Why Rewilding Africa Matters
Reinvigorating biodiverse ecosystems
Rewilding has countless long-term benefits, chief among them the power to visibly heal the planet’s most beautiful landscapes. Human activity has drastically reduced Africa’s renowned biodiversity, but by restoring the natural rhythms of the wild, we spur a renewal of diverse species that clean water, clear air and slow climate change. When predators are brought back to their natural habitats, other flora and fauna follow, stimulating a movement of nutrients that can transform barren land into a bucolic paradise.
Allowing wildlife to thrive
We know this: wildlife flourishes with minimal human interference. Take African Parks’ bid to rewild 2,000 South African rhinos in the next decade as an example. Rhinos are a keystone species and their behavior plays a crucial role in diversifying and safeguarding ecosystems. Their mud-wallowing helps maintain waterholes for giraffes, elephants and many more, while their dung fertilizes the soil and provides food for insects and, in turn, birds. Rewilding one native species has a positive ripple effect on so many others, protecting countless species from the fate of extinction.
Mitigating climate change
An increase in biodiversity helps remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, aiding in the stabilization of global temperatures we so desperately need. As unpredictable weather becomes more of a reality, rewilding can be a source of hope. Healthy ecosystems put up a better fight against climate change, natural disasters and invasive species, making a gain in biodiversity far greater than a loss.
Improving the well-being of local communities
Conservation is the gift that gives forever. Not only does a rewilded landscape offer local communities economic opportunities through work in conservation and ecotourism, but it also improves the physical and mental health of anyone stepping onto the land. For travelers to Africa, nothing compares to the joy of observing an untamed animal in the wild. And for the continent’s indigenous communities, a return to healthy, wild green spaces means a reclamation of native food systems, cultural traditions and ways of life—all of which protect Africa’s precious wild areas for generations to follow.