Oct 2023
Bridging the Divide: Rewilding, Farming and the Triple Challenge
‘Rewilding’ has much to offer for restoring nature in the UK. But it will not have the opportunity to contribute significantly to tackling the triple challenge if it is seen as undermining the interests of farmers, who perform an essential role not just in food production but as stewards of the rural environment. Because the term ‘rewilding’ has been controversial, many environmental NGOs in the UK, including WWF, have been understandably wary of engaging with it. But interest in it continues to grow and it is not realistic or appropriate to avoid it. This paper is an attempt by WWF to listen to the voices of farming communities, build in their concerns and views, and engage with the issue of rewilding in a responsible and thoughtful way.