Rewilding generates economic benefits through ecosystem services, tourism, and carbon sequestration that can offset the costs of land use change and make welfare-positive conservation financially viable.
Rewilding economics demonstrates that the welfare and conservation benefits of ecosystem restoration need not be framed as costs to be justified but as assets to be valued. When flood protection, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and wildlife tourism are properly valued, rewilding projects can be economically competitive with or superior to conventional land use. This changes the political economy of conservation and welfare advocacy — rather than asking for sacrifice, advocates can demonstrate genuine economic benefit. Building the economic case for rewilding is therefore a welfare strategy as well as a financial one.