The headlines on reports about calls for rewilding Britain are generally intended to scare us about the prospect of wolves and lynxes wandering our countryside.
But I took two different things away from today's Guardian article by George Monbiot.
First how much we have lost and how recently we have lost it:
Until 80 years ago, shoals of giant bluefin tuna followed the herring and mackerel migrating round our coasts. For many years, the world record tuna caught on rod and line was one hooked a mile off Scarborough in 1933.Second, how practical many of these rewilding ideas are:
Following the spectacular preliminary findings from Ireland, where resurgent pine martens appear to have rolled back the grey squirrel population, allowing red squirrels to recolonise much of their old territory, there has been a surge of interest in restoring the species in Britain.
Loved the Monbiot piece, so thought provoking. Bring back 18ft sturgeon and grey whales!
ReplyDeletePaul Jepson argues that George Monbiot’s vision of bringing back 15 iconic species falls short of the rewilding visions being discussed in universities. See Conversation article "here"
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