Rewilding Amid War in the Danube Delta

Menominee tribal members are practicing methods of forest management that blend both conservation and Indigenous culture to preserve the viability of the forest long-term. In 2018, it was found that after a century of logging on the reservation, the forest had higher tree volume, higher rates of regeneration, more plant diversity and fewer invasive species than other, nontribal forests.

After once again being granted rights to their native land, the Martu people are bringing back the bioregenerative technique of small-scale land burning. In the past century, wildfires have ravaged the areas these people call home and has lead to the loss of over 18 species of animal. They hope that imparting this traditional method of ecological maintenance will decrease the number of wildfires and in many cases, the resulting extinction of other animal species.

Rewilding Europe is a river-restoration project working to preserve rivers as biodiversity hotspots and prevent damage from human activity. Since Rewilding Europe was founded, its projects have stretched across the continent, including to countries like Spain Italy, Bulgaria, and Sweden and was recently awarded a grant of £4.1m to scale up its work.

Throughout the west, a growing number of ranchers and scientists are reimaging the way they see beavers and considering them as tools for climate resilience. The vast network of beaver dams can help protect crops during droughts and store water and provide a buffer against wildfires, while simultaneously creating a habitat for a variety of species.

Beavers and the dams they build have been found to be tools against climate change as the planet’s temperature continues to rise. Dams slow water down and allow it to seep into the Earth, providing groundwater for humans, and also cools down both water and air temperatures. Beaver dams also create wetland ecosystems that are practically resistant to wildfires.

As London starts to implement its plan for boroughs to implement sustainable urban greening strategies, officials look to Malmö as a guide after the Swedish city used a green space factor (GSF) as a way of calculating green space requirements for new developments. The GSF system allows governments to integrate biodiversity-focused incentives into their urban planning, while allowing designers and architects to respond to local needs.

In 1980, the Ugandan government signed an agreement with local communities in the Mugandu–Buramba wetland that gave them the right to own, manage, and conserve their own property. Today, the wetlands are thriving —reducing degradation and improving biodiversity— and creating a livelihood for the 276 people that live there. The government says that since they are using the land responsibly, their agreement will continue.

Rewilding Romania, in partnership with WWF Romania and the EU's LIFE Programme, has reintroduced over 100 European bison into the Southern Carpathian Mountains since 2012. Since then, a self-sustaining wild population of 250+ animals has grown, leading to measurable ecological and economic benefits for surrounding communities.

The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS) certifies forest restoration projects that demonstrate measurable biodiversity improvements through affordable assessments by regional expert hubs. In its first year, TGBS certified 6 sites and created 15 regional hubs, helping projects to achieve documented increases in native species and forest-dependent wildlife and mentoring failed projects improve their practices.

Using artificial intelligence, scientists and conservationists can rapidly analyze vast environmental data sets—from audio recordings of nocturnal birds to millions of camera trap images—which has led to quicker and more efficient wildlife monitoring and decision-making, while also growing concern about ecological knowledge biases and decreased field engagement.