Another NetGalley win, a book by an academic and a practitioner respectively in conservation and ecology, and part of the “Hot Science” series which looks at exciting new topics in the scientific world.
Paul Jepson & Cain Blyth – “Rewilding: The Radical New Science of Ecological Recovery”
(19 May 2020)
A fascinating book that explores the science and research that underpins the theories and practicalities of rewilding, understood in various ways but basically the practice of returning landscapes to a previous, more diverse and “natural” iteration – although what that iteration should be is a matter of discussion and controversy, much like rewilding itself can be.
The book concentrates on the idea of reintroducing megafauna (animals over 40kg such as wild cattle and horses up to rhinos and at its most extreme, re-created mammoths etc) to landscapes, which produce not the tree covered land we might think of as natural but more of a patchwork of grasslands and scrublands. This also includes the controversial idea of introducing non-native but similar species to replace extinct ones (this has already been done with giant tortoises but requires very careful consideration).
Some big schemes that are already going on are explained in detail, so we can see how the theory can be applied, and what changes can be made, the political issues that arise and what possible mitigations can be introduced. “Protect the best, rewild the rest” is a central theme, with charismatic predators and more prosaic beavers and wild cattle being reintroduced, and those herbivorous megafauna, allowing habitats to adjust and smaller populations to burgeon.
The use of very new technology, for example very small trackers and zones used to follow bison movements, is described in fascinating detail. It’s not at all dry theory but illustrations of very interesting practical measures that are going on now. The final chapter ends with predictions for the next decade, when questions will be answered and rewilding will become more mainstream, in the authors’ eyes.
Thank you to Icon Books for making this book available to me via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Sep 23, 2020 @ 14:57:34
Sounds like a fascinating subject, Liz. I suppose there will always be dangers in either reintroducing, or introducing for the first time, species to a specific space – left to its own devices and without human intervention, nature tends to do its own thing. But with rewilding it sounds like a more controlled situation. However, I’m a great believer in more wildlife and wild space, so I guess I approve! 😀
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Sep 25, 2020 @ 06:49:55
Well, they do leave nature to do its thing once they have introduced the species that will help that. In fact in the Dutch experiment they allowed the natural culling of horse and cattle populations, leaving them alone to starve or flourish – which caused an outcry, of course, even though that is the most “natural” thing to happen!
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Sep 23, 2020 @ 16:41:37
A really interesting, important subject. I can see how the introduction /reintroduction of species could be difficult without careful consideration of the impact on other species. We definitely need more wildlife to come back or be encouraged to flourish though, so all this sounds overwhelmingly positive.
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Sep 25, 2020 @ 06:50:46
It’s clear-eyed about the challenges, mostly coming from landowners or people who glom onto one thing and don’t realise the bigger picture, but it is certainly positive and very interesting.
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Sep 24, 2020 @ 06:18:58
Great review. I have this to read soon along with Rebirding
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Sep 24, 2020 @ 06:41:54
Thank you! I must get hold of Rebirding. I think you will like this one!
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Sep 24, 2020 @ 16:00:25
That is good to know
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Sep 24, 2020 @ 08:10:55
There seems to be a plethora of books about rewilding at the moment, but this genuinely sounds like one of the most enlightening. What scares me is that it’s just one of many ‘big’ issues we really have to get to grips with over the next few years…
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Sep 25, 2020 @ 06:52:06
Yes, there have been a lot about rewilding ourselves, and doing so with small plots of land, bits of marshes, farms, this is now looking at the wider science and some of the bigger projects. I find it interesting to read about and there are implications that reach into some of the other big stuff like climate change, so it was actually quite reassuring.
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Sep 28, 2020 @ 12:38:00
Thank you for this thoughtful book review Liz! While I may have tangentially heard of this concept I appreciate the more in-depth perspective on what rewilding is. I’m curious to read about the political/policy implications of rewilding and what would need to happen for this to be implemented; I know in the United States at least that the environment is being tarnished so more people who care about or want to preserve the environment sounds great to me.
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