ClimateJuly 16, 2026

rewilding

/ˌriːˈwaɪldɪŋ/

Definition

The process of abandoning managed agricultural land to revert to a 'natural' state of wild vegetation, often proposed as a strategy for carbon sequestration.

Etymology

The term is formed by the prefix 're-' (again) and 'wild', reflecting the late 20th-century conservationist movement to restore ecological processes and wildlife habitats to a self-sustaining, untamed state.

In the news

The article uses 'rewilding' as an example of a land-use strategy that critics argue is overly simplistic, noting that it ignores the potential for carbon storage in well-managed grazing lands.

Scientists warn ‘carbon tunnel vision’ risks misguided climate policies on livestock

Read the full article ↗

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