A new open-access article in Ambio questions whether re-wilding, or simply “letting nature take care of itself,” is always the best way to protect biodiversity. The authors explain that in Mediterranean areas, where people have shaped the land for thousands of years, stopping all management can sometimes harm nature rather than help it.
Using examples such as the recovery of the Iberian lynx, traditional cork oak woodlands, and cereal fields that support the great bustard, the study shows that many valuable habitats depend on continued human activity. When farming or grazing stops, these open landscapes can become overgrown, reducing plant and animal diversity and increasing the risk of wildfires.
The authors call for a balanced approach that combines natural processes with sustainable land use. In the Mediterranean, keeping a mix of forests, shrublands and open areas, maintained through traditional practices, may be the best way to protect biodiversity and adapt to climate change.
Read the full open-access article in Ambio
Reference:
Bugalho, M. N., Pérez-Barbería, F. J., Cardoso Pereira, J. M., & Gordon, I. J. 2025. Does re-wilding contribute to biodiversity conservation in Mediterranean cultural landscapes? Ambio. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-025-02266-x
