De-extinction beyond species: Restoring ecosystem functionality through large herbivore rewilding
This perspective positions rewilding as a novel approach to ecosystem restoration, emphasising the restoration of natural processes to create self-willed ecosystems. Central to European rewilding is the de-domestication of cattle and horses to act as functional analogues of the extinct aurochs and w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Cambridge Prisms: Extinction |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2755095824000275/type/journal_article |
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| author | Paul R Jepson |
| author_facet | Paul R Jepson |
| author_sort | Paul R Jepson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This perspective positions rewilding as a novel approach to ecosystem restoration, emphasising the restoration of natural processes to create self-willed ecosystems. Central to European rewilding is the de-domestication of cattle and horses to act as functional analogues of the extinct aurochs and wild horses. This de-extinction pathway shifts the focus from the loss of species to the loss of their ecological roles caused by human actions commencing millennia ago. The focus on restoring functional effects provides a strong policy rationale for large herbivore de-domestication, aligning with nature-based solutions to address environmental challenges. This alignment requires a pragmatic approach that prioritises the restoration of ecosystem functions over genetic purity and offers flexibility and scalability in rewilding efforts. I argue that creating a new category of ‘ecosystem engineer’ livestock is more effective than seeking wild status for these animals. As they are released into recovering ecosystems, de-domesticated large herbivores are recreating their ecological roles, ‘life-spheres’ and interactions. These processes open new avenues in both extinction discourse and ecological theory and encourage us to explore how de-extinct species can drive the recovery of European ecosystems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b38717aa93d342dbb2548855d6e2ab77 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2755-0958 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cambridge Prisms: Extinction |
| spelling | doaj-art-b38717aa93d342dbb2548855d6e2ab772025-01-27T10:05:28ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Extinction2755-09582025-01-01310.1017/ext.2024.27De-extinction beyond species: Restoring ecosystem functionality through large herbivore rewildingPaul R Jepson0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1419-9981PJ Consulting, Musselburgh, East Lothian, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandThis perspective positions rewilding as a novel approach to ecosystem restoration, emphasising the restoration of natural processes to create self-willed ecosystems. Central to European rewilding is the de-domestication of cattle and horses to act as functional analogues of the extinct aurochs and wild horses. This de-extinction pathway shifts the focus from the loss of species to the loss of their ecological roles caused by human actions commencing millennia ago. The focus on restoring functional effects provides a strong policy rationale for large herbivore de-domestication, aligning with nature-based solutions to address environmental challenges. This alignment requires a pragmatic approach that prioritises the restoration of ecosystem functions over genetic purity and offers flexibility and scalability in rewilding efforts. I argue that creating a new category of ‘ecosystem engineer’ livestock is more effective than seeking wild status for these animals. As they are released into recovering ecosystems, de-domesticated large herbivores are recreating their ecological roles, ‘life-spheres’ and interactions. These processes open new avenues in both extinction discourse and ecological theory and encourage us to explore how de-extinct species can drive the recovery of European ecosystems.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2755095824000275/type/journal_articlede-extinctionecosystem functionecosystem servicesethics and policymegafauna |
| spellingShingle | Paul R Jepson De-extinction beyond species: Restoring ecosystem functionality through large herbivore rewilding Cambridge Prisms: Extinction de-extinction ecosystem function ecosystem services ethics and policy megafauna |
| title | De-extinction beyond species: Restoring ecosystem functionality through large herbivore rewilding |
| title_full | De-extinction beyond species: Restoring ecosystem functionality through large herbivore rewilding |
| title_fullStr | De-extinction beyond species: Restoring ecosystem functionality through large herbivore rewilding |
| title_full_unstemmed | De-extinction beyond species: Restoring ecosystem functionality through large herbivore rewilding |
| title_short | De-extinction beyond species: Restoring ecosystem functionality through large herbivore rewilding |
| title_sort | de extinction beyond species restoring ecosystem functionality through large herbivore rewilding |
| topic | de-extinction ecosystem function ecosystem services ethics and policy megafauna |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2755095824000275/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT paulrjepson deextinctionbeyondspeciesrestoringecosystemfunctionalitythroughlargeherbivorerewilding |