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The state of nature

Why rewilding matters now

Four numbers from the world's major biodiversity assessments, each linked to its source and to our coverage.

73%

average decline in the size of monitored wildlife populations since 1970

Source: Living Planet Report 2024, WWF and ZSL Biodiversity →
1 million

animal and plant species threatened with extinction, with invasive species one of five main drivers

Source: IPBES Global Assessment, 2019 Invasive species →
17.6%

of land and inland waters is protected. The global goal is 30% by 2030.

Source: Protected Planet Report 2024 The 30x30 target →
8.4%

of ocean and coastal areas is protected. The global goal is 30% by 2030.

Source: Protected Planet Report 2024 Marine rewilding →

Journalism for a wilder world

Rewilding Report is an independent editorial publication dedicated to the science, stories, and practical action of ecological restoration. We cover everything from apex predator reintroductions to rewilding your backyard.

Our news feed refreshes every few days. Our research database indexes peer-reviewed papers so you never have to wade through a paywall to understand what the science says.

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Story spotlight · Case study

The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge

A land bridge over a six-lane highway now carries animals and walkers between the two halves of a 330-acre San Antonio park. Nearly six years in, camera traps are answering the question everyone asked when it opened: is it actually working?

Read the case study →By Dawn Obermoeller ·

From Rewilding Report

Case studies →
Join the Crown Count on the Violet Crown Trail

An iNaturalist project documenting what lives along Austin's Violet Crown Trail, from golden-cheeked warbler habitat to the monarch migration route, so scientists can see what changes as the city grows.

Caves, karst, and rewilding

Chris Thibodaux has spent 35 years exploring Central Texas cave systems. He talks about what lives underground, what threatens it, and what rewilding means in karst country.

Latest Rewilding News

Recent research →

Recent Research

All papers →
Rewilding: Ten Years of Evolution and Development

Rewilding has matured into a mainstream approach in nature conservation, characterized by a shift from compositional goals to functional restoration, fostering coexistence between humans and nature.

Learn

Rewilding: Frequently Asked Questions

Plain-language answers to the most common questions about rewilding and ecological restoration.

Rewilding is the large-scale restoration of ecosystems to the point where nature can take care of itself. It involves reintroducing keystone species, restoring natural processes, and reducing human intervention so that biodiversity can recover on its own terms. Read our full explainer →
Start by reducing interventions: let a corner grow wild, remove paving, and ditch pesticides. Plant native wildflowers, install a wildlife pond, create log piles, and remove invasive non-native plants. Even a small balcony can support pollinators with native pot plants.
Peer-reviewed research documents multiple benefits: restored predator populations trigger trophic cascades; reintroduced beavers reduce downstream flood peaks by up to 60%; rewilded grasslands sequester significant carbon; and biodiversity recovery improves ecosystem resilience to climate change.
Yes. Agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and rewilding the margins approaches integrate wildlife habitat into working farms. Research from Knepp Estate shows that rewilded land can produce high-quality meat from free-roaming animals while dramatically increasing biodiversity.
Notable projects include Knepp Wildland (UK), Rewilding Europe across 10+ sites, Trees for Life in the Scottish Highlands, the Yellowstone to Yukon corridor in North America, and Gondwana Link in Australia. Many accept volunteers or donations.

Your turn

Rewilding isn't just something you read about

Every item on this list is a real action you can start this week, no acreage required.

🌱 Rewilding Report

2026 Rewilding
To‑Do List

  • Plant a native
  • Reduce pesticide use
  • Attract dragonflies
  • Remove an invasive plant
  • Log an iNaturalist sighting
Take action now →