In recent years, a growing movement in the UK has aimed to restore natural ecosystems through a process known as rewilding. Defined by Rewilding Britain as “the large-scale restoration of ecosystems to the point where nature is allowed to take care of itself,” this initiative seeks to revitalize both land and sea across 30 percent of Britain by the year 2030. Yet the ambition to see these lost native species returned is a noble one. How to realize this ambitious goal is deeply controversial, raising critical questions of legality, ethics, and environmental justice.
The UK permits the controlled reintroduction of native species. This process comes after detailed consultation, careful consideration, and obtaining required licenses. Conservationist and author Derek Gow has been an important force behind this emerging movement. He has personally overseen the reintroduction of species such as the Eurasian beaver, water vole, and most recently, white stork back to England. He has spent the last half decade or so rewilding his 300-acre farm in Devon. Today, he proudly shelters three of four beaver families on the land.
Gow’s dedication to ecosystem restoration goes hand-in-hand with a desire to upend standard operating procedures. He has no qualms about frankly discussing taking actions that sometimes bend or break legal procedures.
“To be clear, we always work within what laws there are,” – Derek Gow
This crisis mentality has alarmed many environmentalists and scientists. Professor Thomas Cameron, an expert in applied ecology, supports species introduction but cautions against overestimating its potential impact on pressing issues like climate change.
“If there is no law or there’s no licence required to do something then we don’t go around asking whether we can find one. We just jolly well do it.”
He started to explain some of the intricacies that go into controlling predator species like lynx and wolves. Cameron’s research points to the need to actively control deer populations. Due to their dietary preferences and high kill rates, these predators need to be in large numbers to avoid negative impacts to the habitat.
“It is an utter delusion to claim that the reintroduction of lynx, wolves or any other animals could have any significant impact on solving the climate crisis in any timescale that would be helpful,” said Cameron.
For all these challenges, Gow is enthusiastic about the benefits that rewilding could bring. He argues that beavers, for example, can serve a dual purpose: they can reduce flooding risks for towns and villages when managed appropriately. As much as he loves them, he admits that without some boundaries, beavers’ innate urge to build dams might create some unwanted deluges.
“When we consider the diet and kill rates of lynx or wolves, models show we’d need unacceptably large numbers to help us naturally manage the deer populations that degrade the environment we want to restore,” he explained.
The idea of rewilding involves far more than merely bringing species back. Selection of translocation sites must be done with great care, emphasizing habitat suitability. It takes into account social factors—including the public’s affinity for “charismatic megafauna.” Dr. Patrick Finnerty is a postdoctoral research fellow in the University of Sydney’s Global Ecology Lab. While species reintroduction and rewilding are separate ideas, Arthur says the two approaches complement each other nicely.
“The benefits to reintroducing animals such as beavers are real. Beavers can help reduce flooding for towns and villages if managed well. But if they’re not contained, they can also build dams which cause flooding, since they’re unaware of where humans have built their settlements,” Cameron pointed out.
He pointed out a very utilitarian view. This perspective paves the way for the thoughtful reintroduction of species which might offer tangible, transformative impacts on natural and human landscapes alike.
“Often their main motivation is a moral belief that because there is evidence that the animal lived there in the past, and was removed by man, it should now be put back,” Finnerty remarked.
The increasing interest in rewilding is indicative of a wider cultural movement towards an attitude of care for the environment. Gow noted that this movement is very much in its infancy. Its potential has begun to take off across landowners of all sizes. For most, ecological concern is their primary motivation—lay leaders often want to protect creation.
“There is also a utilitarian argument made for some species which perform a function: that their reintroduction can benefit landscapes, environments or even humans,” he added.
He further articulated a moral duty to act when it came to restorative environmental work.
“I meet people who own 50 acres, 20 acres, or just two acres, and they are so worried about what’s happening to the planet that they just want to do good,” said Gow.
The juncture of rewilding and social acceptance comes with both challenges and opportunities. All of this comes as social awareness continues to increase regarding the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem health. As such, conversations about the ethical implications of species reintroduction are increasingly timely.
“I think we have a moral imperative on this,” he asserted.
Dr. Finnerty expressed how the original vision initially shaping rewilding has transformed over the years.
Restoration of our ecosystems is imperative. We can’t forget about the historical, often onesided relationships that people have past model landscapes.
“Rewilding originally was this push to this idea of restoring wilderness, but ‘wilderness’ innately ignores human connection with landscapes for millennia,” he explained.
These discussions about new rewilding initiatives have only just started in the UK. So many new voices, with so many new perspectives, will create a complex and evolving narrative. Scientific arguments for precautionary approaches to ecosystem restoration. In the meantime, outlaw rewilderers like Gow are driving radical experimentation, ecological revival and creative destruction, and the ultimate fate of reclaimed Britain’s wild spaces remains in a tenuous balance. The road forward will be challenging, but it’s necessary if we want to build a future where nature can rebound once more across its myriad ecosystems.
As discussions continue about how best to approach rewilding initiatives in the UK, it is clear that a multitude of voices will shape this evolving narrative. From scientists advocating for measured approaches to renegade rewilderers like Gow who push boundaries in pursuit of ecological restoration, the future of Britain’s natural ecosystems hangs in a delicate balance. The path ahead is complex but essential for ensuring that nature can thrive again across its landscapes.
