Understanding the Differences and Complementarities Between Ecological Restoration, Rewilding, and Conservation
In the face of escalating biodiversity loss and habitat destruction, environmental efforts such as ecological restoration, rewilding, and conservation have become essential and increasingly advocated for. Each approach has unique set of strength and specific focus in addressing environmental challenges, yet they can be seen as part of the same continuum, aiming to promote biodiversity and ecosystem resilience (Gann et al., 2019). This article explores how these strategies differ and how they can work together, using examples from Thailand’s rich natural heritage.
Ecological Restoration: Actively Rebuilding Ecosystems
Ecological restoration involves a range of practices and varying degrees of active human engineering, from site old-mining site rehabilitation to forest assisted natural regeneration, to waterways pollution remediation or invasive species active removal. Activities under the ecological restoration frame are diverse and can be combined to navigate the complex imperative of delivering economic prosperity, mitigating climate change mitigation, building social-ecological resilience, and ensuring biodiversity conservation (Gann et al., 2019; Tedesco et al., 2023). It is a solutions-based approach that engages communities, scientists, policymakers, and land managers to repair ecological damage and rebuild a healthier relationship between people and nature by rebuldng the complex web of interactions between species and their environment, making ecosystems self-sustaining once again (Gann et al., 2019).
In Thailand, an example of this approach is seen in forest restoration projects aimed at rehabilitating habitats for species like the dusky langur and leopard cat. Since 2006, the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) has planted over 150,000 native trees, leading to increased bird and ground-dwelling species populations in restored areas (Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, n.d.).
Rewilding: Letting Nature Take the Lead
While divergent opinions remain, Rewilding approaches often differ from restoration in that it focuses on allowing nature to recover with minimal human intervention (Tedesco et al., 2023) and with an intention in some specific cases to bring ecosystems structure and functions back to pre-industrial states, when “wilderness” prevailed. It involves restoring natural processes, such as predator-prey dynamics, by reintroducing keystone species including apex predators often perceived negatively by a large portion of the (human) population but enabling ecosystems to self-regulate once trophic cascade resume.
In Thailand, rewilding projects have concentrated on reintroducing species like the Asian elephant and tiger into their natural habitats. Initiatives in the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary have aimed to restore populations of these keystone species, which help maintain ecological balance by controlling prey populations, engineering the forest structure and facilitating seed dispersal (Navigate Thailand, n.d.). By stepping back and allowing ecological processes to unfold naturally, Rewilding approaches enhance biodiversity and ecosystem resilience but imply urban and peri-urban design to allocate more space dedicated to non-human nature (Tedesco et al., 2023).
Conservation: Protecting What Remains
Conservation is primarily concerned with preventing further degradation of ecosystems and species loss. It often involves legal protections, habitat preservation, and sustainable management practices (Buscher & Fletcher, 2019).
In Thailand, conservation efforts are critical for species such as the Siamese fireback (Thailand’s national bird) and the great hornbill, both of which are threatened by habitat destruction. Organizations such as the Zoological Society of London and the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation work to protect habitats within the Western Forest Complex, a key biodiversity hotspot home to endangered species like tigers and gibbons (ThaiCyclopedia, n.d.).
A debate within conservation circles contrasts protectionism, which seeks to isolate nature from human activities, with convivial conservation, which promotes a more integrated, co-existing approach to environmental protection (Buscher & Fletcher, 2019).
Complementarities: How These Approaches Work Together
Despite their distinct strategies, ecological restoration, rewilding, and conservation complement one another in fostering ecosystem recovery. Conservation efforts safeguard remaining biodiversity, restoration projects repair damaged environments, and rewilding enables ecosystems to regenerate naturally.
For example, in Khao Sok National Park, conservation measures protect critical habitats for species such as the dusky langur and king cobra (Global Conservation, n.d.). Meanwhile, forest restoration projects focus on replanting native vegetation, while rewilding efforts reintroduce key species like elephants, which contribute to landscape shaping through their foraging behavior (Navigate Thailand, n.d.).
Together, these approaches create a comprehensive strategy for environmental protection and rehabilitation.
A Multifaceted Approach to Environmental Recovery
To effectively address ecological degradation, it is crucial to recognize the strengths of ecological restoration, rewilding, and conservation as an integrated effort. While restoration actively rebuilds ecosystems, rewilding fosters self-sustaining natural processes, and conservation preserves existing biodiversity. By integrating these approaches and tailoring them to different socio-ecological contexts, we can cultivate a more regenerative and balanced relationship with nature (Tedesco et al., 2023).
References
- Büscher, B., & Fletcher, R. (2019). Towards convivial conservation. Conservation and Society, 17(3), 257-271. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yQYdYIQeVzKisIsKiEjYQyG8hUnvPB_H/view?usp=share_link
- Gann, G. D., McDonald, T., Walder, B., Aronson, J., Nelson, C. R., Jonson, J., Hallett, J. G., Eisenberg, C., Guariguata, M. R., & Liu, J. (2019). International principles and standards for the practice of ecological restoration. Second edition. Restoration Ecology, 27(S1), S1-S46. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vo3V6lOPKNzh5Q2H2X36zg0dzb6quHIn/view?usp=share_link
- Global Conservation. (n.d.). Thap Lan World Heritage Site. Retrieved from https://globalconservation.org
- Navigate Thailand. (n.d.). Native animals of Thailand: A rich and diverse wildlife. Retrieved from https://navigatethailand.com
- Tedesco, P. A., Leprieur, F., Albouy, C., Antonelli, A., Arbel, J., Brennan, G., … & Winter, M. (2023). Beyond ecology: Ecosystem restoration as a process of social-ecological transformation. Restoration Ecology, 31(4), e13821. https://drive.google.com/file/d/17-msHjTDhIgBQUdSoF-RCFDlCXsj_PNS/view?usp=share_link
- ThaiCyclopedia. (n.d.). Wildlife conservation in Thailand: 8 projects making a difference. Retrieved from https://thaicyclopedia.com
- Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand. (n.d.). Forest restoration and conservation. Retrieved from https://wfft.org
