Rewilding: What about the people?

Organised Session with invited presenters.

Abstract: As people increasingly impact on habitats, wildlife is under unprecedented pressure globally. Historically, any species were extirpated as northern Europeans exploited their own and others’ resources. Conservationists and state agencies and others have been working to reintroduce some species. Many species have taken advantage of decreased hunting pressure and the urban-rural diaspora in many countries to rewild previous areas of their distribution. Other species have been pushed out of their habitats due to development but have found a way to reinsert themselves into now developed areas. In many cases, wildlife must contend with people who may not be positive about the species’ return and in others the species are welcomed back because of their cultural significance. In this symposium, various conservation practitioners describe their work on understanding how to improve the coexistence of people and returning wildlife.