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What Is Rewilding and Why Does It Matter in Australia

Australia is home to some of the world’s most unique wildlife and ecosystems. But we’re also facing one of the highest rates of biodiversity loss on the planet.

As more species vanish, habitats shrink, and ecosystems struggle to provide their essential goods and services, it’s increasingly important to figure out how we can bring nature back.

One powerful answer lies in a bold approach called rewilding.

What Is Rewilding?

Rewilding is an approach to restoring ecosystems to their natural, self-sustaining state, often by reintroducing native species, removing human pressures, and letting nature take the lead.

One of the most famous examples of rewilding is that of Yellowstone National Park in the USA. By reintroducing wolves into the park, the elk population was managed more sustainably for the carrying capacity of the land. This had profound impacts on the overall ecological restoration of the park.

At its core, rewilding is about more than just conservation. It’s about healing landscapes, allowing ecological processes to function again, and giving native species a chance to thrive without constant intervention.

While the idea began in Europe and North America, it’s increasingly relevant (and urgently needed) right here in Australia.

Why Does Rewilding Matter in Australia?

Australia has experienced catastrophic species declines over the past two centuries. Since colonisation, we’ve lost over 100 species of plants and animals to extinction, and many more are now on the brink. Key drivers include habitat destruction, invasive species, altered fire regimes, and climate change.

Rewilding provides a hopeful alternative to the cycle of damage and emergency response. By restoring ecological balance, rewilding helps to:

• Reintroduce native animals like bandicoots, bettongs, and quolls
• Regenerate degraded habitats such as bushland, wetlands, and waterways
• Restore natural fire and water cycles critical to ecosystem health
• Support pollinators and seed dispersers that help vegetation recover
• Increase ecosystem resilience to climate change and extreme weather

In short, rewilding is about moving from protecting what’s left to rebuilding what’s been lost.

What Does Rewilding Look Like in Practice?

Rewilding isn’t just about putting animals back into the wild. It involves careful planning, cultural knowledge, and long-term care. In Australia, rewilding can include:

• Fencing areas to protect reintroduced species from predators like foxes and cats – for example, our Eastern Barred Bandicoot project
• Restoring native vegetation to create habitat and food sources – for example, our Nature Blocks initiative and our Revive Our Wetlands project
• Partnering with Traditional Owners to incorporate Indigenous ecological knowledge – many of our events partner with Traditional Owners: take a look at our upcoming events
• Connecting fragmented habitats through wildlife corridors and land regeneration – check out our Urban Shade Forests initiative
• Monitoring and adapting based on ecological outcomes

One powerful example is Rewilding Fifth Creek, a project led by Conservation Volunteers Australia to regenerate habitat in Adelaide, removing invasive weeds, planting native species, and creating conditions for wildlife to return.

Rewilding and Indigenous Knowledge

Rewilding also intersects with First Nations’ land care practices, which have been sustaining Country for tens of thousands of years. Cultural burning, seasonal knowledge, and totemic relationships with species offer insights that Western science alone cannot replicate.

Supporting rewilding in Australia must include listening to and partnering with Traditional Owners, because true restoration includes restoring relationships with the land.

How You Can Help Rewild Australia

Rewilding isn’t just for scientists or large-scale reserves — it’s something everyone can support. Here’s how you can be part of the movement:

🌱 Volunteer for local habitat restoration projects – sign up for volunteering events here

🌳 Plant native species in your garden or community spaces – create your own Nature Block

🐕 Keep pets indoors or contained to protect wildlife

🗣️ Advocate for land protection and green corridors in your region

💚 Donate to rewilding efforts or sponsor habitat restoration – make a donation to CVA

Every patch of native bush restored, every creek bank replanted, and every endangered species protected brings us one step closer to a thriving future.

A Vision for a Wilder Tomorrow

Rewilding offers more than a strategy; it offers hope. In the face of biodiversity loss and climate change, rewilding is a chance to turn things around. To let nature be wild again. To coexist, rather than control. And to create landscapes where life, in all its complexity and wonder, can flourish.

Want to be part of Australia’s rewilding journey?

👉 Find a rewilding project near you or support Conservation Volunteers Australia’s ongoing efforts to build back biodiversity and restore ecosystems across the country.