ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the influential role of human charisma in rewilding, introducing the concept of charismatic megafolk. Charismatic megafolk are individuals whose personality, wealth or status gives them significant influence in rewilding, enabling them to contribute to shaping the trajectory of rewilding in Britain. Rewilding’s charismatic megafolk are trendsetters (those who lead rewilding by example and inspire others to follow), soapboxers (those who are vociferous proponents of rewilding, lobbying policymakers, influencing publics and media, and inspiring action) and mavericks. Mavericks can be divided into guerrilla rewilders (those who take direct action to precipitate rewilding) and narcissists and Machiavellis (those with dark charisma who, while advocating for rewilding, may be doing so for self-interested reasons and may actually hinder rather than advance rewilding).
