Rewilding – from Theory to Practice�A “quick” overview

Zoltan Kun, Head of Conservation, Wild Europe

Member of IUCN Rewilding Thematic Group (CEM)

IUCN Rewilding Working Group (cross commission)

A presentation recycled from

Dr. Ian Convery, University of Cumbria &

Dr. Steve Carver, University of Leeds

Overview

• Why are we talking about rewilding?
• What is rewilding and what is its history?
• Rewilding and restoration
• The IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management Rewilding Thematic Group and the Rewilding Principles
• Rewilding case studies & personal stories
• Questions & Answers

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Why rewilding?

• 6^th mass extinction
• Current conservation strategies are not sufficient…
• Fortress Conservation isn’t working
• Species extinction crisis
• Sharp decline in abundance of wildlife �(WWF Living Planet Report 2018, State of Nature, 2020, IPBES report 2019)
• Many species not covered by protected areas (PAs)
• Ecosystems continue to degrade, even in PA’s (Paper Parks)
• Many PA’s not big/connected enough for fully functioning food webs
• Static boundaries of PAs do not accommodate change

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Fortress Conservation isn’t working

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Sharp Decline in Abundance of Wildlife: Living Planet Index

WWF. 2018. Living Planet Report - 2018: Aiming Higher. Grooten, M. and Almond, R.E.A.(Eds). WWF, Gland, Switzerland.

Indicator of the state of global biodiversity and the health of our planet.

60% decline across indicator species 1970 – 2016 Average abundance of 16,704 populations representing 4,005 species monitored across the globe

IPBES – 1m species face extinction

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Table 4. Percentages of wildlife found within protected areas relative to national totals, averaged for the 1990's.

Western D, Russell S, Cuthill I (2009) The Status of Wildlife in Protected Areas Compared to Non-Protected Areas of Kenya. PLOS ONE 4(7): e6140. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0006140

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0006140

Most biodiversity not covered by Protected Areas (PAs)…�

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65%

Díaz, S., J. Settele, E.S. Brondízio, H.T. Ngo, J. Agard, A. Arneth, P. Balvanera, K.A. Brauman, S.H.M. Butchart, K.M.A. Chan, et al. (2019). “Pervasive human-driven decline of life on Earth points to the need for transformative change.” Science 366(6471):

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INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

Time for a new approach to restore nature…one which promotes, connectivity, co-existence and the importance of core conservation areas

Rewilding history and definition

• 1990: Jennifer Foote first person to use the word (Newsweek)
• 1993: Dave Foreman “Around the campfire” in Wild Earth
• 1998: Soulé & Noss published Rewilding and Biodiversity in Wild Earth
• 2004: Foreman: Rewilding North America: a vision for conservation in the 21st C
• Original 3 Cs…

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Core areas, Connectivity between them and role of large Carnivores in regulating ecosystems (they need large areas and movement corridors)

Soulé M, Noss R. 1998. Rewilding and Biodiversity: complementary goals for continental conservation. Wild Earth

So what is rewilding?

the process of rebuilding, following major human disturbance, a natural ecosystem

by restoring natural processes and

the complete or near complete food-web at all trophic levels as a self-sustaining and resilient ecosystem

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This will involve a paradigm shift in the relationship between humans and nature

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The ultimate goal of rewilding is the restoration of functioning native ecosystems complete with fully occupied trophic levels that are nature-led across a range of landscape scales

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Rewilded ecosystems should - where possible - be self-sustaining requiring no or minimum-intervention management (i.e. natura naturans or “nature doing what nature does”), recognising that ecosystems are dynamic and not static.

Some rewilding fallacies…

• It’s about looking backward, trying to recreate ecosystems from thousands of years ago…
• Its about ‘rewilding everywhere’…that would just be plain stupid, we still need food and important commodities like timber, etc.
• It’s anti-farming (see above point about food)
• It’s anti-people…nope, rewilding nature and rewilding ourselves go hand in hand
• It’s really only about bringing back carnivores such as wolves and bear…species reintroductions can be an important rewilding tool but this is always context specific and is driven by science and ecosystem function

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从生态恢复到再野化

Restoration = Human-led, Nature-enabled

Rewilding = Nature-led, Human-enabled

all rewilding is restoration (species/ecological processes), but not all restoration is rewilding…rewilding projects emphasise and promote the autonomy of ecological processes…wildness” is understood not as the absence of people, but in terms of nonhuman agency…rewilding is ‘controlled decontrolling’ to promote the agency of non-human biophysical

processes.

Rewilding vs Ecological Restoration

• Ongoing discussion but diverging 🡪 converging concepts?
• Avoid creating islands
• Rewilding = Nature-led, Human-enabled�Restoration = Human-led, Nature-enabled
• Focus on animals as keystone species
• 3Cs

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PRINCIPLE 1: ENGAGES STAKEHOLDERS

Ecological restoration projects recognize and acknowledge the interests and contributions of diverse stakeholders, particularly local stakeholders, and actively seek their direct involvement to provide mutual benefits to both nature and society.

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PRINCIPLE 2: IS INFORMED BY NATIVE REFERENCE ECOSYSTEMS, WHILE CONSIDERING ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

The use of reference models enhances the potential for native species and communities to recover and continue to reassemble, adapt, and evolve.

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PRINCIPLE 3: DRAWS ON MANY TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE

The practice of ecological restoration benefits from a combination of acquired practitioner knowledge, Traditional Ecological

Knowledge, Local Ecological Knowledge, and scientific discovery

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PRINCIPLE 4: SUPPORTS ECOSYSTEM RECOVERY PROCESSES

Practitioners enhance the natural recovery carried out by plants and animals in interaction with each other and their shared environment.

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PRINCIPLE 5: IS ASSESSED AGAINST CLEAR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, USING MEASURABLE INDICATORS

In the planning phase of restoration projects, the project vision, targets, goals, and objectives are clearly identified, along with specific indicators used to measure progress.

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PRINCIPLE 6: GAINS CUMULATIVE VALUE WHEN APPLIED AT LARGE SCALES

Ecological restoration aims for the highest practicable level of recovery appropriate to the circumstances.

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PRINCIPLE 7: SEEKS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ECOSYSTEM RECOVERY POSSIBLE

Ecological restoration projects can have beneficial outcomes regardless of their spatial scale. However, many ecosystem processes operate at larger spatial scales, such as the watershed or basin level, and scaling-up restoration actions is required to address some

ecological and global sustainability needs.

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PRINCIPLE 8: IS PART OF A CONTINUUM OF RESTORATIVE ACTIVITIES

Ecological restoration is one of many strategies that can, to varying degrees, contribute to biodiversity conservation, increase carbon sequestration and the delivery of other vital ecosystem services, improve human health, wellbeing, and livelihoods, and enhance positive human connections with nature.

Rewilding AND/OR Ecological Restoration?

all rewilding is restoration (species/ecological processes), but not all restoration is rewilding…rewilding projects emphasise and promote the autonomy of ecological processes…wildness” is understood not as the absence of people, but in terms of nonhuman agency…rewilding is ‘controlled decontrolling to promote the agency of nonhuman biophysical

processes.

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Rewilding AND/OR Ecological Restoration?

Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.

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• Ecological restoration - returning an ecosystem back to the way it was

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• Reintroduction - returning a species back to where it used to live

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• Rewilding - returning a managed area back to the wild…

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INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

The IUCN CEM Rewilding Thematic Group��

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Consult and ‘unite’ scientists, academics, advocates, practitioners and recreational experts working in the field of rewilding…create a common basis for the development and understanding of rewilding…establish common ground with current ecosystem conservation initiatives

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Provide CEM with a clear understanding of rewilding (history, definitions, traditions, futures) and link to CEM Priority Areas

Initial Aims of the Rewilding Task Force (2017)

In order to do this we have:

• Surveyed rewilding pioneers
• Systematic literature review
• Developed ‘guiding principles’ (working with panel)
• Tested guiding principles at workshops in 2019/2020
• Produced IUCN concept note – development of rewilding continuum model

Draft Rewilding Guiding Principles (RPGs)

The goal of rewilding is the restoration of functioning native ecosystems complete with fully occupied trophic levels that are nature-led across a range of landscape scales. Rewilded ecosystems should be self-sustaining requiring non/minimum intervention management (i.e. natura naturans or “nature doing what nature does”), recognising that ecosystems are dynamic and not static.

Rewilding principles should be consistent, where appropriate, with evolving principles and standards for ecological restoration, nature-based solutions, and the CBD Ecosystem Approach.

Rewilding can be described as the process of rebuilding of 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 should be consistent with the following principles:�

1. Rewilding utilizes wildlife to restore trophic interactions
• Includes re-introduction/ population reinforcement of apex predators and keystone species
2. Rewilding should employ landscape-scale planning that includes core areas, connectivity and co-existence.
• Core areas (protected areas etc.)
• Connectivity for free movement of species
• Co-existence of wild species and humans in integrated landscape
3. Rewilding requires local engagement and support.
1. Inclusive, local consultation and participatory planning
2. Encourage public understanding of wild nature and address concerns about co-existence

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Rewilding should be consistent with the following principles:�

