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Rewilding relationships: Principles for forging relationships in social-ecological systems
Kristy M Ferraro1,2, Toryn Whitehead3
1Biology Department, Memorial University, 45 Arctic Ave, St. John's, NL, Canada. Kristy.m.ferraro@gmail.com.
Ambio
|September 3, 2025
Summary
Rewilding success hinges on nurturing relationships across all levels of socio-ecological systems. This framework guides practitioners in building ethical, interconnected, and resilient rewilding initiatives.
Area of Science:
- Socio-ecological systems
- Conservation biology
- Environmental science
Background:
- Rewilding initiatives often overlook the complex web of relationships within socio-ecological systems.
- A comprehensive understanding of human-non-human connections is crucial for effective rewilding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a relationship-centered framework for rewilding.
- To identify key principles for fostering connections in rewilding projects.
- To enhance the success and ethical considerations of rewilding.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual framework development.
- Analysis of species (re)introductions as a case study.
- Identification of individual and collective relationships in rewilding.
Main Results:
- Success in rewilding depends on fostering connections at individual and collective levels for both humans and non-humans.
- Five principles proposed: reconsider values, embrace holistic approaches, center local communities, revive lost relationships, and link science with policy.
- The framework highlights the transformative potential of relationship-focused rewilding.
Conclusions:
- A relationship-centered approach is essential for creating ethical, interconnected, and resilient socio-ecological systems.
- Integrating diverse relationships (human-human, human-non-human, non-human-non-human) is key to successful rewilding.
- This framework provides practical guidance for rewilding practitioners.
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