What would rewilding mean for a country like the UK? Bringing back wolves and bears? Returning the land to how it looked in prehistoric times? How will people fit into this wild and unimaginably different place? Questions like these abound whenever rewilding is in the news.
In essence, rewilding involves giving more space and time to nature. Instead of managing ecosystems to preserve particular species, rewilding is intended to reverse environmental decline by letting nature become more self-willed. That means allowing wildlife the freedom to flourish and habitats to regenerate naturally.
But without clear principles to guide these processes, rewilding has become a trendy buzzword that is often used indiscriminately. This has invited wildly different interpretations, sparked debates and caused controversy that has discouraged governments from developing it into policy.
Dingoes were here first : the landowners who say letting wild dogs live pays dividends | Rural Australia theguardian.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theguardian.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Can war crimes be committed against animals?
The mountain gorillas of eastern DR Congo and Rwanda are endangered mainly because of conflict and armed groups. Keystone / Jerome Delay
More than 200 global species, including iconic gorillas, elephants and antelope, have become endangered by wars, conflicts and military exercises. That’s according to a recent report by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, based near Geneva. The IUCN urges sanctions against those who commit “war crimes against the environment” and suggests some possible mechanisms. We look at the report’s findings and the legal obstacles to such prosecutions.
This content was published on May 19, 2021 - 09:00