Global Rewilding Manifesto

Manifesto in brief

Why rewilding?

Humanity faces interconnected crises: climate breakdown, biodiversity collapse, ecosystem degradation, and water insecurity. These threaten not only nature but the foundations of our own survival. Yet rewilding offers a pathway to renewal – restoring nature’s freedom to heal, adapt, and thrive. Rewilding is about enabling ecosystems to recover natural processes as the fundament of biodiversity and their resilience for the future. It rehabilitates keystone species, revitalises habitats by rehabilitating conditions, reconnects landscapes, and strengthens our ability to adapt to a changing climate.

Rewilding allows us to experience surprises and phenomena that cannot be observed from the fragmented parts of nature left in isolation. By combining these fragments, new areas gain emergent properties, meaning that one fragment plus another can support four to eight times larger populations of species than isolated fragments.

Our Vision

We envision a world where humans live as respectful participants in the web of life. Forests, rivers, oceans, and wildlife are free to flourish. Communities protect and co-create thriving landscapes, guided by science, Indigenous wisdom, and local stewardship. Democracies expand to include the rights of nature and the interests of future generations. Rewilding is both compass and practice for a resilient, just, and regenerative future.

Guiding Principles

1. Evolutionary Heritage

DNA as legacy of life, protected from destruction and can evolve freely.

2. Rights of Ecosystems

Forests, rivers, soils, species hold intrinsic rights to regenerate and exist.

3. Democracy Redefined

Future generations and ecosystems have a voice in decision-making.No Colonisation of the Future – Today’s choices do not diminish ecological options for tomorrow.

4. No Colonisation of the Future

Decisions taken today must not leave behind legacies of toxic residues, irreversible degradation, or diminished ecological options for future generations.

5. Rewilding as Compass

From control to coexistence, rewilding restores nature’s autonomy.

6. Knowledge and Justice

Science, Indigenous knowledge, and community practice must work together with equity and respect.

7. Solidarity and Equity

Rewilding must respect the rights and leadership of Indigenous peoples, local communities, and environmental defenders.

8 Interconnection of Life

Protecting ecosystems is inseparable from protecting humanity.

9. Common Ground

We share air, water, soils, and life itself. Protecting this foundation safeguards our collective future.

Call to Action

We call upon:

• Governments to enshrine Rights of Nature by ecosystems as well as species in law, support large-scale rehabilitation, and ensure ecosystems and future generations are represented in governance.
• Institutions to embed rewilding in global biodiversity, climate, and development frameworks.
• Civil Society & Communities to champion rewilding and hold leaders accountable.
• Indigenous Peoples to be recognised as central partners and knowledge holders.
• Businesses & Finance to abandon extractive models and invest in regenerative economies.
• Landowners & Managers to act as custodians, rehabilitating biodiversity and ecological processes, and by that biodiversity.
• Scientists & Educators to promote understanding of ecological processes and inspire action.
• Individuals to live in solidarity with the web of life and support rewilding initiatives.

A Living Document

This manifesto is intentionally open and evolving. It invites contributions from all who share a commitment to restoring the integrity of nature and safeguarding the Rights of Life.

Get in touch and share your ideas.

Together, we commit to rewilding our world — and ourselves.