4. Rewilding focuses on the recovery of ecological processes, interactions and conditions based on reference ecosystems.
1. Use of an appropriate ecological reference which can be based on:
2. Contemporary natural reference areas with complete biota
3. Models based on historical records, scientific and/or indigenous/local knowledge.
5. Rewilding recognizes that ecosystems are dynamic and constantly changing.
• Provide the space and connectivity needed for temporal change of processes
• Allogenic (external): storms, floods, wildfire, climate change
• Autogenic (internal): nutrient cycles, energy and genes flows, decomposition, herbivory, pollination, seed dispersal and predation

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Rewilding should be consistent with the following principles:�

6. Rewilding should anticipate the impact of climate change.
1. Take climate change into account when planning
2. Rewilding as a Nature Based Solution (NBS) to mitigate climate change�(reforestation, peat land restoration, replacing cattle with natural herbivores)
7. Rewilding is informed by science and considers indigenous and local knowledge.
1. Practitioner, researcher and indigenous / local knowledge collaborations to inform rewilding in adaptive management frameworks.
8. Rewilding recognises the intrinsic value of all species.
1. Ethical responsibility for existence of all species
2. Biocentric, rather than an anthropocentric

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Rewilding should be consistent with the following principles:�

9. Rewilding is adaptive and dependent on monitoring and feedback.
1. Monitoring to provide evidence on short and medium-terms results
2. Determine whether rewilding trajectories are working as planned.
3. Participatory, volunteer-based + detailed scientific monitoring
10. Rewilding provides the opportunity for a paradigm shift in the co-existence of humans and nature.
1. Awareness of importance of global ecosystems for all life on the planet
2. Shift ecological baselines to healthy, fully functioning trophic ecosystems in stead of accepting degraded ecosystems and overexploitation as the norm

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1. Rewilding utilizes wildlife to restore trophic interactions: Includes re-introduction/ population reinforcement of apex predators and keystone species
2. Rewilding should employ landscape-scale planning that includes core areas, connectivity and co-existence: Core areas - Connectivity for free movement of species - Co-existence of wild species and humans
3. Rewilding requires local engagement and support: Inclusive, local consultation and participatory planning, Encourage public understanding of wild nature and address concerns about co-existence
4. Rewilding focuses on the recovery of ecological processes, interactions and conditions based on reference ecosystems: Use of an appropriate ecological reference which can be based on: Contemporary natural reference areas with complete biota & Models based on historical records, scientific and/or indigenous/local knowledge.
5. Rewilding recognizes that ecosystems are dynamic and constantly changing: Provide the space and connectivity needed for temporal change of processes
6. Rewilding should anticipate the impact of climate change: Take climate change into account when planning, Rewilding as a Nature Based Solution (NBS) to mitigate climate change (reforestation, peat land restoration, replacing cattle with natural herbivores)
7. Rewilding is informed by science and considers indigenous and local knowledge: Practitioner, researcher and indigenous / local knowledge collaborations to inform rewilding in adaptive management frameworks.
8. Rewilding recognises the intrinsic value of all species: Ethical responsibility for existence of all species, Biocentric, rather than an anthropocentric
9. Rewilding is adaptive and dependent on monitoring and feedback:
10. Rewilding provides the opportunity for a paradigm shift in the co-existence of humans and nature

Principle 1: engages stakeholders

Ecological restoration projects recognize and acknowledge the interests and contributions of diverse stakeholders, particularly local stakeholders, and actively seek their direct involvement to provide mutual benefits to both nature and society.

Principle 2: is informed by native reference ecosystems, while considering environmental change

The use of reference models enhances the potential for native species and communities to recover and continue to reassemble, adapt, and evolve.

Principle 3: draws on many types of knowledge

The practice of ecological restoration benefits from a combination of acquired practitioner knowledge, traditional ecological

Knowledge, local ecological knowledge, and scientific discovery

Principle 4: supports ecosystem recovery processes

Practitioners enhance the natural recovery carried out by plants and animals in interaction with each other and their shared environment.

Principle 5: is assessed against clear goals and objectives, using measurable indicators

In the planning phase of restoration projects, the project vision, targets, goals, and objectives are clearly identified, along with specific indicators used to measure progress.

Principle 6: gains cumulative value when applied at large scales

Ecological restoration aims for the highest practicable level of recovery appropriate to the circumstances.

Principle 7: seeks the highest level of ecosystem recovery possible

Ecological restoration projects can have beneficial outcomes regardless of their spatial scale. However, many ecosystem processes operate at larger spatial scales, such as the watershed or basin level, and scaling-up restoration actions is required to address some ecological and global sustainability needs.

