Do we need a more wildlife-friendly countryside? A steering group has been set up following the publication of George Monbiot's book Feral. From its opening statement:
" Britain's land is all managed. Even in nature reserves nature is controlled and natural processes of
succession are not allowed. We have lost most of our large mammals, almost all of our native forest and
living marine structures. There are no large areas either on land or at sea in which we let nature be. Our
national parks are dominated by sheep; naturally regenerating native trees and shrubs are routinely cut
and grubbed out in our nature reserves, our seabed is scoured and ploughed across 99.9% of its area.
Conservation, to a greater extent than perhaps anywhere else on earth, aims to protect not self-willed
ecosystems, but farming and ranching systems, where only a small and unrepresentative sample of
wildlife can persist.
Seeking a wilder Britain involves the large-scale restoration of
ecosystems, both on land and at sea, and of their dynamic, selfwilled
ecological processes. By campaigning to change policy and
by promoting and supporting rewilding projects, the aim is to
restore lost natural wonders, encourage more natural
regeneration of forests in areas which have been deforested, reestablish
native species which we have driven out and provide
the people with opportunities to experience natural marvels of
the kind they currently have to travel abroad to see."
More here.
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