First published on the Ecosulis blog on 9 March 2020 At this year's PlantLife debate, a panel comprising Professor Dieter Helm (University of Oxford), Clare Pillman (Chief Executive Natural Resources Wales), Dr. Trevor Dines (PlantLife Botanical Specialist) and Ecosulis Nature Recovery Lead Dr. Paul Jepson discussed the question of whether rewilding works for plants. The following
This blog was fist published as a guest blog by Rewilding Europe on 17 February 2020. Rewilding could be a global warming game changer, not only in Europe but also farther north. According to a recently published scientific article, Arctic rewilding with large herbivores has the potential to transform ecosystems and the global carbon budget.
This opinion article was published in apolitcal on 19 November 2019 Our planet’s nature is at a low ebb. Scientists are warning of a sixth extinction crisis, and in many regions, even insect populations are in serious decline. The failure of public policy to halt the deteriorating state of nature together with advances in ecological science
This article was first pulished on the Ecosulis blog on 8/10/2019 The UK's national parks were created as part of progressive policy to reimagine our national identity after empire. Seventy years on, it is time to rethink their meaning and purpose. New pastoralism and natural asset thinking could revitalise the UK's national parks. Time for
This article was originally published in The Conversation on 11 May 2018. Header image via shutterstock In the late 1960s a patch of land to the east of Amsterdam was reclaimed from the sea for industry. Following the 1973 oil crisis this plan was abandoned and flocks of geese moved in. As the geese grazed
This article was published in Geographical Magazine on 15 June 2017 The idea of rewilding boar into the UK’s landscapes is gaining plenty of traction, but if we truly want them back we’ll need to consider hunting them as well. Cycling through the Forest of Dean, my daughter and I encountered a sign instructing
Good morning all, and thanks for the invitation to present today. Gary asked me to present some thoughts on new paradigms for conservation. My aim is to do just this. I will argue that we need to seize the opportunity of Brexit to reframe how we think and talk about rural lands. Brexit is a
David Novillo opened his presentation to my Masters students with the words “Do today what you want to happen tomorrow” Using an engaging mix of stories, facts and mine he went on to describe with humour, candour and humility his work to restore the marine ecosystems in the municipality of Adeje, Tenerife. But David is
On 19 April Rewilding Europe celebrated its 5th anniversary with a special gathering in Amsterdam called Wild Ways. The event included dialogue, a 'rewilding' market, previews of film projects, music by Lex Empress and two talks, one by Rewilding Europe MD Frans Schepers and one by myself. Here is the text of my talk. Good evening
On a Saturday afternoon in late November I went for a walk along Iffley meadows in Oxford. The gate to the BBOWT meadow was hung with a sign telling the story of a cow that had gotten stuck in a ditch and was pulled out with a neck rope. Those entering the field were asked
