Embedding rewilding in policy: Perspectives on overcoming barriers and unlocking opportunities

Abstract

Rewilding initiatives are increasing in number across Europe and the UK in response to a growing awareness of substantial nature depletion, despite a lack of policy, guidance and legislation. Ongoing transformations of UK environmental policies offer a ‘policy window’ in which rewilding could become established as a key strategy for nature recovery. Here, we present the results of discussion sessions held as part of a British Ecological Society Policy Training workshop. A total of 46 participants, academics, practitioners and young people interested in rewilding attended. Our discussion focused on three pre‐determined thematic discussion sessions: (1) barriers to rewilding and trade‐offs; (2) species reintroductions; (3) facilitating rewilding in policy. Using thematic analysis, four emerging cross‐cutting themes were identified from our workshop discussions: (a) environmental stewardship & public engagement, (b) cross‐policy approaches, (c) incentivising rewilding and (d) an evidence base for rewilding. Policy Implications. Given the UK's considerable biodiversity loss, restoring ecosystem processes and function on a large scale is increasingly urgent, and operationalising rewilding through supportive environmental policy structures should be a key priority for government