In chapters three and four of Rambunctious Garden by Emma Marris, the concept of rewilding is extensively discussed. Rewilding is the process of reintroducing species to a particular ecosystem that they inhabited once before. The idea includes reintroducing predators to an area so they can regulate the food chain and maintain a diverse gene pool. Rewilding also involves relocating endangered species to ideal habitats to prevent extinction. Some proponents of rewilding support adding proxy species to certain ecosystems. These proxy species are close substitutes to extinct organisms that once lived in these ecosystems. People who support this view believe the proxy species will have the same effect on the ecosystems as their ancestors did. Another type of rewilding is Pleistocene rewilding. This type of rewilding was first proposed by Paul Martin and involves returning wilderness to the state it was in before any humans arrived. Martin goes as far as proposing to introduce proxy species of elephants, lions, and cheetahs to the reserves in the Great Plains to restore the ecosystems that once existed there. Of course, these views have been heavily criticized.
In my opinion, rewilding has many benefits, but it also can cause many problems. The problem with rewilding is that it is based on ideals. These ideals are uncertain to come to fruition in reality. For example, it is not definite that proxy species will interact with a certain ecosystem in the same way that their ancestors did. In fact, the proxy species might have adverse effects on the ecosystem. Rewilding is a relatively new concept that has only been tested on a small-scale. Although it has been effective in places such as Oostvardersplassen in the Netherlands, I do not know if it will be effective at a large-scale level. In order for it to be effective at a larger scale, it will require a tremendous amount of time, money, and regulation.
Another problem with rewilding is that it poses some safety issues. For example, if predators such as lions and cheetahs are introduced to reserves in the Great Plains, they can escape and terrorize Americans in the area. The goal of rewilding is to restore ecosystems to the way they were thousands of years ago. Unlike the pristine wilderness concept, which unsuccessfully tries to find land that has been untouched, rewilding allows people to create ecosystems that resemble the distant past. However, since species that have dominated the land have evolved to cope with the ecosystems they are currently a part of, rewilding might have adverse and unexpected effects. Therefore, it is not a good idea. I believe the only time rewilding should be utilized is when dealing with endangered species. If rewilding can help an endangered species prosper, then it will be beneficial. For example, it might be beneficial to relocate a species of endangered birds to an ecosystem that the ancestors of that species once inhabited if this will benefit the species.
Although rewilding is scientifically feasible, it would require an incredible amount of time, money, and regulation. Even if it is feasible, it is not certain to have the desired effects. Regardless, I do not believe that rewilding is ethically sound in most circumstances. Relocating species such as African lions, cheetahs, and elephants to foreign lands such as the Great Plains can harm the species. This is because they have adapted to life in Africa and their adaptations might not be well suited for foreign lands. Relocating these species to lands such as the Great Plains is also unethical to Americans in the surrounding areas because these wild animals can pose a threat to their livelihood. The only instance where I believe that rewilding is ethical is if it will benefit an endangered species that does not pose a serious threat to humans. It is quite clear from these chapters that rewilding is an interesting yet controversial concept.
