Rewilding offers a beacon of hope for our planet and its ecosystems. At its heart, it's about restoring and revitalising our natural world, allowing it to thrive with as little ongoing intervention from us as possible. Here’s how each of us can channel our energy to contribute to rewilding.

Get Educated:

• Knowledge is the first step towards action. Take the time to learn about rewilding — understand its principles, goals, and the species it aims to protect. Dive into books, documentaries, and online resources to expand your understanding. We’ll play our part here and create a series of resources to help you get up to speed.

Volunteer with Conservation Groups:

• Heaps of conservation groups offer volunteer opportunities for individuals keen to contribute to rewilding efforts. Whether it's planting trees, removing invasive species, or weeding, your time and effort will have a huge impact on the restoration of ecosystems.

Support Rewilding Projects:

• Consider donating to those already doing the rewilding mahi. Even a small amount can can go a long way in funding projects that reintroduce native species, create wildlife corridors, and restore degraded landscapes. Check out the work Capital Kiwi are doing here in Wellington, New Zealand.

Advocate for Policy Change:

• Use your voice to advocate for policies that prioritize conservation and rewilding. Write to council, participate in environmental activism, and support initiatives that promote sustainable land management practices.

Foster Wildlife-Friendly Spaces:

• Transform your own backyard or community spaces into havens for wildlife. Plant native vegetation, install bird feeders and bat boxes, and create habitats that attract pollinators. By providing refuge for local fauna, you contribute to the overall health of ecosystems.

Lead by Example:

• Inspire others to join the rewilding movement through your actions and choices. Share your knowledge, experiences, and passion for nature with friends, family, and peers. Encourage them to adopt sustainable practices and embrace a deeper connection with the natural world. Go check out these IG profiles for some inspiration: Sam the trap man, Sacramentofoodforest. Still need some more concrete examples of how you can do this mahi in your lives? Read on.

  1. Plant something. Choose native trees and shrubs for your backyard to provide habitat and food for native wildlife.

  2. Kill something. Remove invasive plant species, including trees, shrubs and weeds to prevent them from outcompeting native vegetation. Your local council website will have a hit list you can use as a source of truth.

  3. Kill something else. Remove invasive animal species such as rats, mice, stoats, weasels and possums to stop them outcompeting native fauna and deeply affecting ecosystems.

  4. Find others. Participate in tree-planting events organised by conservation groups or local council to restore degraded landscapes.

  5. Build something. Create a backyard wildlife habitat by installing bird feeders, birdhouses, and bat boxes to support local wildlife populations.

  6. Volunteer for something. Volunteer for habitat restoration projects, such as wetland restoration or dune stabilization, to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.

  7. Buy local. Support local farms and businesses that practice sustainable land management and conservation-friendly agricultural practices.

  8. Drive less. Reduce your carbon footprint by walking, biking, or using public transportation instead of driving, thus minimising habitat fragmentation and wildlife disturbance.

  9. Go toxin free. Stop spraying with harmful poisons, choose non toxic alternatives where possible, and add your property to a council no spray list by contacting them. Toxic sprays indescrimintaly kill and there is no place for them in rewilding.

  10. Explore more. Spend more time in nature and become aware of the environment around you. Building this awareness will build more of a desire to take action to protect it. Take your kids.

  11. Use less. Adopt a minimalist lifestyle by reducing consumption, reusing items, and recycling waste to lessen the environmental impact on natural habitats.

Let's embrace the challenge of rewilding knowing that our efforts will shape the world of tomorrow.

Bonus: What is the difference between conservation and rewilding?

While conservation and rewilding share the goal of preserving and restoring ecosystems, they differ in their approaches and objectives.

Conservation typically focuses on protecting existing habitats and species, often through strategies such as establishing protected areas, managing resources sustainably, and preventing further degradation.

On the other hand, rewilding goes beyond preservation to actively restore degraded ecosystems, reintroduce key species, and promote natural processes like predation and disturbance. Rewilding aims to reestablish dynamic, self-sustaining ecosystems that closely resemble their pre-human state, fostering resilience and biodiversity.

So, while conservation seeks to maintain the status quo, rewilding strives to revitalize and regenerate nature to its full potential.