Rewilding abandoned farmland has greater sustainability benefits than afforestation
Lanhui Wang, Pil Birkefeldt Møller Pedersen, Jens‐Christian Svenning
Abstract
Expansive farmlands in Europe and elsewhere are either already abandoned or projected to become abandoned. Afforestation on these abandoned farmlands is highly popular, but it only addresses the climate crisis, not the biodiversity emergency. An alternative to afforestation is rewilding, which would contribute to combating both the biodiversity and climate crises while also facilitating socio-ecological sustainability by increasing ecosystem resilience.
Topics & Concepts
AfforestationExpansiveSustainabilityBiodiversityResilience (materials science)Psychological resilienceClimate changeAgroforestryEcosystem servicesEcosystemEnvironmental resource managementGeographyNatural resource economicsEnvironmental planningEnvironmental scienceEcologyEconomicsComposite materialBiologyPsychotherapistPsychologyThermodynamicsMaterials sciencePhysicsCompressive strengthEnvironmental Philosophy and EthicsLand Use and Ecosystem ServicesForest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies