What is Rewilding?

Positives

• The video has an overall hopeful tone, with the narrator describing the potential for repairing damaged ecosystems by reintroducing keystone species.
• The interactive graphics help to visualize the concept of a trophic cascade.
• The provided links are comprehensive and can serve as a launchpad for further exploring rewilding.

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should be familiar with the concept of food chains.
• Students should know some basic ecological terms such as species, ecosystem, food chain, and habitat.

Differentiation

• Before watching the video, ask students to explain wild animals then guess what it may mean to rewild.
• Be sure students understand the concept of a trophic cascade by drawing multiple examples of food chains on the board and then discussing what could happen if certain species' populations increase or decrease.
• Consider having students pick an example of rewilding as a nature-based solution and have them make an artistic poster to present their findings.
• Explore different examples of the reintroduction efforts of keystone species and the effects they have on the whole ecosystem.