Rewilding – Then and Now

Long before the arrival of humans, nature was already undergoing processes we would today call rewilding – the spontaneous recovery of wilderness. While modern rewilding is often the result of planned projects, its roots reach far back into the deep history of ecosystems. These natural dynamics were a fundamental mechanism through which landscapes continuously evolved, recovered, and adapted to changing conditions.

Spontaneous Rewilding in the Distant Past

Even before the influence of humans, powerful natural events such as wildfires, floods, or windstorms disrupted ecosystems and triggered natural succession – a process through which the landscape regenerated in a new form. Sometimes the new ecosystem resembled the previous one, but it could also be entirely different, depending on climate conditions at the time and the availability of species that could recolonize the area.

In pre-human Europe, such spontaneous changes were a vital part of how natural habitats developed. The ability of ecosystems to regenerate and transform in response to disturbance ensured their resilience and long-term vitality.

The American Model of Rewilding

The modern concept of rewilding emerged in North America, in vast, sparsely populated landscapes where large natural areas and native wildlife had been preserved. A landmark moment was the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park, which triggered a trophic cascade – a chain of positive effects throughout the ecosystem, including changes in herbivore behavior, vegetation recovery, and the return of other species.

This model had a major influence on environmental thinking and became an inspiration for many other initiatives. However, it was not easily transferable to Europe, where much of the wilderness had been converted to agriculture and large predators had been masively exterminated. Still, thanks to protective measures, hunting bans, and the adaptability of some species, the situation is gradually changing in many parts of Europe.

The European Approach: Return of the Herbivores

European rewilding projects tend to focus more on the return of large herbivores, such as bison, wild boar, beavers, tarpan horses, or semi-wild ponies. These animals shape the landscape in a different way – creating wallows, disturbing soil, grazing shrubs, opening up the forest, and building dams that form wetlands.

Through their activity, they create a mosaic of habitats such as meadows, ponds, sparse woodlands, and wet grasslands – places where a rich diversity of plants, insects, birds, and amphibians can thrive. This form of ecosystem restoration does not aim to recreate a specific past state but rather to restore natural dynamics and resilience. European rewilding thus develops its own identity, adapted to the continent’s historical land use and high population density.

Conclusion

Today’s rewilding builds on ancient natural processes and combines them with deliberate efforts to restore the landscape. Whether it’s wolves in North America or bison in Europe, the goal is the same – to bring back dynamism and balance to ecosystems. Rewilding also opens a broader discussion on how to live in harmony with nature in a cultural landscape, where wilderness must now be restored by different means than in the distant past.