Rewilder Weekly #2
Welcome to the latest edition of the Rewilder Weekly. My goodness! While I knew that there are many people deeply passionate about and actively engaged in rewilding, I certainly didn't expect that nearly 2'000 would have already subscribed by now. What can I say, a thousand (well, nearly two thousand) thanks to YOU.
Rewilding is absolutely central for a biodiversity-rich, sustainable future. You and I have to do what we can to bring the world of rewilding to the billions who've not yet heard about it. This has to become a global mindset shift - and I believe it will. So much so that I can actually see a Half-Earth future as envisioned by famed biologist E. O. Wilson.
Alright then, let's go with this week's eight selected rewilding stories.
Let's rewild!
👉 As a reminder: If you come across stories you'd like to see featured in an upcoming edition, send them to me and I'll gladly do what I can. Thanks for being here, for reading and commenting and sharing.
1) The comeback of roe deer is good for wolves and farmers
The fine Rewilding Portugal people have been working on the roe deer comeback, south of the Douro river, since 2019. It involves habitat restoration and the establishment of hunting no-take zones. Rewilding efforts create habitats that are also favorable to more boar and ibex. And all of that allows for a healthy equilibrium with the wolf ... for the benefit of everyone.
“The upward trend in roe deer abundance and range is very welcome. While roe deer are returning to the landscape regardless of rewilding measures, our efforts are helping to reinforce the process. Collaboration with parishes, landowners, and hunting associations has been vital to the success of these efforts," says Sara Aliácar, Rewilding Portugal's rewilding manager.
👉 Go here for the post and Rewilding Europe's article
2) Fighting wildfires with beavers
James Shooter shares insights published in the The Colorado Sun about one of the many aspects of what we might call beaver power. “Beaver-modified riverscapes are resistant to megafire-scale disturbance. This resilience is directly attributable to beaver dam- and canal-building activity.”
As the article explains, "With the right frequency, severity and distribution, wildfire benefits the landscape immensely. Good fire is generally low or mixed severity, periodically cleansing forests and mountain ecosystems of deadfall and opening up the understory." The climate-crisis-induced extreme weather conditions come with a higher frequency and severity. Because of those more extreme conditions we need to lean into nature solutions all the more. One such obvious solution is the beaver. They're good for every aspect of richer biodiversity - and they're good for those good wildfires.
👉 Go here for James Shooter's post and the article
3) The sun rises over Cairngorms
A brief article, a brief moment, really - and it's just beautiful. It's something we can all experience when we step into nature and take a deep breath and choose to just be there with all our senses for a while. Check out Cairngorms National Park Authority's post about the The Guardian article by Cairngorms-based writer Merryn Glover.
Here, to give you a sense, the first paragraph: "It is just after sunrise on this stretch of the Spey. To the east, the Cairngorm mountains are hidden by a banner of mist, but for one cresting hilltop that catches the sun. The sky’s colours deepen from palest green at the ridgeline, through milky opal, to china blue above. Just below my path, the river swells into a pool so wide and slow that it seems to have forgotten the tug of the sea. Today it is perfectly still, a polished mirror to the vaulting sky, a dancefloor for the waterbirds that skid across its surface."
👉 Go here for the post and lovely article
4) Rewilding Argentina: The return of the jaguar
A focus on the engagements by Rewilding Argentina and the Tompkins Conservation of returning the jaguar to its rightful (and important) place. There's currently a big challenge in the El Impenetrable National Park, where all ten jaguars are male.
Kris Tompkins reports that last month the first female jaguar has been released. At this point, the lady is a rewilding legend. In her words, "Some may see active species restoration as too bold. At the age of 73, I have little to fear but inaction. As each COP conference fails to bring us to consensus, I wonder what it will take for nations of the world to commit to concrete actions to reckon with our path of destruction and prioritize the restoration of our one and only planet. The youth of the world are mad as hell and I can't blame them. Now is no time to abdicate our future."
👉 Go here for the full story and Kris Tompkins article
5) Journeys into wild nature
Journeys With Purpose is an impact/travel company founded in 2019 and it is decidedly special with its immersive experiences into wild nature and with inspirational leaders. The company's founder Duncan Grossart was interviewed by Rich Stockdale PhD's Oxygen Conservation podcast. Talking about 'journeys with purpose' - his personal journey's definitely an inspiring one, too!
👉 Go here for a summary clip of the interview.
Up for bit more? Here's the full interview. Gotta add one more, pardon me! Tim Chester of AFAR Magazine was interviewed about his JWP Argentina experience - read about it, it'll give you a great sense of about these travel experiences.
6) European bison increases plant species richness
In his post, Jens-Christian Svenning shares an important new study and the good news that the European bison increases plant species richness in forest habitats.
The study has looked into the important role of European bison in ecological restoration initiatives. They investigated the large herbivore's impact on ground vegetation in forest habitats over a period of eight years. Based on the positive findings, the researchers suggest that introduction of European bison to mixed light woodlands can be a good strategy, benefitting both biodiversity and the conservation of the threatened herbivore species itself.
7) Blue Earth Summit in London: 16-18 October 2024
It's termed a "must-attend summit for purpose-led business - and Rewilding Britain has just announced that they'll be partnering with Blue Earth - so I guess we'll be meeting there, right?
Rebecca Wrigley Rewilding Britain's Chief Executive says; “We are excited to connect with the Blue Earth Summit community, a community which stands out as being purpose-driven, innovative and collaborative. We want Britain to be ambitious. We need to be. There is hope and we need to work together to ensure a wilder, nature-rich future that benefits us all”.
👉 Go here for the full announcement (and here for the event details)
8) Spring's in the air with growing herds across Europe
The folks at Rewilding Europe shared a few adorable pictures of foals and calves born in several of their rewilding landscapes from Rewilding Portugal to Rewilding Rhodopes to Fundación Española de Renaturalización - Rewilding Spain - and they make a point that, cute as the little ones are, they are part of a big picture - and one that is coming along very nicely!. In their words: "These snapshots aren't just about the cute newborns. They represent something much bigger — a testament to a healthy comeback of iconic keystone species in the landscape, the hard work and dedication of our local teams and eventually, the resilience of the ecosystems they have become a part of."
👉 Go here for the Rewilding Europe post and pictures
And that's it for this edition. Of course there's a great deal more happening in and around the fascinating world of rewilding and this newsletter only offers a weekly glimpse. Fore more insights and stories, use the #rewilding hashtag and follow people, organizations and groups focused on and passionate about rewilding. Have a good week!
Cheers,
D