Project
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.
Rewilding is a form of ecological restoration with an emphasis on reducing human control and relying on ecosystem processes to achieve restoration goals. Originally developed for the protection of large, connected territories (‘wilderness’), the rewilding concept has recently evolved into a process-oriented, dynamic approach that emphasises the autonomy of natural processes (‘wildness’). The potential socio-economic benefits related to novel carbon credit schemes, combined with low implementation costs, could render ‘climate-smart rewilding’ - that is, a strategy for increasing the climate benefits of rewilding in such a way as to create synergies with other environmental and societal needs.
The overarching aim of wildE is to assess and enhance the potential of climate-smart rewilding for ecological restoration across Europe. The project aims to develop and implement a multi-disciplinary research programme that addresses the climate-biodiversity nexus in tight association with the socio-economic dimension of large-scale restoration, including scenarios which will demonstrate this potential under diverse land-use and climate change futures. With 8 case studies across Europe, wildE will deliver scientific insights, methods and tools for different geographic, ecological and social contexts, in order to assist EU policy makers, national governments, regions, local communities and commercial companies in embedding rewilding-type ecological restoration in their policies and plans for achieving carbon neutrality, enhancing climate adaptation and reversing biodiversity loss. FNP’s contribution to the project is leading a representative assessment of societal perceptions of nature and related management strategies across Europe, and analysing conflicts related to rewilding and restoration in different socio-cultural contexts.
Research themes:
- Forest & nature conservation governance
- Human nature interactions
- Role of power & knowledge in policy making