While my group project for the EfS program focussed on 'rewilding', we always made it very clear that we did not aim to revert the land to its pure, pristine, pre-(wo)man state. Instead, we proposed a re-imagination of how we could incorporate vestiges and offerings of 'wild' into our built urban landscape.
I'm not sure there are any truly wild spaces left. Then again, I guess it depends on how one defines "wild".
Regardless of how well-preserved or conserved a natural area is, there is usually evidence of human impact. Even in Iceland, where one of the biggest pulls is its moody, other-worldly, rugged wilderness. It is all of those things, but trails, interpretive signs, small pieces of litter, people, etc. are all telltale signs that humans have controlled the space in one way or another. Yellowstone National Park allows humans to access nature in the most comfortable ways possible. This, to me, seems like conservation that benefits humans more than the flora and fauna. Even underwater while diving, it almost feels like I've stepped into another world. It almost feels wild, except for the small pieces of plastic and presence of people. The only hike I've ever been on where we were the only, lonely group of humans was in Haida Gwaii during 'low season'.
This is not to say that I don't think people should access nature - I think that is very important. By being in natural spaces myself, I also make them less wild. We should access nature to connect with nature, to be inspired, and to understand why our earth is so valuable. Tread lightly. Be intentional. Otherwise, we are commodifying nature and using it for personal gain. This is the exact mindset that caused the visible habitat degradation and destruction of ecosystems we're left with today.
So working with what we have, and what is possible - how can we really rewild our spaces?
