Mass Extinction and Rewilding

Our planet is experiencing what scientists are calling "the sixth great mass extinction." Wildlife populations have seen an average decline of 73 percent in the last 50 years, and current extinction rates are far beyond any in modern history.

For all planners, promoting coexistence between people and wildlife will be key and will likely require collaboration with biologists and wildlife experts. This is especially true in the case of rewilding, which seeks to limit human intervention in ecosystem restoration. This may include the reintroduction of a species to an area, such as the release of gray wolves in Colorado in December 2023. Such projects require a shift of cultural attitudes regarding how human development interacts with the needs of wildlife. Rewilding is just one piece of this puzzle, but one for which planners may be called upon to consult.