Domestic Livestock and Rewilding: Are They Mutually Exclusive?

Human influence extends across the globe, from tallest mountains to deep bottom of oceans. There is a growing call for nature be protected negative impacts human activity (particularly intensive agriculture); so-called “land sparing”. A relatively new approach “rewilding”, defined as restoration self-sustaining and complex ecosystems, with interlinked ecological processes that promote support one another while minimising or gradually reducing intervention. The key theoretical basis rewilding return ecosystems “natural” “self-willed” state trophic complexity, dispersal (and connectivity) stochastic disturbance in place. However, this constrained by context-specific factors whereby it may not possible restore native species formed part structure ecosystem if they are extinct (e.g., mammoths, Mammuthus spp., aurochs, Bos primigenius ); and, populations/communities herbivores/predators able survive acceptable public small scale projects close areas high density. Therefore, natural complexity regimes within requires careful consideration broader conservation needs society met. In some circumstances, managers will require more flexible deliberate intervening using range tools their toolbox controlled burning regimes; domestic livestock replicate herbivore species), even only early stages process. If adopted, then larger can given over conservation, because potential benefits these spaces engagement farmers practises closer traditions. We provide examples, primarily European, where semi-domestic used toolbox. Here have looked at phenotype suitability different systems. assess whether there ways systems economic branded certified products) cultural gains.