Introduction to Rewilding

Rewilding – offering hope for the future

Rewilding offers a hopeful new vision for restoring our natural world in the 21st century, with an inspirational message that is capturing hearts and minds on an ever-increasing scale. The growth of the global rewilding movement mirrors a growing desire in society to revitalise nature – not just because nature itself is life-affirming and wonderful, but because such revitalisation can help us to address many of our most pressing challenges.  

By supporting the recovery of wild nature, and enabling it to function as it should, rewilding can help to fix our climate and reverse biodiversity decline. It can provide recreational and educational opportunities for communities, enhance human health and wellbeing, contribute to the economic revitalisation of rural areas through the creation of new jobs and businesses, and support the preservation of cultural heritage. 

It is an empowering, inclusive, and immediate solution that can unite people and organisations of all backgrounds and descriptions and engage them in the process of protecting and restoring the natural world. In short, rewilding offers hope of a future where people can thrive alongside healthy, resilient nature.  

In Europe and beyond, an increasing number of practical rewilding initiatives are giving nature the space and freedom to manage itself. Inspired by rewilding's positive message and can-do philosophy, more and more people are choosing to become involved in both the practice and science of rewilding. And funding for rewilding is also on the increase, as a growing number of businesses, investment institutions, and philanthropists take financial decisions that help to restore nature in a holistic way. 

Today, rewilding presents us with a unique and exciting opportunity to upgrade nature and ensure nature recovery delivers game-changing impact. An opportunity to rediscover and reconnect with wild nature to improve our own health and wellbeing. And an opportunity to future-proof nature against our changing climate, by enhancing the health, resilience, and connectivity of natural ecosystems.    

This course will give you a comprehensive grounding in rewilding. First you will learn about the rewilding movement and what sets rewilding apart from other forms of conservation. You will then learn about the ecological, economic and social aspects of rewilding, before exploring rewilding in terrestrial, freshwater and marine settings. 

Rewilding is for everyone and we need people of many skills and backgrounds to help nature recover. Throughout the course, you will hear from pioneers of the rewilding movement. Their experience will help you to plan your own rewilding journey. 
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Learning Objectives

  • Recognise the rewilding principles and how they are used on land, in freshwater systems, and in marine environments. 
  • Identify the different groups of people that are relevant to rewilding and plan how you would work with them in real life. 
  • Anticipate the potential contribution rewilding can make to rural communities, as well as people’s concerns, and select the best tools and approaches for the situation. 
  • Determine which rewilding models are most relevant to a particular place as we work to help nature restore itself. 
  • Identify the nature and natural processes that are missing from the European landscape and create your own bold vision of the future. 
  • Reflect on the experience of people leading the rewilding movement and make your own practical rewilding plan.
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About the course

  • Study time: 3 hours per module (24hrs)
  • Coming soon: modules for terrestrial, freshwater and marine rewilding, and a module to help you start your rewilding journey.
  • If you would like certification, complete our course directly through the Open University here. Please note this is only available in English.

What's Included?

  • Curated content on rewilding in Europe
  • Activities
  • Case studies 
  • Further reading

With thanks to:

Course Lessons

Rewilding Europe
Wild Quarters | Monseigneur Suyslaan 4 
6564 BV Heilig Landstichting | The Netherlands
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