ABSTRACT
This chapter traces the evolution of rewilding from wilderness and conservation movements in the USA and grazing ecology in Europe to the unique landscapes of Britain. It recognises the contentious nature of the discourse surrounding rewilding both in terms of its definitional complexity and its polarising effect. In light of this, the chapter proposes six core traits which can confer family resemblance to rewilding; identifying as rewilding, functioning at large scale, increasing biodiversity, increasing ecological functioning, reducing human intervention and increasing other-than-human agency. Furthermore, the chapter offers a typology of rewilding which reflects the location of agency within rewilding (human or other-than-human) and the dominant landscape influence (cultural or natural). The four ‘types’ proposed are: natural dominance (passive culture), nature led (active culture), culture led (active nature) and cultural dominance (passive nature).
