Mass extinction and rewilding

Our planet is experiencing what scientists are calling "the sixth great mass extinction."Wildlife populationshave seen an average decline of 69 percent in the last 50 years, and extinction rates are far beyond any that have existed in modern history. For all planners, promoting coexistence between people and wildlife will be key and will likely require collaboration with biologists and wildlife experts. This is especially true in the case ofrewilding, which ultimately seeks to limit human intervention in ecosystem restoration. Often, this consists of the reintroduction of a species to an area, such asgray wolvesthat were released in Colorado in December 2023, or abisonrewilding program that began in the UK in 2022. Such projects require a shift of cultural attitudes regarding how human development interacts with the needs of animals. Rewilding is just one piece of this puzzle, but one for which planners may be called upon to consult.