Juan Carlos Muñoz / Rewilding Europe
Landscape restoration and the revival of diverse, abundant wildlife can provide opportunities for new, nature-based economies that in turn support thriving communities.
Natural landscapes rich in wildlife can be at the centre of thriving local economies, which respect and embrace cultural heritage, and where local people find meaningful employment and lead fulfilling lives. Restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem services can, for example, form the basis of nature-based tourism; supply new markets for nature-based produce; and create opportunities for generating revenues through payment for ecosystem services.
Young people can be encouraged to stay in their communities, or return after training, to develop new businesses. New jobs can be created, often linked to past cultural traditions and skills, but developed and evolved for a new era.
Projects in the Endangered Landscapes Programme are working with local communities to identify these kinds of opportunity – finding ways by which restored landscapes that are enriched with biodiversity can meet the economic and social aspirations of local people, whilst respecting and building off local culture and traditions.
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