Written question asked by Lord Patten (Conservative) on Tuesday, 14 September 2021, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 28 September 2021. It was answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative) on Tuesday, 28 September 2021 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Nature Conservation

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they define the term “re-wilding” when used in environmental policy.

Answer: The concept of ‘rewilding’ is a relatively new and evolving concept and as such, it is currently defined and approached in different ways. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is developing a conceptual and methodological framework for rewilding with the goal of restoring functional native ecosystems, which - where possible - are self-sustaining. We will continue to develop our definition and approach to rewilding working with the IUCN and other expert stakeholders.

Secondary information