Nearly Wild

I wasn't expecting that. Yes, elephants could work, and there is a case for expanding to help increase populations and mitigate extinction risks. But also, why not use the large herbivores already present in Australia to accomplish this task? Camels, water buffalo, and kangaroos?

Except Australia 😉, then 🦘.

Rewilding could fill gap left by Panama's lost giants Many large herbivores that once roamed modern-day Panama have declined or died out—including the 6-meter-long giant ground sloth and elephant-related creatures called Cuvieronius. New research suggest...

Just as in Europe and other continents, the human-driven extinction of megafauna like elephants had hugely negative impacts on American ecosystems.

If we want to make them function healthily once more, that factor mustn't be overlooked.
share.google/1nMLsNANDBq1...

One of the biggest joys have had while farming is rewinding and offering more wildlife habitat. Being surrounded by butterflies, birdsong, bees and bunnies while gardening just adds to the pleasure of it and enhances whole body/mind and spirit health.

A cow in some blackthorn scrub.

Farming with nature, or nature with farming…

The basics (move the herbivores around the place a lot) is straightforward, and as long as you have the building blocks in place (seed sources, wild populations nearby etc) it all kicks in pretty fast.

And you still get to eat good food.

As I was saying about hybridizing farming with rewilding...

As I was saying...I just found this post.

(Thanks Cat for the perfect follow up!)

Farmers becoming rewilders enables nature recovery in the largest sector of land use on Earth. Long term, farmers benefit from improved land health.

Rewilders becoming farmers enables funding to be found where previously there was none.

Many will find fault; but consider the doors it opens.

There is a pivotal leverage point for nature recovery to be found in hybridizing rewilding with farming, or farming with rewilding.

I'm not looking to argue about the ethics and challenges, just saying: it exists.

They seem like distinctly separate goals, but bridge the gap and magic happens. +

YouTube video by Will Walking Walking to England's oldest Oak tree: Majesty.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3n7...

As climate change presents us with unprecedented environmental conditions for our time

To what extent should we look to the past to guide nature recovery?

Or should we be totally rethinking our approaches to conservation?

can care for and enhance what we have (not a good record of this so far.) Imo we let nature lead, see which ecosystems / or species tolerate changing conditions, and which need help with new key pieces or relocating. Each needs site by site consideration, ask "What is best for *this* place?

If we are not certain of how climate change will play out - (wetter / hotter / colder/ drier?) Best bet may be to focus on optimizing existing ecosystem resilience, enhancing biodiversity, and upgrading natural water infrastructure (beavers can help). Before we replace ecosystems, let's see how we

A new wetland restoration project on private land evolving in the Slocan Valley, BC with the support of the landowners and @srstreamkeepers.bsky.social and BCWF.

Der gestern im Online-Forum "Naturnahe Beweidung im Fokus" gehaltene Vortrag des Neubrandenburger Paläo- & Naturschutzbiologen Prof. Dr. Robert Sommer ist online. Eine hochspannende Melange mit Handreichung zwischen diesen scheinbar so unterschiedlichen Disziplinen.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tODb...

Dense, dark forests in Europe are a modern phenomenon A new, comprehensive study shows that Europe’s landscapes over the past more than 20 million years have predominantly been a mosaic of grasslands, scrub and woodlands of varying density. A light...

Dense, dark forests in Europe are a modern phenomenon - Europe’s landscapes for 23 Myr were mostly tree- & flower-rich mosaics shaped by large herbivores, not dense #forests, see our new synthesis www.eurekalert.org/news-release... #forests #woodlands #paleoecology #nature #trees #refiorestation

Revisiting Europe's temperate forests: Palaeoecological evidence for an herbivory-driven woodland-grassland mosaic biome Understanding the pre-Homo sapiens baseline of the temperate forest biome is crucial for interpreting present-day biodiversity patterns, ecosystem fun…

"Europe's woodland mosaic biome and biota evolved under sustained large-herbivore-mediated processes, and the loss of these dynamics has fundamentally altered its structure and functioning."

YouTube video by Valhalla Wilderness Findings in the Rainbow-Jordan Wilderness - Amber Peters 2019 CRED Talk

Findings in the Rainbow-Jordan Wilderness - Amber Peters 2019 CRED Talk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMVu...

Saved an old apple tree.

A heavy snow brought it down before christmas and with half the roots being pulled out a decision was made not to disturb them any more and prune what remained back into a viable tree.

Protected areas are boundary objects that facilitate multiple connections between people and nature. Marion Jay showcases narratives of nature experiences by visitors & users of Natura 2000 reserves in Germany in our #PeopleNatureLandscapesBlog. medium.com/people-natur...

This thick, brambly hedge on S Devon coast produced 2 Firecrests and 3 Cirl Buntings with Navelwort, Stinking Iris and Hartstongue growing on the bank.

Lunar Year of the #Horse: Four environmental lessons we can learn from #equines

https://www.rfr.bz/bccea3a

Mummified cheetahs found in Saudi caves could shape rewilding plans Researchers exploring a cave network in northern Saudi Arabia have made an unexpected find: seven naturally mummified cheetahs, along with the skeletal remains of 54 more, preserved for up to ...

Researchers discovered mummified #cheetah remains in #SaudiArabia caves that revealed the presence of two distinct subspecies, providing valuable genetic insights to inform future cheetah #restoration efforts in the region.

https://www.rfr.bz/bef79e0

Ancient stepwells brought back to life as India begins to run out of water Centuries-old wells restored to provide drinking water as parts of the country head towards “day zero” when no water will be available

Great to see India's restoration of traditional water management is expanding. I wrote about Tamil Nadu's eris system for @biographic.bsky.social and in my book, Water Always Wins. Good story by @shomaabhyankar.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

🌿@ipbes.net defined archetypes of human-relationships, the "Life Frames" (living in, as, from & with nature). How do life frames define the perception of nature's values by residents around protected areas? Our new study, out now in "Biological Conservation", led by M. Jay.
🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...

Full on day today, planting over 300 wildflowers on a south facing wildflower meadow that I manage in Yorkshire. We are looking to improve floral diversity to encourage more insects. Looking forward to seeing this one develop! 🌺🌱

New maps out today! Saiga once teetering on the brink of extinction now migrate in the millions across the Kazakh Steppe. Learn about the challenges they face on their long distance journeys here: cms.int/gium/migrati...
@acbk.bsky.social

YouTube video by Xerantha Global Earth Repair Convergence May 7-11 2026

Global Earth Repair Convergence May 7-11 2026
I'll be presenting remotely.
Looking forward to it!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=psA7...

Lichen ensemble says what up 🎷🎶