by Prune Bouillot for T2A
Going wild for healthy ecosystems
You might have already heard about Earth Overshoot Day – the annual date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services exceeds what the planet can regenerate in that year. In 2020, it fell on 22 August. Part of why it was that early is that nature is rapidly deteriorating, with an accelerating rate of species extinctions. This phenomenon is mostly due to habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, human overpopulation and over-harvesting. I know it sounds daunting, but don’t worry too much, because this actually represents an exciting opportunity for motivated individuals such as you to help #movethedate. There exists a large variety of actions to be taken, and I’d like to introduce you to an interesting one for both people and the environment: rewilding. From helping to fight climate change to supporting the development of nature-based economies, here is an overview of how rewilding can positively impact our planet.
The organisation Rewilding Britain defines rewilding as “the reinstatement of natural processes and, where appropriate, missing species, allowing them to shape the landscape and the habitats within, leading to the restoration of fully functioning ecosystems”. In short, it means giving nature an opportunity to show us what it wants to do – sometimes with some positive, carefully considered degree of human intervention. In biodiversity, every species counts; no matter how big or small – they all play a role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Let me give you an example. In 1926, grey wolves had been completely wiped out from the US’s Yellowstone National Park through shooting, poisoning and trapping. But wolves played an important part in the park’s food chain. They killed the deer and elk that were negatively impacting the local biodiversity by eating too many plants and trees. The remains of these predated deer and elk also provided food for various types of other animals, such as eagles. When wolves were re-introduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995, the local flora and fauna rapidly re-established. But you may now be wondering, why is it so important to have healthy, thriving ecosystems?
Wolves are an essential part of the ecosystem at Yellowstone National Park
First, healthy ecosystems are a natural solution for slowing down climate change. As you may know, the 2015 Paris Agreement aimed to pursue efforts to keep the rise in the global temperature this century to less than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. According to a 2018 UN report, achieving this would require (among other actions) the removal of billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Well, healthy ecosystems possess a wide variety of plants and trees that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Take peat bogs, for example: they are the most important terrestrial carbon store in the UK, yet 80% of them have been damaged by drainage, extraction, burning and overgrazing. You can imagine the impact that restoring these lands would have.
Additionally, rewilding is not only good for the planet, it’s also advantageous for you and I. Living in healthier ecosystems would be beneficial for our own health. The Mental Health Foundation and the mental health charity Mind both promote nature contact as a way to improve one’s mood, reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, and feel more energised. These claims have been supported for years, as evidenced by this piece of 2005 research. It has also been suggested that positive experiences of growing up in natural places may have long-term mental health benefits. But our physical health is important too; as the famous Latin expression says: “A healthy body can sustain a healthy mind.” Despite the obvious physical benefits of breathing cleaner air, you may be surprised to hear that biodiversity conservation can protect humans from emerging infectious diseases – such as the now famous coronavirus. This is called the dilution effect, which is well explained in this recent research conducted by Auburn University in the US.
Spending time in nature improves both mental wellbeing and physical health
Last but not least, rewilding can also help develop communities and support nature-based economies. From nature-watching to photography, and including the opportunity for new and different nature-based products, the organisation Rewilding Europe highlights that rewilding can generate business opportunities, jobs and income. This could help revitalise rural communities.
So, as you can see, rewilding has the potential to change our world for the better. There exists many examples of nature successfully regaining its rights, like at the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, which has now become the third-largest nature reserve in mainland Europe through a rewilding experiment. If you are interested in learning more about the movement, I encourage you to read Isabella Tree’s book Wilding: The return of nature to a British farm, which tells the inspiring story of how the author and her husband let nature take over their land in West Sussex. You can also check out ongoing projects with the organisation Rewilding Britain, or even get involved by giving some of your time to support organisations such as Heal Rewilding!
by Prune Bouillot for T2A
Going wild for healthy ecosystems
You might have already heard about Earth Overshoot Day – the annual date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services exceeds what the planet can regenerate in that year. In 2020, it fell on 22 August. Part of why it was that early is that nature is rapidly deteriorating, with an accelerating rate of species extinctions. This phenomenon is mostly due to habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, human overpopulation and over-harvesting. I know it sounds daunting, but don’t worry too much, because this actually represents an exciting opportunity for motivated individuals such as you to help #movethedate. There exists a large variety of actions to be taken, and I’d like to introduce you to an interesting one for both people and the environment: rewilding. From helping to fight climate change to supporting the development of nature-based economies, here is an overview of how rewilding can positively impact our planet.
The organisation Rewilding Britain defines rewilding as “the reinstatement of natural processes and, where appropriate, missing species, allowing them to shape the landscape and the habitats within, leading to the restoration of fully functioning ecosystems”. In short, it means giving nature an opportunity to show us what it wants to do – sometimes with some positive, carefully considered degree of human intervention. In biodiversity, every species counts; no matter how big or small – they all play a role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Let me give you an example. In 1926, grey wolves had been completely wiped out from the US’s Yellowstone National Park through shooting, poisoning and trapping. But wolves played an important part in the park’s food chain. They killed the deer and elk that were negatively impacting the local biodiversity by eating too many plants and trees. The remains of these predated deer and elk also provided food for various types of other animals, such as eagles. When wolves were re-introduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995, the local flora and fauna rapidly re-established. But you may now be wondering, why is it so important to have healthy, thriving ecosystems?
Wolves are an essential part of the ecosystem at Yellowstone National Park
First, healthy ecosystems are a natural solution for slowing down climate change. As you may know, the 2015 Paris Agreement aimed to pursue efforts to keep the rise in the global temperature this century to less than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. According to a 2018 UN report, achieving this would require (among other actions) the removal of billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Well, healthy ecosystems possess a wide variety of plants and trees that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Take peat bogs, for example: they are the most important terrestrial carbon store in the UK, yet 80% of them have been damaged by drainage, extraction, burning and overgrazing. You can imagine the impact that restoring these lands would have.
Additionally, rewilding is not only good for the planet, it’s also advantageous for you and I. Living in healthier ecosystems would be beneficial for our own health. The Mental Health Foundation and the mental health charity Mind both promote nature contact as a way to improve one’s mood, reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, and feel more energised. These claims have been supported for years, as evidenced by this piece of 2005 research. It has also been suggested that positive experiences of growing up in natural places may have long-term mental health benefits. But our physical health is important too; as the famous Latin expression says: “A healthy body can sustain a healthy mind.” Despite the obvious physical benefits of breathing cleaner air, you may be surprised to hear that biodiversity conservation can protect humans from emerging infectious diseases – such as the now famous coronavirus. This is called the dilution effect, which is well explained in this recent research conducted by Auburn University in the US.
Spending time in nature improves both mental wellbeing and physical health
Last but not least, rewilding can also help develop communities and support nature-based economies. From nature-watching to photography, and including the opportunity for new and different nature-based products, the organisation Rewilding Europe highlights that rewilding can generate business opportunities, jobs and income. This could help revitalise rural communities.
So, as you can see, rewilding has the potential to change our world for the better. There exists many examples of nature successfully regaining its rights, like at the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, which has now become the third-largest nature reserve in mainland Europe through a rewilding experiment. If you are interested in learning more about the movement, I encourage you to read Isabella Tree’s book Wilding: The return of nature to a British farm, which tells the inspiring story of how the author and her husband let nature take over their land in West Sussex. You can also check out ongoing projects with the organisation Rewilding Britain, or even get involved by giving some of your time to support organisations such as Heal Rewilding!