What is rewilding?
Still Wagon Rewilding.
The name raises the question, what exactly is rewilding?
I’m going to tell you what it means to us, but I’ll warn you that we have a different spin on this concept than many others who use the word.
To most people, rewilding means restoring an ecosystem to the state it would exist in before humans, or as near as is possible given constraints on time, resources, and species.
In practice, this means a lot of land preservation, conservation easements, and the planting of native species. Sometimes it includes the reintroduction of animals that were lost to the area. A great example of this is the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone. If you don’t know about that program and the results, it’s worth looking into.
The basic principle that guides rewilding is the idea that if we restore ecosystem function, we eliminate many of the “environmental problems” that we face today.
We’re taking it a step further. We’re proposing that rewilding isn’t just the way to “fix the planet”, it’s the way to fix our lives as well. We're proposing that within the rewilding process lies a better model for humans to thrive - to live well, to be happy and healthy, and to build generation wealth.
Rewilding, at its essence, is a return to individuals functioning well within a well-functioning community. This greater community isn’t just humans though. It’s the entire natural world. We’re all connected.
Rewilding is learning to look at wholes, not just parts. When you pursue local optimums in any complex system, you sacrifice the goal of the entire system.
Put another way, if you want a healthy world, you can’t just optimize for humans. If you do, the results aren’t going to be favorable for the system. Since we’re part of that system, the results aren’t good for us either.
Rewilding is a recognition that the good of the individual needs to be aligned with the good of the community.
Are you familiar with the tragedy of the commons?
Here’s how Investopedia defines the tragedy of the commons:
The tragedy of the commons is an economics problem in which every individual has an incentive to consume a resource, but at the expense of every other individual—with no way to exclude anyone from consuming.
Rewilding is a recognition that every individual does not have that incentive. Not in real terms, at least. Consuming that resource without regards to the community is not in the individual’s best interest.
A voice in your brain may raise the objection that this selfishness is just how we are wired.
Is it though? Have you looked at the natural world? Have you looked at the community-minded creatures that we’ve evolved from or along side of? Have you seen what astounding acts of community nature is capable of? Have you seen the mind-boggling acts of community that humans are capable of?
Rewilding is having faith that the problems we’re facing can be solved by introducing new mental paradigms. That we can learn to look at the world differently, that we can be proactive and choose a better path forward.
What’s the alternative? That humans are selfish and we’re all screwed? That humans are selfish and we need the government to save us? God help us!
Rewilding is championing diversity.
Rewilding is honoring life.
Rewilding is being humble enough to recognize how little we know.
Rewilding is about being grateful for the world we are fortunate to live in.
Rewilding isn't about removing humans, it's about finding our place in the world and living joyous, abundant lives in the process.
Life is good.
Next: Rewilding vs Progress