Re-wilding
Re-wilding can be defined as measures to increase the size of existing conservation areas, for instance, national parks, wildlife refuges as well as wilderness areas. Next is an attempt to link all isolated conservation areas through wildlife corridors into an interconnected wild lands network. The final aspect in re-wilding is the reintroduction of carnivores, for instance, eastern cougar and wolf in the case of North America. Re-wilding became an issue since several people were against it while others were for it. For instance, Donlan, a conservationist, supported re-wilding while Rubestein was against re-wilding since according to him, re-wilding of North America would not restore the mega fauna of North America as the species had become evolutionary distinct (Rubenstein et al., 2006).
Resource utilization
According to Rubenstein, re-wilding plan was a waste of resources since there was no benefit which could be gained from the activity. He argued that the resources to be spent on the project was substantial hence they should be re-directed to development as well as field-testing new ways of managing to conserve indigenous populations in their native habitats. Educating the general public in all the continents concerning the results of the dwindling fauna and flora would also be relevant (Rubenstein, Rubenstein, Sherman & Gavin, 2006). However, according to Donlan, establishing massive ecological park individuals would benefit from tourism-related jobs as well as land management.
Persistence of endangered species
Secondly, according to Josh, re-wilding would enhance persistence of most of the endangered species. Since some of the species were still present in Africa and Asia, these species would have been introduced in North America where they used to exist thousands of years before (Rubenstein et al., 2006). However, according to Rubestein re-wilding North America would not restore North Americas potential since most of the species were evolutionary distinct and on the other hand, it would restore the North America’s modern ecosystem since the ecosystems have evolved in the past years.
Ecosystem functions
Thirdly, according to Rubestein, the effects of re-wilding are unknown and it may be catastrophic and ecosystem functioning is likely to be disrupted. However, according to Josh, this is not true since this will restore the ecosystem to its previous state. Moreover, there will be improved economic activity as a result of re-wilding.
I agree with Josh because ecosystems without carnivores can be compared to trains without railway lines - the different ecosystem parts cease to engage fully. The animating function of carnivores was clearly illustrated when wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone (Uhl, 2003).
References
Uhl, C. (2003). Developing ecological consciousness:path to a sustainable world. Lanham,MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Rubenstein, D. R., Rubenstein, D. I., Sherman, P.W., & Gavin, T. A. (2006). Pleistocene Park: Does re-wilding North America represent sound conservation for the 21st century? Retrieved from http://www.columbia.edu/~dr2497/PUBLICATIONS_files/BC2006.pdf
