Why It's Essential to Rewild the World Before It's Too Late

The Anthropocene often is cashed out as being "the age of humanity" when, in reality, it's "the rage of inhumanity" directed toward nonhuman animals (animals) and their homes. Lawyer-turned nature journalist and storyteller Millie Kerr's new book Wilder: How Rewilding Is Transforming Conservation and Changing the World focuses on one of the hot topics in conservation science, rewilding, the goal of which is to restore some measure of "wildness" to ecosystems either passively by leaving them alone or actively by directly intervening such that habitats are restored and keystone species reintroduced to quicken the recovery process.¹

Rewilding attracts people from numerous disciplines including academics representing many different areas to policymakers and practitioners. Rewilding can occur on many levels—ranging from personal rewilding efforts and local projects to restoring entire ecosystems—and is central to positively changing human–animal–nature relationships, a core goal of conservation psychology as we move into an increasingly human-dominated world.

Source: Courtesy of Millie Kerr, published by Bloomsbury Sigma.

I'm pleased Millie could take the time to answer a few questions about her forward-looking, landmark book, which is based on firsthand observations of what people all over the world are doing.

Marc Bekoff: Why did you write Wilder?

Millie Kerr: I’ve wanted to write a nonfiction conservation book since 2010, when I committed to a career in what I call “conservation storytelling,” but I couldn’t identify a suitable topic and wanted my book to organically take shape. Forcing stories is never, in my opinion, a good idea. I spent years mulling over a possible memoir describing my transition from securities lawyer to conservation journalist, but I didn’t feel like I had enough experience to warrant a standalone memoir. Wilder allowed me to jointly pursue these two desires.²

MB: How does your book relate to your background and general areas of interest?

MK: In a way, Wilder is an extension of my past work as a freelance journalist. A number of the magazine/newspaper articles I wrote in the past are akin to shortened versions of book chapters, but Wilder gave me greater flexibility (and space!) to flesh out topics and characters. I was able, for instance, to spend considerable time on the history of a region whereas a magazine article would only have space for a few sentences on a place’s backstory. With Wilder, I had to find links between chapters, and artfully weave in recurring themes, which was challenging but satisfying. In terms of the projects I cover in Wilder, some were familiar before I got started. For example, I traveled to Akagera National Park in Rwanda, the subject of Chapter Six, before I submitted my book proposal. Other projects—and topics—were entirely new to me. That’s especially true of the two chapters I wrote on island rewilding.

MB: Who is your intended audience?

MK: I wrote Wilder for the general public but suspect that most readers will have an existing interest in animals, nature, and/or conservation. Although I expect some conservationists to read the book, I didn’t write it for scientists. I write in a way that’s approachable, informative, and entertaining (hopefully!) because my overarching goal is to encourage people who aren’t especially familiar with conservation to become more engaged.

MB: What are some of the topics you weave into your book, and what are some of your major messages?

MK: Numerous topics arise alongside stories about rewilding projects. In almost every chapter, I spend considerable time exploring the history of the place being rewilded, in part because I like stories to have clear beginnings and ends, but mainly because rewilding wouldn’t be necessary if it weren’t for changes that occurred in the past. History, therefore, is a fundamental part of the story. I also frequently touch on stewardship as I nudge readers to consider who is responsible for protecting nature and wildlife. And, by sharing my “personal rewilding” journey, I underscore that each of us benefits from having a personal relationship with nature.

There are a lot of messages built into Wilder—some subtle, some overt. The most important, I suppose, is that we can reverse (at least some of) the damage we’ve done to the planet, but we need a paradigm shift in how we think about nature and our role in it. I don’t say that in the book—I try to avoid telling people what they should or shouldn’t do—but my hope is that Wilder inspires readers to take action of some kind. That could mean choosing to live more sustainably, donating to a rewilding project, or taking the time to read up on environmental degradation and conservation. One of the other messages, which I hope comes through, is that rewilders deserve our respect and attention. I’m rarely moved to tears, but I get choked up whenever I think about the boldest conservation heroes I wrote about and what they went through to pursue their goals.

MB: How does your book differ from others that are concerned with some of the same general topics?

MK: Wilder differs from other rewilding books in several ways. For starters, it’s global in nature, and it explores numerous types of rewilding, whereas most books home in on a particular region or species. It also has a strong personal story (mine), which you rarely encounter in popular science writing. I suppose the other distinguishing characteristic is that it spends little time (comparatively) on the mechanics of rewilding. Instead, I highlight rewilding’s many possibilities by telling the stories of diverse projects taking place today.

MB: Are you optimistic that as people learn of rewilding projects and how important they are they will treat other animals and their homes with more respect?

MK: I am! I genuinely believe that people are capable of changing their outlooks (and behaviors) at any point in time, and books like Wilder and Rewilding Our Hearts are tools for encouraging positive change. I know that changes, even dramatic ones, are possible because I’ve gone through the process myself.