What can early human farmers teach us about rewilding today?

clock • 5 min read
Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces in southeastern Yunnan province, China | Credit: iStock
Image:

Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces in southeastern Yunnan province, China | Credit: iStock

The very first farmers hundreds of thousands of years ago often made landscapes even more biodiverse, which may offer lessons for rewilding efforts today, argue Jonathan D. Gordon and Brennen Fagan from the University of York

You don't need to read the news or scroll through Instagram for long to stumble across the latest example of a rare and beautiful species that has gone extinct. Since AD1500, at least 705 vertebrate species...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Biodiversity

Study: Typical roast dinner sprayed with 'astonishing cocktail' of over 100 pesticides

Study: Typical roast dinner sprayed with 'astonishing cocktail' of over 100 pesticides

Greenpeace urges government to back pesticide and fertiliser phase out, after report reveals vast extent of chemical use

Stuart Stone
clock 14 May 2026 • 4 min read
Defra and RHS launch virtual plant health centre

Defra and RHS launch virtual plant health centre

New centre funded by Defra to explore solutions to emerging threats and diseases that are increasing due to climate change

clock 12 May 2026 • 2 min read
Scotland leads the way in organic farming as sector continues to grow

Scotland leads the way in organic farming as sector continues to grow

Rising fertiliser costs, sustainability concerns, and consumer demand are driving a surge in organic farmland in the UK, according to Soil Association Certification

Alex Black, Farmers Guardian
clock 12 May 2026 • 3 min read