Principle 8: is part of a continuum of restorative activities

Ecological restoration is one of many strategies that can, to varying degrees, contribute to biodiversity conservation, increase carbon sequestration and the delivery of other vital ecosystem services, improve human health, wellbeing, and livelihoods, and enhance positive human connections with nature.

A Paradigm shift?

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• #10 Rewilding requires a paradigm shift in the co-existence of humans and nature
• Eco-centric NOT Ego-centric
• Biocentric NOT JUST Anthropocentric
• New 3Cs
• Cores, Connectivity & Co-existence

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https://www.iucn.org/commissions/commission-ecosystem-management/our-work/cems-thematic-groups/rewilding�

Rewilding examples��

Rewilding case studies�Why and What is needed

• In order to support the IUCN Issue Brief and the rewilding principles, the task force thought of collecting case studies from all around the world
• SER project database looks as an interesting source of information
• There is a case study template which we can provide to data holders
• Why rewilding was needed / initiated
• What rewilding action was taken
• What results
• Lessons learned
• Sources of information

Agriculture

Industry

Settlements…

Brownfield sites

All human activity!

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An ecological civilisation?

Connectivity

Co-existence

Trophic cascades

Hebblewhite, Mark et al. . 2005. Ecology, 86 (8):2135-2144.

Keystone species

Top - Down

Keystone species

Bottom - Up

...over-browsing and landscape erosion

Too many of these led to:

Until wolves were reintroduced...

Why is trophic cascade effect important?

• Species populations are regulated (top-down and bottom-up)
• Regulation protects against disturbance
• Predators and other keystone species have regulating effect on food web and maintain biodiversity
• Diversity of species creates stability, persistence and resilience
• Loss of species diversity and keystone species lead to
• Downgrading of ecosystems and loss of resilience (e.g. against climate change and other disturbances)
• Loss of biodiversity
• Loss of ecosystem services

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Increasing the cover of non-intervention management in semi-natural forest landscape of Western Poland�Drawa National Park, PL

Why rewilding was initiated

• Drawa National Park used to have traditional forest land use
• Local economic change leads to gradual acknowledgment of natural processes, wildness and naturalness of landscape
• Acknowledgement of natural processes – passive rewilding (non-intervention management)
• Not all habitat types!
• “This trend does not result from any a priori assumptions, but rather from the enhanced knowledge of the Park’s nature and from the observation of effects of various methods of its protection."

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What rewilding action was taken

• There has already been non-intervention zone inside the park
• Enlarging this based on strategic planning
• “The new protection scheme for the Park created 12 larger areas of strict protection, which integrated the existing ones, with the approximate total surface of 1392 ha and a further ca. 4226 ha to be left free of human intervention"

Results

• Significant improvement of the structure of forest ecosystems due to the natural processes (biodiversity and ecosystem integrity)
• Passively conserved bogs and poor fens retained their natural values, whereas hydrological fluctuations and tree coverage fluctuations in some of these areas are of natural character.
• Faunistic values are spatially correlated with low level of human activity, including areas that are not used for tourism, recreation or education.
• The impression of naturalness and “wildness” gradually becomes a key factor in the perception of Park visitors, as it increasingly differentiates that area from other parts of Pomerania region.
• While the impact of non-intervention management on lakes and bogs shall be further monitored, natural values of the rivers are linked to the consistent non-intervention into natural hydro-morphological processes such as the dynamics of the coarse wood debris in river currents.

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Lessons learned

• Non-intervention management is not only an appropriate tool for managing the existing natural forest habitats but also as a tool of forest restoration.
• The social aspect of increasing non-intervention management must be considered carefully when planning rewilding
• One of the most important target audiences is the park management itself, as nature conservationist prefer “active protection without prescribed conservation measures”, which still allows intervention in exceptional non-predicted cases.
• The elements of wildness and naturalness, even if shaped secondarily, currently pose the greatest natural value of the Drawa National Park.
• The case confirms that non-intervention approach is a valid nature conservation tool, not only for maintaining the natural ecosystems, but also for restoring ecosystems and landscapes.

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The beaver

The golden jackal

Thank you �Final notes

Questions & Answers�

• Structure, diversity, and resilience of ecosystems is often maintained by ‘top-down’ trophic interactions that are initiated by top predators.
• Bigness is justified…wide-ranging predators usually require large cores of protected wild landscape habitat for foraging, seasonal movements, and other needs.
• Connectivity between cores is also required, as remaining core reserves in most regions are typically not large enough.
• Moral argument that humans have a responsibility to other species to restore self-regulating and self-sustaining ecological communities (biocentric/ecocentric)
• Evidence that ‘people need nature’ for mental and physical well-being gained by experiencing nature, particularly the subjective and emotional essence of ‘the wild’ or wilderness (n.b: a can of worms we’re not opening tonight!)

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