Mongabay Newscast Rewilding the world, one acre at a time
Aug 12, 2025
Ben Goldsmith, a rewilding advocate and financier, shares his passion for nature restoration in England. He highlights the growing acceptance of beavers, once deemed pests, now celebrated for their flood mitigation abilities. Goldsmith stresses the urgent need for faster rewilding efforts, particularly the reintroduction of larger carnivores like wolves. He discusses the cultural shifts in farming practices and explores the economic benefits of sustainable land use. The conversation underscores the importance of coexistence with wildlife and the link between biodiversity and human well-being.
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Beavers Rewired Public Perception
- The beaver's return triggered a major cultural shift in England by forcing people to accept nonhuman control of landscapes.
- Ben Goldsmith says public awareness now recognizes beavers as native and crucial for river management.
Childhood Letter Sparked Rewilding Passion
- Ben recounts writing as an 11-year-old to Richmond Park asking for wild boar reintroduction and receiving a polite rejection.
- That early letter kept his lifelong interest in rebuilding nature in Britain alive.
Nature Restores Hydrological Order
- Beavers exemplify how returning species restore natural order and hydrological resilience in degraded landscapes.
- Goldsmith argues their dams mitigate floods and droughts, reframing 'management' as enabling nature's services.
