 Dealing with wolves .
    [Show full text]
  • Rewilding Europe: a New Strategy for an Old Continent
    Chapter 9 Rewilding Europe: A New Strategy for an Old Continent Wouter Helmer, Deli Saavedra, Magnus Sylvén and Frans Schepers Abstract The European landscape is changing and new opportunities for conserva- tion are arising. The main driver of this change is an unprecedented shift in agricul- tural practices that started in the mid-twentieth century. As a result, shepherds and small-scale farmers release nearly 1 million ha of land from agriculture, each year. Although land abandonment is often seen as a major socio-economic problem, it could also be an opportunity for a new rural development based on nature and wild values. This idea can be further enhanced by the comeback of a number of iconic wildlife species, by an increased network of protected areas, by better legislation and enforcement, and a more favourable environment policy. Rewilding Europe responds to these major changes in the European landscape by ceasing this oppor- tunity for both the European natural heritage and Europeans. The initiative aims to rewild 1 million ha of land by 2022, creating ten wildlife and wilderness areas all across Europe. Besides the ecological benefits of rewilding abandoned land- scapes, wild values can create new opportunities for entrepreneurship in these areas, while a restored and preserved wildlife will attract many visitors to watch, enjoy and experience the wild. Ultimately, a large-scale shift in land use across Europe towards wilder nature and innovative ways to use this resource for employment and subsistence could be achieved, thus turning threats and problems into opportunities. Keywords Rewilding Europe · Land abandonment · Wildlife comeback · Rewilding enterprise · Wild values · Key species W.
    [Show full text]