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Notes on Rewilding
by Angela Ye and Skyla Rimple
Agenda Notes
Rotterdam, Monday 6 March
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Esther Blom, director of ARK Rewilding Nederland (rewilding the Rhine-Maas delta)
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Arnhem, Friday 10 March
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Focus on Meinerswijk (rewilding, room for the river, Rijn/Maasmonding, and Stadsblokken controversy) and the work of ARK Natuurontwikkling, curated by Anne-Marie Pronk.
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Morning: Bicycle tour of Meinerswijk area with Gerard Litjens, Stroming
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Nijmegen, Saturday 11 March
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Morning: bicycle tour of Room for the Waal,
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Nature hike with Bart Beekers, ARK Rewilding Nederland
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Names of Experts
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Esther Blom, co-director of ARK Rewilding Nederland
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Anne-Marie Pronk, ARK Rewilding Nederland
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Jeroen Helmer, ARK Rewilding Nederland
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Bart Beekers, ARK Rewilding Nederland
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Website Links
https://www.ark.eu/
https://www.wur.nl/en/dossiers/file/rewilding-1.htm
https://rewildingeurope.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwla-hBhD7ARIsAM9tQKuF4pUGeI3wor2_h0jLp2gKV-2U5gAvZdUVBGRO4GCO4u87J2rnN6IaAqzaEALw_wcB
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Ark Nature
Ark’s Mission (From the Website)
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The Netherlands deserves more nature. Because nature is beautiful, powerful, makes us wonder, breathe and relax. But also because more and wilder nature helps prevent species from becoming extinct, slows down climate change, reduces flooding and provides us with clean water and clean air.
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Fortunately, there is one party that can make nature in the Netherlands wilder and stronger again like no other: nature itself! That is why ARK has been giving nature space since 1989: we create more nature and restart natural processes. This view of nature management - 'rewilding' - has convincingly proven itself after 34 years of nature development. Rewilding is also internationally recognized as an indispensable contribution to a sustainable, liveable world for people and nature. As a driver of more wild nature in the Netherlands and just beyond, ARK wants to contribute to this positive global development. That is why, in addition to our own field projects, we will invest more energy in inspiring, motivating and facilitating all kinds of parties: from students to large landowners and from managers to companies.
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Rewilding WUR
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What’s the goal? Allowing ecosystems to recover.
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How can we do this? Giving more space to the rivers, improving connections between land and river, and returning large herbivores and predators to ecosystems.
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What are the benefits? Improved biodiversity, offers solutions to the effects of climate change, and reduces the risks of wildfires and floods.
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NIOO-KNAW and Rewilding Europe made it possible for Wageningen to have the first special chair for Rewilding Ecology in Europe in 2020.
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“If you give nature room, it returns rapidly.” Liesbath Bakker
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EU Nature Restoration Law
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Wageningen is a university.
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One of their courses: MOOC Urban rewilding: restore your local ecosystem
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Themes of the university: Biodiversity, Climate change, Circular and Biobased economy, From hunger to food security, Nutrition & Health, and Artificial Intelligence
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WUR is doing research on ecological arable farming systems based on mixed cropping and strip cropping.
Rewilding Europe
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Rewilding Europe
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Rewilding definition: “Rewilding is a progressive approach to conservation. It’s about letting nature take care of itself, enabling natural processes to shape land and sea, repair damaged ecosystems and restore degraded landscapes. Through rewilding, wildlife’s natural rhythms create wilder, more biodiverse habitats.”
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What are the four principles of rewilding? Nature’s own ways, Bringing back wildlife, Ensuring wellbeing, and Delivering for the future
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Europe is lacking in keystone species.
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What are the benefits? “Naturally functioning ecosystems are better at providing us with clean air and water, preventing flooding, storing carbon and helping us to adapt to climate change. Rewilding links ecology with modern economies, where wilder nature acts as an ally in solving modern socio-economic issues.”
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Promotes natural tourism
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“Self regulating landscapes are more sustainable in the long run.” Talking about financially
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Our Impressions
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Rewilding is a beautiful use of space. It provides a refreshing contrast to the urban metropolis of Amsterdam.
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Both the city and nature have their purposes, and it was beautiful to see both flourishing.
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It’s important for the animals to have places to graze, and for older people to escape the high speed nature that categorizes urban life.
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Notes from Slideshows
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Rewilding: An Element of Natural Design
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An epistemic shift: from the war on water to peaceful co-existence with water
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Content From Our Class’ Presentations
Content From Our Class’ Presentations
Content From Our Class’ Presentations
Content From Our Class’ Presentations
Skyla's Photos in the Rewilding Areas
This photo was taken next to a rock that still, as seen, had snow on it! This was directly in front of the long strip we walked across in order to access the other beach.
These two photos were taken after I (Skyla) ran down the hill that was close to the water. The top of the hill was grassy and dry, but the hidden mud crept on me, making for a very fun mudslide.
This incredible photo of Sam depicts the happiness we felt riding through the Dutch countryside. The green grass, blue skies, and wispy clouds show the beauty of the area.
This photo shows the “sandbar” that connects two of the areas of the rewilding project. We walked slowly across this muddy path. From the length of the shadows, you can tell that it was a very sunny day!
This photo was taken close to the downtown area where we rented the bikes. I especially like the painting on the bridge that reads “Refugees Welcome.”
These two photos show how the road was high up, and we had to ride down a short hill to get to the church so we could park our bikes.
These photos are of the horses in the rewilding area in Arnhem. These horses are used to graze the land, and then later sold to zoos and butchers.
This photo, once again, demonstrates the happiness that comes from spending time in nature! And, it shows how bikes are an essential part of Dutch livelihood, whether in an urban or rural setting.
Angela's Photos in the Rewilding Areas
The rewilded region in Nijmegen was remarkably picturesque with grasslands, rivers, forests, and wildlife of all kinds. Interestingly enough, one of the things that stood out to me the most was the abundance of dung along our walk (yes, as in poop). It varied greatly in size and shape, and our tour guide pointed out which types were excreted from which animals with admirable expertise. Poop acts as a natural fertilizer for flora that is critical for nutrients to cycle through the environment. So for me, the dung was a reminder of the important role wildlife plays in shaping and restoring the surrounding ecology.
Throughout our trip, one of the common themes I found was a distinct tension between technological versus natural solutions to the environmental crises the Netherlands faces. The engineering feats of the Dutch are undeniably impressive, from the massive Maeslantkering storm surge barrier to the many polders and dikes shaping the landscape. But after having visited the rewilded areas, I believe there is a compelling case to be told for nature-based solutions in how they create benefits for communities and ecosystems alike. I look forward to following the progress of the Netherlands’ rewilding efforts and hopefully seeing a broader shift toward working with nature.
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