Welfare of Animals in Abandoned Agricultural Land Rewilding

When agricultural land is abandoned and rewilded, the transition period creates both opportunities and welfare risks for colonizing and resident wild animal populations.

Key Facts

Abandoned agricultural land in Europe covers over 30 million hectares and is projected to increase
Pioneer rewilding species including foxes, deer, and wild boar often colonize abandoned farmland rapidly
Sudden removal of grazing can cause vegetation structure changes that exclude species dependent on open habitat
Rewilding projects that introduce large herbivores require welfare monitoring for introduced animals
Predator return to rewilded areas creates novel social dynamics that affect prey species welfare

Welfare Considerations

Rewilding abandoned agricultural land is increasingly popular as a conservation strategy, but the welfare of animals in transitional landscapes deserves attention. Species that colonize early may face novel predators as rewilding progresses. Introduced herbivores may struggle to establish social groups and find adequate nutrition. The process of natural succession, while ultimately beneficial for biodiversity, involves individual animal welfare costs during the transition. Monitoring and adaptive management improve outcomes for individual animals, not just populations.

What You Can Do

Support rewilding projects that include animal welfare monitoring and adaptive management
Advocate for welfare assessment frameworks in large-scale rewilding project design
Donate to organizations that study and improve individual animal outcomes in rewilded landscapes
Engage with land managers to ensure rewilding transitions consider the welfare of individual animals