Dossier
Rewilding
By giving space to nature and natural processes, ecosystems can recover. Wageningen scientists are investigating the opportunities for the rewilding of areas in the Netherlands and Europe. This can be done, for example, by giving more space to rivers, improving connections between land and water, or returning large herbivores and predators to ecosystems. Rewilding can thus contribute to improved biodiversity and more wildlife, and offer solutions for the effects of climate change, such as reducing the risk of floods and wildfires.
Since 2020, Wageningen has the first special chair in Rewilding Ecology in Europe. The chair and the research have been made possible in part by NIOO-KNAW and Rewilding Europe.
News about rewilding
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New genetic tool for Asian elephant conservation management
- Wageningen University & Research and Blijdorp Zoo are developing a tool to uncover the DNA of Asian elephants in the wild. To this end, some researchers recently visited North India for the official kick-off of this new phase in the research project. -
Diverse forests hold very large carbon potential
- New study estimates that natural forest recovery could capture approximately 226 Gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon, but only if we also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving these results re-quires large efforts to conserve, better manage and restore biodiversity. This is very much in line with the EU Nature restoration law that made a big step forward on 10 November 2023 in the Trilogue negotiations. -
Arjen Buijs appointed UHD-1 on inclusive NBS governance
- As of 1 July, Dr. Arjen Buijs has been promoted to Associate Proessor-1, which also grants him promotion rights at Wageningen University. -
MSc thesis topic: From croplands to urban: land cover change in the Netherlands
- This MSc topic will use the Land Use Database of the Netherlands to investigate land use changes in the Netherlands. -
Why seagrass needs space
- Seagrass: green leaves swaying in the currents. Fish weave their way through, and sea turtles graze. They’re always on their guard, watching out for any encroaching sharks. The seagrass’ roots are hidden in the seabed, where they anchor the sand, securing the coastline. The best-kept secret is the amount of carbon these plants store: even more than trees do. But seagrasses are facing a barrage of threats. We urgently need to protect them, and enable the rewilding of the sea. -
Dutch government invests 110 million euros in knowledge and innovation program NL2120
- The Dutch government announced on the 24th of February that it will invest 110 million euros in NL2120, of which 40 million are conditional. In this knowledge programme, governments, nature organisations, engineering firms, dredging companies and knowledge and professional institutions work together on nature-based solutions for major challenges in the areas of climate, nature-inclusive agriculture, biodiversity and housing. NL2120, which is financed through the National Growth Fund, is one of the largest partnerships in the world in the field of nature-based solutions. -
Capita Selecta: Rewilding of human-dominated landscapes
- The Wildlife Ecology & Conservation group of Wageningen University and ARK Nature are organising a lecture series in the form of a capita selecta. -
Successful Pathways Europe Conference
- WAGENINGEN, THE NETHERLANDS – The Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department, at Colorado State University, in conjunction with the Cultural Geography Group, at Wageningen University & Research, hosted Pathways Europe 2022 October 19-21, 2022, at the Aurora building on the Wageningen University campus.
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'Rewilding for climate and biodiversity' project to kick off in January
- The wildE project with 20 partners from around Europe is all set to go. -
PhD graduation of Lena Hommes awarded with Cum Laude
News 2012-2021
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A landscape without people can be detrimental to biodiversity
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Large herbivores can reduce fire risks
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Reversing extinction through re-wilding: the case of China’s Père David’s Deer
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Rewilding nature in the Netherlands and Europe
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Re-rooting the Dutch food system: from more to better
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Preserving Nature: Artificial Intelligence against Green Violence
Research on rewilding
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Narratives and perceptions of rewilding
- Rewilding aims to restore ecosystem dynamics and natural processes, while reducing past and present unsustainable human influences. However, without the support of stakeholders, the success rate of rewilding projects is limited. Stakeholder perception of rewilding is influenced by rewilding narratives. In this study, the narratives associated with rewilding in Dutch forest landscapes are analysed. Specifically, how people perceive rewilding projects and what narratives, or aspects thereof, contribute to their success or demise will be investigated. -
Rewilding Ecology
- I aim to contribute to the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) by studying the opportunities and impacts of ecosystem restoration by rewilding: providing more room for natural processes. -
Rewilding for climate and biodiversity
- wildE is a Horizon2020 project proposing a multi-disciplinary research and innovation programme that addresses the climate-biodiversity nexus in tight association with the socio-economic dimension of large-scale restoration. -
Wild Experiments
- The project examined the history, politics and geographies of rewilding, which is emerging as a new paradigm for wildlife conservation. It focused on a case study of the Oostvaardersplassen in the Netherlands and the use of 'de-domesticated' Heck cattle to drive this rewilding experiment.