Rewilding is a hot topic in conservation biology, policy and practice, and is seen to be at the cutting edge of modern conservation techniques. For many it offers a bold, new vision for the future and as a result is an expanding area of interest within scientific, public and political discourse. This publication, promoted as ‘the first popular book on the ground-breaking science’ intends to provide an account of the science behind rewilding.
The book opens with an enthusiastic, ambitious and upbeat tone that continues to permeate throughout the narrative, proving an uplifting read. This introduction is followed by chapters exploring theories related to grassland savannahs and the role of large herbivores within these systems. Here the authors present some compelling arguments and evocative dreamscapes of alternate realities. These early chapters are successful in highlighting the central importance of grassland ecosystems to a wider audience.
Chapter 4 briefly discusses many of the well-known case studies that those familiar with rewilding science might expect to see, followed by a series of chapters exploring a selection of interesting perspectives and well-researched theories from complementary sciences. Here the authors illustrate a fuller picture of rewilding as a concept, but largely rooted in western perspectives and grassland systems.
The narrative of this book is embedded within wilderness interpretations of rewilding, and stays within that realm. There is not much content on alternative rewilding approaches, other global perspectives, or an exploration of people's place within the natural environment. However, much of this may have simply been because of restricted page space. Chapter 9 is one of the most engaging; it discusses current challenges and opportunities for rewilding practitioners and demonstrates the complexity of turning theory into practice. The authors end with a chapter outlining their 10 predictions for the future—a logical and forward-looking ending, but one that perhaps fails to match the punch of the introduction.
What comes across strongly is the authors’ enthusiasm and belief in their interpretation of rewilding, so it is truly an account of rewilding from the first person perspective, as opposed to a more complete and objective review of all rewilding science. As a result, my overwhelming sense of this book is that it acts as a philosophical treatise on rewilding. It demands that the reader evaluates how they feel about the most radical ideas in rewilding science, and how much this perspective of rewilding represents the whole.
Throughout the book, the authors consciously place herbivores at the centre of the rewilding narrative, rather than their predators. They also avoid the controversy and critique inherent within the wider rewilding debate. Other underlying ideas take us back down the well-trodden path of intrinsic versus utilitarian perspectives of nature, which conservationists have been arguing about since at least the late 1980s. But there is also an unsettling ‘us vs them’ attitude permeating the book, which I found divisive. There are several misguided swipes at conservation biology and practice that come across as unreasonable.
In summary, this is a bold, yet technical book that reflects the optimistic and energetic mood of the rewilding movement. I found it forward-looking and informative, but narrow in its scope in terms of the systems, geographies and attitudes that it presents. Nonetheless, the authors deliver on their own account of rewilding, from a tranche of the movement in Europe.
Although readers would benefit from some technical grounding in conservation or ecological theory to get the most out of this book, for those seriously interested in rewilding it is a must read. It adds depth to the rewilding conversation, and I am sure any reader would find something new within its pages. Although it does not feel complete as a standalone book on the topic, it is certainly an interesting interpretation of a novel and changing subject matter.
Open access
