Using fire to enhance rewilding when agricultural policies fail

Rewilding has been proposed as an opportunity for biodiversity conservation in abandoned landscapes. However, rewilding is challenged by the increasing fire risk associated with more flammable landscapes, and loss of open-habitat specialist species. Contrastingly, supporting High Nature Value farmlands (HNVf) also highlighted a valuable option, but effective implementation agricultural policies often fails leading to uncertain scenarios wherein effects wildfire management remain largely unexplored. Herein, we simulated fire-landscape dynamics evaluate how suppression affect regime (102 species vertebrates) under HNVf future (2050), transnational biosphere reserve (Gerês-Xurés Mountains, Portugal-Spain). were modulated three different levels effectiveness. Then, quantified scenario on (burned suppressed areas) (habitat suitability change 2050). Simulations confirm long-term (up 30,000 ha additional areas between 2031 2050 comparison scenario) (benefiting around 60% species). benefits some (20%), including critically endangered, vulnerable endemic taxa, while several (33%) profit from open habitats created fire. Although remains best scenario, reinforced low may provide nature-based solution when societal support through fails.