What does that mean?
World rewilding day is a global reminder of the need to rewild parts of our planet. The purpose of this process provides benefits for people and biodiversity. On this day, people across the planet celebrate raising awareness and the importance of rewilding.
On this day, people remember rewilding. It is celebrated by more than 115 organizations from all over the world. These organizations run a number of activities in a wide variety of rewilding actions. This day was launched by the Global Rewilding Alliance during the 11th World Wilderness Congress in 2021. Since then it became an important part of the global conservation movement.
What is rewilding?
In its essence, rewilding is ecosystem restoration. The concept is built up on knowledge that nature has the power to heal itself, if we let it. If ecosystems are too heavily damaged, rewilding also includes man made restoration activities. Examples of such kinds of damage is when native carnivores are exterminated or native forests were replaced by man made pastures.
Birth of rewilding
In the early 1990s, the term “rewilding” was used by Dave Foreman, co-founder of the Wild Earth magazine and The Wildlands Project. Since then, rewilding is known as a conservation effort that drives nature restoration. The main activities are focusing on rebuilding ecosystems via nature restoration so they’re healthier and more sustainable.
In this context, this process is often understood as the large-scale restoration of ecosystems. These activities continue to the point where spontaneous natural processes can take care of themselves. An important part of this process is that at the same time we are also restoring our relationship with the wild natural world. We are reconnecting ourselves to nature.
Rewilding seeks to reinstate natural processes. Where appropriate, it also includes reintroducing extinct species and allowing them to shape the landscape and the habitats within.
Threats to rewilding
A great threat to successful rewilding is often the reluctance of people to change their traditional way of life. Activities such as hunting, logging and grazing, became an inseparable part of human life. They have become an integral part of human life. They are often also called traditional activities that were carried out by landowners during the past centuries.
For this reason, it is essential to carry out any rewilding activities very carefully. Close contact and consultation with the users and owners of these lands is highly recommended. In the extreme case, be ready to change the location if the owners and partners are not willing to accept the submitted proposals.
In any case, this process requires patience and extensive communication skills.
Conclusion
On 20 March 2021, people across the planet celebrated the first ever World Rewilding Day. The day continues to be held every year, and it is organised by the Global Rewilding Alliance. The aim of the day is to raise awareness of rewilding and inspire people to get involved in projects that help nature to recover.
Since then, the world rewilding became an important element of modern nature conservation. To some extent, it opened the door for systematic, long-term, objective oriented nature conservation.
Nature has the power to heal itself and to heal us, if we let it. That’s what rewilding is all about; restoring ecosystems to the point where nature can take care of itself and restoring our relationship with the natural world. Reconnecting with what matters. Rewilding is hope for the future.
Date: 20 March 2023
Sources/Links:
https://wilderness-society.org/world-rewilding-day/
https://rewildingeurope.com/world-rewilding-day/
https://www.rewildingeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ENGLISH-VERSION_World-Rewilding-Day-2023.pdf
https://globalrewilding.earth/
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