Rewilding – where might it fit in British conservation policy and practice

1. Rewilding– where might it fit in British conservation policy and practice Keith Kirby http://www.plants.ox.ac.uk/plants

2. How do we do conservation in Britain? • Nature conservation often ‘gardening’ • Cultural landscapes • Inevitable with small sites • Hostile socio-political environment • Specific habitat/species • Driven by target-focused conservation approach • Many strengths to this

3. But wouldn’t it be nice to let the wild things out of the cage…rewilding • Total freedom not possible, • But the acceptable limits can be stretched • Science-base must be sound

4. Can re-wilding deliver biodiversity objectives? • What is our template if we move outside the cultural landscapes that we have inherited? • What are we trying to conserve?

5. We cannot go back through rewilding “Natural” past is not tenable as a model • Conditions uncertain • Climate and soils have changed • Species gained and lost • Human influence being pushed back in time Can we go forward? Develop towards future natural regime? • Withdraw obvious driving human influences • Give up targets • Focus on allowing ‘natural’ processes

6. Re-wilding proposals • Landscape scale, mosaics of habitats • Natural(-istic) processes such as grazing Possible drivers • Land abandonment under CAP reform • Forestry renaissance • Spiritual/moral reasons

7. British examples? • Knepp Estate In 2001 we shifted our focus entirely and embarked on a series of regeneration and restoration projects aimed primarily at nature conservation and a less intensive way of meat production  • Wild EnnerdaleThe Wild Ennerdale Partnership is allowing the landscape to evolve naturally with reducing human intervention  • Great Fen a 50-year project to create a huge wetland area; a haven for fen wildlife, a massive green space for people, opening new opportunities for recreation, education and business • AlladaleThe purpose of the Alladale Wilderness Reserve is to restore a remote area of the Highlands to its former natural glory.

8. Conservation issues? • Are we prepared to allow change? • Re-wilding is unpredictable • Wood may go to heath, but heath may go to woodland quicker! • Re-wilding may mean losses of abundance of species, even extinctions Keep some targets…?

9. Regulation issues • Welfare legislation exists • Feral animals are not wild • Deer within fenced areas may fall into the category of ‘kept’ animals. • Re-introductions difficult (cf beaver!) • Unless unofficial – wild boar • But don’t mention carnivores • Disease issues Legal constraints

10. Public support issues • Lose treasured landscapes • Historic environment altered • Much likely land has public access • Footpaths • Right to roam • Domestic stock kill people • Extra problems of dogs • Stallions and horse riders • Jurassic Park planning • Dealing with escapes Be prepared to compromise

11. Ways forward • Need large areas • Likely to be staged process • Bring stakeholders on board • Public • Regulators • Conservationists • Opportunity to stop at each stage • Likely to be more very extensive farming than fully wild • Not re-creation of past, but new wilder cultural landscape

12. Rewilding – direction of travel, not outcome

13. Conclusions • Potentially exciting and new approach to conservation • Dynamic approach to conservation • Compatible with climate change adaptation • Scope for using some National Nature Reserves • Needs informed thinking/research • Potential losses as well as gains • Needs integration of landscape/access issues • Complementary to ‘traditional’ approach, not a substitute • Its happening on the continent by default!

14. Thank you http://www.britishwildlife.com/classic_articles/British%20Wildlife%20Special%20supplement.pdf