EconTalk Isabella Tree on Wilding
Mar 16, 2020
Isabella Tree, a renowned author and conservationist, shares her inspiring journey of transforming Knepp Castle Estate into a vibrant ecosystem. She discusses the challenges of shifting from conventional farming to rewilding, emphasizing the ecological benefits of restoring native species and megafauna. Tree highlights the complex dynamics of managing herbivores and the financial aspects of sustainable practices. The conversation encapsulates a deep connection between humans and nature, envisioning a hopeful future where wildlife thrives alongside us.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
The Dying Oak
- Isabella and Charlie's realization about their land's issues began with a dying oak tree.
- A tree expert revealed their farming practices were harming the tree's life support system, the soil.
Forest vs. Grassland
- Closed canopy woodland, often mistaken as pristine nature, is less biodiverse than open grazing grassland.
- True forests are dynamic wood pastures shaped by large animals, not static closed canopies.
Introducing Megafauna Proxies
- To restore the land's dynamism, Isabella and Charlie introduced old English longhorn cattle, Exmoor ponies, and Tamworth pigs.
- These animals served as proxies for extinct megafauna like aurochs, tarpans, and wild boar.
