Organized Oral Session
Hybrid Session
Dana Johnson
PhD student
University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
Alberto Campos
PhD Student
University of British Columbia, Canada
Joanne Fitzgibbons
PhD Candidate
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Kai Chan
Professor and Canada Research Chair
IRES, University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Anna Santo
PhD Student
Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
Scholars and practitioners are increasingly using the language of “rewilding” when referring to efforts to restore biodiversity, ecological function, and key species into landscapes where these have been lost or damaged. The evocative term has been used to describe a wide variety of differing approaches, ranging from de-extinction efforts, carnivore and keystone re-introductions, surrogate species introductions, land abandonment, and more. < br>< br>As is often the case with such “boundary objects”, these varied interpretations have spurred both skepticism and excitement. Boundary objects, a term first coined by Star and Griesemer (1989) are evocative orienting points around which multiple actors can bring and negotiate different understandings and perspectives. Boundary objects can enable dialogue, understanding and collaboration across groups of people that might not otherwise have reason to connect. On the other hand, nebulous terms can be co-opted to suit a variety of agendas.< br>< br>Some fear that if “rewilding” is allowed to mean anything and everything, then it loses its meaning altogether. Others embrace the ambiguity, looking toward the potential of rewilding as a unifying umbrella for diverse and inclusive strategies to address the ecological crisis.< br>< br>In this organized session, we intend to showcase the diversity of rewilding scholarship and practice.We explore the potential benefits and drawbacks of treating rewilding as a malleable “boundary object”, and its potential for bridging efforts across disciplines in both science and practice. Speakers will demonstrate the varied and diverse applications of the rewilding concept within the social and political dimensions of conservation (Weber Hertel), protected areas (Di Martino), and decolonization (Dartt). Alongside these case studies, two of our invited speakers will present frameworks for rewilding across contexts (Campos and Hawkins), while one speaker will address decolonization in the rewilding movement (Dartt). Across these talks we aim to stimulate a dialogue around the many ways the rewilding concept is used and foster opportunities for cross-pollinating lessons learned from a variety of sectors, contexts, and disciplines.
Presenting Author: Alberto Campos – University of British Columbia
Co-author: Joanne Fitzgibbons – University of British Columbia
Co-author: Dana N. Johnson – University of British Columbia
Co-author: Anna R. Santo – Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability, University of British Columbia
Co-author: Kai M. A. Chan – IRES, University of British Columbia
Presenting Author: Sally Hawkins – University of Cumbria
Presenting Author: Sarah Weber Hertel, M.Sc. – George Mason University
Co-author: David A. Luther, PhD – Biology Department, George Mason University
Presenting Author: Emiliano Donadio – Rewilding Argentina
Co-author: Sebastián Di Martino – Fundación Rewilding Argentina
Co-author: Emiliano Donadio – Rewilding Argentina
Presenting Author: Joanne Fitzgibbons – University of British Columbia
Co-author: Alberto Campos – University of British Columbia
Co-author: Anna R. Santo – Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability, University of British Columbia
Co-author: Dana N. Johnson – University of British Columbia
Co-author: Daniel L. Forrest, B.S. – University of British Columbia
Co-author: Kai M. A. Chan – IRES, University of British Columbia