Strategies for rewilding: Restoring native fauna and Flora to their natural habitats

Rewilding has emerged as a vital conservation strategy aimed at restoring ecosystems by reintroducing native flora and fauna to their natural habitats. In response to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, rewilding enhances ecological resilience and restores natural processes. This article explores various strategies for rewilding, focusing on successful practices and their impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functionality. By examining different rewilding projects worldwide, we aim to identify key factors contributing to their success and highlight potential challenges and solutions. This study utilizes a mixed-methods approach to examine rewilding strategies through both qualitative and quantitative research. It involved a comprehensive literature review of scholarly articles and reports, primarily focused on five diverse rewilding projects: Yellowstone National Park (USA), Oostvaardersplassen (Netherlands), Pleistocene Park (Russia), the Scottish Highlands (UK), and Iberá Wetlands (Argentina). The selected projects represent various ecosystems and methodologies. Experts in ecology and conservation were interviewed to gather qualitative insights, while quantitative data on biodiversity and ecosystem services were collected and analyzed before and after rewilding interventions. The qualitative data were thematically coded for analysis. The analysis of rewilding projects revealed key strategies and outcomes, including the reintroduction of keystone species such as wolves and European bison, which are vital for restoring biodiversity. Habitat restoration efforts, like tree planting in the Scottish Highlands, and community involvement, exemplified by ecotourism in the Iberá Wetlands, were crucial for support. Adaptive management practices ensured flexibility in addressing ecological and social changes. Overall, rewilding resulted in increased biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, although challenges like human-wildlife conflict and climate change persisted. The study highlights rewilding as an effective conservation strategy, emphasizing the reintroduction of keystone species to restore ecosystems and boost biodiversity. Habitat restoration is essential for species survival, while community engagement is crucial for project success, addressing human-wildlife conflicts through innovative solutions like compensation schemes. Continuous monitoring and adaptive management are important for informed decision-making. Despite rewilding's potential to combat ecological degradation, climate change and habitat fragmentation challenges necessitate future research to improve ecosystem resilience.

کلیدواژه ها:

Biodiversity ، Ecosystem restoration ، Species reintroduction ، Habitat restoration