Rewilding: How Nature Can Restore Itself

Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park | Photo by Svea Pfister

One of my favourites concepts that I learnt during my conservation journey is Rewilding. As urbanization expands and natural habitats shrink, rewilding has emerged as an idea that brings hope for biodiversity conservation. But, Rewilding is more than just conservation, it’s about actively restoring ecosystems, reintroducing species, and letting nature heal itself. That’s the vision of rewilding, an active conservation approach that goes beyond preserving what’s left and actively works to rebuild what’s been lost.

But how does it work? And how can everyday people contribute? Here we dive deeper into some iconic examples such as the bringing wolves back to Yellowstone to reintroducing Tasmanian devils to mainland Australia.

What Is Rewilding?

Rewilding is a proactive approach to conservation that focuses on restoring ecosystems to their natural state. Unlike traditional conservation efforts that often focus on maintaining landscapes in their current condition, rewilding seeks to:

• Reintroduce keystone species that have disappeared.

• Restore natural processes like flooding, grazing, and predator-prey dynamics.

• Minimize human intervention, allowing ecosystems to self-regulate.

In short, rewilding is about letting nature do what it does best, heal itself. One example is the reintroduction of beavers to river ecosystems, which has improved water quality, reduced flooding, and created habitats for countless other species.

Rewilding in Australia: Restoring a Unique Landscape

Australia’s biodiversity is legendary—but it’s also one of the most threatened. Habitat destruction, invasive species, and climate change have pushed many native animals to the brink. However, rewilding is making a difference.

• Tasmanian Devils Return to Mainland Australia
  Once wiped out from the mainland, Tasmanian devils were reintroduced in 2020 to help control invasive species like feral cats and foxes, which threaten smaller marsupials.

• Arid Recovery Project
  This initiative has successfully reintroduced bilbies, bettongs, and bandicoots to predator-free reserves, helping to rebuild populations of these once-abundant species.

• Rewilding Gardens
  On a smaller scale, Australians are encouraged to plant native flora, provide water sources, and remove invasive plants to support local wildlife in urban areas.

Tasmanian devils were reintroduced in 2020 | Getty Images

Wilding vs. Rewilding: What’s the Difference?

Both wilding and rewilding aim to restore nature, but there’s a key distinction:

• Wilding: Leaving nature alone to regenerate without human intervention.

• Rewilding: Taking active steps to restore ecosystems, such as reintroducing species or removing human-made barriers.

Rewilding is hands-on conservation, designed to correct past damage and kickstart natural recovery.

What Is a Rewilder?

A rewilder is anyone who actively participates in restoring ecosystems. You don’t have to be a scientist or conservationist—rewilders include:

• Environmentalists leading large-scale restoration projects.

• Gardeners creating native habitats in urban areas.

• Policymakers advocating for protected areas and wildlife corridors.

Rewilding is for everyone, from conservation professionals to individuals making small changes in their own communities.

How to Rewild Your Own Backyard

Rewilding isn’t just for national parks, it starts at home. Your garden can become a wildlife sanctuary with just a few simple changes:

• Plant Native Species – Replace exotic plants with local trees, flowers, and shrubs.

• Create Wildlife Corridors – Leave sections of your garden undisturbed to provide shelter for birds, insects, and small mammals.

• Add a Water Source – A small pond or birdbath can support frogs, insects, and thirsty animals.

• Ditch Chemicals – Pesticides and synthetic fertilizers harm pollinators and soil health.

• Let It Grow Wild – Avoid over-manicuring your lawn. Fallen leaves and logs create essential microhabitats.

Rewilding Success Stories

Around the world, rewilding projects have revived lost species, restored ecological balance, and even boosted local economies. Here are some of the most inspiring success stories that showcase the incredible resilience of nature when given the chance to recover.

• Yellowstone National Park, USA

Yellowstone’s wolf reintroduction in 1995 is one of the most famous rewilding success stories. After wolves were eradicated in the early 20th century, elk populations skyrocketed, overgrazing riverbanks and causing habitat degradation. With the return of wolves, elk behavior changed, allowing vegetation to recover, stabilizing riverbanks, and boosting biodiversity. This cascading effect, known as a trophic cascade, led to increased populations of beavers, birds, and even fish. The project proved that apex predators play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance.

• Knepp Estate, UK

The Knepp Estate in England is a remarkable example of farmland turned wild. Once intensively farmed, the land was converted into a rewilding project in the early 2000s, allowing nature to take over with minimal human intervention. Free-roaming animals like deer, cattle, and wild ponies now shape the landscape, encouraging native plant growth and boosting biodiversity. The project has seen the return of rare species, including turtle doves, purple emperor butterflies, and white storks, which bred in the UK for the first time in centuries. Knepp’s success has become a model for rewilding across Europe.

• Iberian Lynx Recovery, Spain & Portugal

The Iberian lynx was once the world’s most endangered feline, with fewer than 100 individuals left in the early 2000s. Conservationists launched an ambitious rewilding effort, creating protected areas, restoring habitat, and breeding lynxes for reintroduction. These efforts paid off, with populations now exceeding 1,600 individuals, making it one of the greatest predator recovery stories. The lynx’s return has helped regulate rabbit populations, a keystone prey species, benefiting the entire ecosystem. This recovery highlights the importance of long-term commitment and international collaboration in rewilding efforts.

• Cabo Pulmo, Mexico

Cabo Pulmo was once a depleted fishing ground in the Gulf of California, but a local community-driven initiative turned it into a thriving marine reserve. In 1995, residents persuaded the government to establish a no-take marine park, banning fishing entirely. Within a decade, fish biomass increased by over 400%, with large predators like sharks and groupers returning to the reef. Today, Cabo Pulmo is a world-class diving destination, proving that marine rewilding not only restores biodiversity but also provides sustainable economic opportunities. It stands as a model for marine conservation worldwide.

Cabo Pulmo is now a marine paradise | Photo by Jaclyn Babbage

Challenges in Rewilding

Rewilding is a powerful conservation tool, but it comes with challenges:

• Human-Wildlife Conflict – Reintroducing predators can create tensions with farmers and communities.

• Funding & Resources – Large-scale projects require financial investment and long-term commitment.

• Invasive Species Management – Ensuring that non-native species don’t outcompete reintroduced wildlife.

How You Can Support Rewilding

Even if you’re not working in conservation, you can help rewilding efforts by:

• Supporting Rewilding Organizations – Groups like Rewilding Europe, The Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and The Rewilding Institute are leading the charge.

• Advocating for Protected Areas – Encourage policies that expand nature reserves and reintroduction programs.

• Creating Wildlife-Friendly Spaces – Even small urban gardens can provide food and shelter for native species.

• Choosing Ecotourism – Support conservation-focused travel that funds wildlife restoration.

The more we integrate rewilding into our lives, the closer we get to a wilder, healthier planet.

Rewilding: A Future Where Nature Thrives

Rewilding is more than just a conservation strategy, it’s a mindset shift. It’s about undoing damage, restoring balance, and giving nature the space to heal.

The wolves from wolves in Yellowstone and the Tasmanian devils in Australia arfe evidence how rewilding project can help nature can bounce back, if we let it. Whether through large-scale projects or planting a single native tree, every effort counts.