Chapter
The Debate Over Rewilding the United States
31:26 - 41:29 (10:02)
Some people are advocating for rewilding parts of the US to restore ecosystems, but the idea is controversial and includes different approaches from Pleistocene rewilding to simply reintroducing wolves.
Clips
The idea of rewilding is to restore the wilderness and return the earth to how it was without human intervention.
31:26 - 35:24 (03:58)
Summary
The idea of rewilding is to restore the wilderness and return the earth to how it was without human intervention. While it may seem radical to some, giving a large percentage of land back to nature could have major positive impacts on the environment.
ChapterThe Debate Over Rewilding the United States
EpisodeHow Rewilding Works
PodcastStuff You Should Know
Some suggest switching farm subsidies to support rewilding land instead of farming, with the goal of introducing species like the historical megafauna or descendants of them to protected areas.
35:24 - 37:47 (02:23)
Summary
Some suggest switching farm subsidies to support rewilding land instead of farming, with the goal of introducing species like the historical megafauna or descendants of them to protected areas. This could address environmental issues while also continuing to support rural communities.
ChapterThe Debate Over Rewilding the United States
EpisodeHow Rewilding Works
PodcastStuff You Should Know
Proponents of Pleistocene rewilding suggest that reintroducing megafauna from the Pleistocene epoch could help defend against climate change in a more robust way, as those animals are bigger and more ferocious than animals today.
37:47 - 39:54 (02:07)
Summary
Proponents of Pleistocene rewilding suggest that reintroducing megafauna from the Pleistocene epoch could help defend against climate change in a more robust way, as those animals are bigger and more ferocious than animals today. However, with no wooly mammoths left to rewild the environment with, it's unclear what species would be used for reintroduction.
ChapterThe Debate Over Rewilding the United States
EpisodeHow Rewilding Works
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The idea of reintroducing apex predators for trophic rewilding can have vast positive effects on ecosystems, but there are many problems with Pleistocene rewilding, such as bringing back extinct species like megalodon.
39:54 - 41:29 (01:34)
Summary
The idea of reintroducing apex predators for trophic rewilding can have vast positive effects on ecosystems, but there are many problems with Pleistocene rewilding, such as bringing back extinct species like megalodon. Passive rewilding and trophic rewilding require more thought and consideration before implementation.