Rural exodus: an opportunity for rewilding or a challenge for ecological restoration?

Abstract

Rural depopulation is one of the most obvious syndromes of global change. It is correlated with the abandonment of traditional agricultural systems. Various initiatives consider this trend exploitable through rewilding. We discuss this proposal, which contributes to the eradication of traditional rural cultures to create landscapes devoid of human beings or with severely reduced human presence. New human activities in the territory would be “nature tourism”, with large animals - native or otherwise - as its main attraction. We analyze cases in Spain and Argentina where in very different ecological and social contexts rewilding has been the subject of profound criticism. We differentiate between the kind of “rewilding” that induces rural exodus, and ecological restoration which, with various strategies and methodologies, seeks to halt and reverse rural exodus. Finally, we emphasize that the holistic and biocultural approach to ecological restoration integrates biodiversity, and environmental, social, economic, and personal aspects. Thus, not only are degraded ecosystems regenerated, but rural repopulation is encouraged and healthier relationships between communities, and their cultures, and non-human Nature are fostered.