Rewilding: history, intervention and the quest for immanence

Area of Science:

• Conservation Biology
• Ecological Restoration
• Environmental Ethics

Background:

• Rewilding is increasingly proposed as a solution to biodiversity loss and ecological instability.
• However, rewilding theories and practices are controversial, highlighting complex relationships between human intervention, historical context, and the self-organizing capacity of nature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically analyze the theoretical underpinnings and practical challenges of rewilding, particularly functional approaches.
• To explore the contradictions between common rewilding strategies and the core goal of preserving natural spontaneity.

Main Methods:

• Historical review of rewilding practices and theoretical frameworks.
• Analysis of emblematic rewilding projects and proposals.
• Examination of functional approaches, including functional equivalence and counterfactual reference points.

Main Results:

• Functional approaches to rewilding present theoretical shortcomings and practical difficulties.
• Concepts like functional equivalence and counterfactual reference points complicate rewilding goals.
• Certain rewilding strategies may inadvertently undermine the principle of spontaneous ecological organization.

Conclusions:

• A deeper historical and ethical reflection is necessary for the successful and responsible integration of wildness into human landscapes.
• Future rewilding initiatives should prioritize immanence and self-organization over purely functional considerations.