Rewilding Mathematics (A Mathematics for Humanity Programme)

Rewilding is a radical and sometimes controversial approach to ecosystem management which focuses on renewing ecosystem processes and enriching food webs of degraded ecosystems. It is distinguished from more traditional ecosystem restoration in a number of ways, including less predictable ecosystem dynamics, minimal human intervention in the long term, a willingness to embrace the emergence of novel ecosystems and a more inclusive relationship between people and nature.  In the context of rapidly changing environmental conditions, rewilding may often be the most pragmatic and powerful approach to restoring biodiversity and delivering improved ecosystem services (for example water purification, pollination, soil improvement, flood protection). The delivery of such services at large scale is seen as a key tool in adaptation to climate change and thus of direct benefit to humanity.
Rewilding is rapidly developing a scientifically grounded conceptual framework and it is crucial that mathematical and statistical concepts and applications are integrated at this early stage.  Despite the launching of a number of rewilding projects around the world, there has been a lack of quantitative protocols and therefore analytical rigour in testing for significant improvements in ecosystem service delivery and biodiversity gain.
The aim of ‘rewilding mathematics’ is to explore these issues by building new partnerships between the mathematical sciences and ecologists with expertise in rewilding. We hope that it will be a landmark in the formation of a scientific basis for rewilding.