Rewilder Weekly #22

Welcome to the latest edition of the Rewilder Weekly! Before we get started, a shout-out to SCOTLAND: The Big Picture and its upcoming Big Picture Conference on the 14th. Oh how I'd love to be there. If you can make the trip and don't yet have your ticket - go for it! You don't want to miss this one. Now then, let's get on with it - let's rewild!

?? As a reminder: If you come across stories you'd like to see featured in an upcoming edition of the Rewilder Weekly, send them to me and I'll gladly do what I can.

1) Rewilding is all about connection

The man in the photograph is Dave Foreman (1946-2022) and it was he who coined the term 'rewilding'. In this article I'm looking, among other things, back at Foreman's storied life as a tireless ally for nature, as co-founder of Earth First!, the Wildlands Network and the The Rewilding Institute. He went from being an eco-warrior activist who couldn't help but resort to disrupting the activities of corporate greed, to becoming a rewilder who was all about reconnecting lands, waterways, flora and fauna - and, of course, people, too.

The thing that got me started for this article was really to look into the origin of the term rewilding. Foreman coined it, and consensus has it that the term first appeared in print in 1990 in a Newsweek article. Alas, if you stick with the article, you'll come across my discovery that the term actually made a first appearance - in a pretty unusual way - all the way, way, way back in 1844!

?? Go here for post and article

2) Rewilding Britain highlights its August rewilding wins

Nicely done! The fine folks at Rewilding Britain are tireless rewilders - and tireless communicators, too! Good! No movement without communication. Here they beautifully highlight some of what's ticking across the Channel, such as the roaming The Missing Lynx Project exhibition that attracted thousands of visitors and the birth of two white-tailed eagles (the second time only this has happened in 240 years!).

I love it that the highlights range from tiny (glow worms in Cornwall) to the vast (the effort to ban bottom trawling across 20 Scottish protected marine areas). Lots to do, and thanks to the tireless work, lots is happening!

?? Go here for post and carousel

3) Vote YES for biodiversity in Switzerland

Pardon for the plastering of my face here, frankly, it makes me uncomfortable. But it IS personal and we all should stand up, step up and make our voice heard loud and clear. I added my voice and name and face to the many vocal supporters of the upcoming national referendum on biodiversity in Switzerland. If you have voting rights in Switzerland, I hope that you, too, will vote YES!

And don't just silently vote yes. From now until the 22nd of September, it is essential that we tackle misinformation and fearmongering. Speak clearly, firmly, positively and decently. We can and must continue to do that, even if it just seems to get more and more difficult in the age of outrage culture. So again, if you have voting rights, then please, for yourself, for your loved ones, for future generations and a healthy, sustainable, biodiversity-rich Switzerland, on the 22nd of September, VOTE YES.

?? Go here for post (and please share on!), go here

4) From cub to juvenile - Argentina's jaguar success story

The adorable jaguar cub in the above picture is a cup no longer. Mombyry was born in Argentina's Iberá Park in 2022 and now we learn that juvenile Mombyry is already roaming wide and far. This success story has been long in the making thanks to the efforts of the Tompkins Conservation and Rewilding Argentina .

Because he's not yet fully grown, Mombyry's not wearing a collar and thus can't easily be satellite-tracked. But the return of jaguars means a great deal to the people of the region and they feel proud of and protective towards this rare and stunning co-inhabitant. And so local people call in with the discovery of tracks and, of course, sightings. "This enthusiasm, pride and joy in seeing a jaguar in the wild is well justified: this is a species that is now back in Corrientes after 70 years of extinction in the area. This was accomplished thanks to the support of the people of Corrientes, who today are the greatest guardians of the jaguar."

?? Go here for post and article

5) Biodiversity is essential for resilient nature-based solutions

A team of researchers has analyzed 78 papers published internationally and in Australia over the past 20 years to assess ecological resilience in nature-based solutions (such as forests, mangroves and coral reefs). The result, unsurprisingly, is that biodiversity is key to resilience.

In their words: "We found biological diversity – at the level of genes, species, communities and whole ecosystems – is key to creating nature-based solutions that last. In contrast, quick-fix solutions, such as planting a single species of tree, are less likely to work in the long run."

?? Go here for post and research paper

6) Take a walk with Julia Davies

I came across Julia Davies ' post and just about everything in it perfectly resonated. She went hiking across England for two weeks and in her post reflects on everything from the shortfalls of protecting nature in isolation and the need for nature corridors, to the country's necessary move toward far less meat and dairy consumption, to calling for the banning of shooting estates (for all the right reasons), to calling on the Royal Family to lead the charge.

Julia writes, "To protect their future we need to invest in a safe future for everyone, tackling dangerous climate change and environmental destruction which is making our world steadily less habitable for life of all species including our own."

?? Go here for her post and pictures

7) Rewilding boosts black grouse numbers in Scotland

Good story reported on by Rewilding Europe 's Daniel Allen . Turns out that rewilding - surprise, surprise - helps. In this case, the proof in the pudding comes courtesy of an ongoing study in the Affric Highlands rewilding landscape in Scotland. They have found that collaborative rewilding efforts between volunteers, estates and other organizations are having a positive impact on black grouse numbers.

Daniel explains that, "Black grouse populations are measured by counting the numbers of males attending mating display sites called "leks". In April/May this year, 14 sites in the landscape were assessed, with groups of trained volunteers each studying plots covering 5 sq kms. These surveys recorded 405 lekking males - a slight increase since the last survey in 2021, and the highest recorded over the past 17 years."

?? Go here for post, article and video

8) Volunteers help to protect sheep - and wolves

There's a great deal that keeps going wrong on the wolf front across Europe. Scientifically, we know that the wolf as a keystone species is essential for well-functioning biodiversity-rich nature. Practically, we also know that coexistence measures absolutely do work. Alas, I keep hearing stories of farmers who are simply, adamantly, against even contemplating ways other then the slaughter of the wolf in large numbers.

But here's a great story: OPPAL is just one of an increasing number of volunteer organizations who help farmers protect their sheep in alpine regions. Check out the article and the video that details one couple's regular visit to the mountain ranges, where they support a shepherd with the overnight guarding of his flock. But while this is a wonderful story, it cannot help but be a temporary aid until a new balance has been found. To my mind, that new balance comes about when farmers cede some of those high alpine regions to the wolf - and the same should go for hunters. Imagine if hunters wouldn't hunt chamois and ibex up there, then wolves would have their on well-stocked territories. But, for now, it is fantastic to see how these volunteers step up.

?? Go here for post, article and video

We end the newsletter as always with an artwork by Chilean science illustrator and painter Mauricio Alvarez (mauricio_alvarez_art on Instagram): This time 'just' the shell of a freshwater snail (chilina llanquihuensis). In its way, this shell - and Mauricio's rendering of it - is to me as beautiful as stunning butterfly or majestic eagle. Love it.

And that's it for this edition! For more rewilding insights and stories from around the globe, use the #rewilding hashtag and follow people, organizations and groups that are as passionate about rewilding as you are.

Have a good week!

Cheers,

D