Knowra Rewilding Rewilding Rewilding is a conservation approach that restores ecological processes and, in some cases, reintroduces missing species. It aims to let ecosystems become more self-sustaining.
Trophic cascade : A chain of ecological effects across feeding levels, triggered by changes to predators or other organisms. Restored predators can reshape prey behavior and vegetation through cascading effects.
Yellowstone wolf reintroduction : The 1995 reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park after decades of local absence. It is a prominent example of restoring a missing predator and renewed ecological interactions.
Ecological restoration : The process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed. Rewilding is one approach within the broader practice of restoring ecosystems.
Human–wildlife conflict : Negative interactions between people and wildlife that cause harm to people, animals, property, or livelihoods. Returning large predators and herbivores can create costs and safety concerns near settlements.
Shifting baseline syndrome : The gradual acceptance of increasingly degraded environmental conditions as normal across generations. It complicates decisions about which past ecosystem, if any, rewilding should aim to restore.
Ecological succession : The gradual change in a biological community as species colonize and alter a habitat over time. Once pressures ease, succession helps restored habitats develop through changing communities.
European bison : A large wild bovine native to Europe that has been restored to parts of its former range. Bison restoration illustrates how large herbivores can shape open habitats and woodland mosaics.
Historical fidelity : A conservation goal of recreating an ecosystem’s composition and conditions at a chosen historical reference point. Rewilding may prioritize self-sustaining processes over reproducing a specific past ecosystem.
Land sharing : A land-use strategy that combines food production and wildlife conservation within the same landscapes. Rewilding often raises the alternative of separating intensive production from larger areas for nature.
Conservation translocation : The intentional movement of organisms for conservation purposes, including reintroduction and population reinforcement. Moving species can restore missing functions but raises risks of disease, mismatch, and unintended effects.
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