Best Practice Knowledge Base
9.2 Re-introduction of key species
European lynx. Skansen, Sweden © Hernán Serrano-León
Re-introducing key species, such as top predators, is a powerful tool for forest restoration as it helps reestablish natural ecological processes and balance. Top predators regulate prey populations, preventing over-grazing or over-browsing that can hinder vegetation recovery. This cascading effect, known as a trophic cascade, promotes biodiversity by creating conditions for the growth of diverse plant and animal species. Additionally, reintroducing keystone species can restore ecosystem functions like nutrient cycling and seed dispersal, further accelerating forest regeneration and resilience. This approach not only revitalizes forests but also enhances their long-term ecological stability.
I. Guidelines
| Nº | Title | Author | Year | Focus Region | Language | Summary | Link |
| 1 | Guidelines for Reintroductions and Other Conservation Translocations | IUCN | 2013 | World | English | Detailed guide for the reintroduction of key species into their natural ecosystems | https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/documents/2013-009.pdf |
II. Books or book chapters
| Nº | Title | Author | Chapter | Chapter author | Year | Focus region | Language | Summary | Link |
| 1 | Rewilding European Landscapes | Pereira & Navarro | Bringing Large Mammals Back: Large Carnivores in Europe | Boitani & Linell | 2015 | Europe | English | Describes current populations and conservation approaches for large mammals and carnivores in Europe | https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-12039-3 |
| 2 | Reintroduction of Top‐Order Predators | Hayward & Somers | - | - | 2009 | World | English | Challenges, successes, and alternatives to reintroducing large predators into their natural habitats | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781444312034?utm_source=chatgpt.com |
III. Scientific articles
| Nº | Title | Author | Year | Focus region | Language | Type | Summary | Link |
| 1 | A scoping review of the scientific evidence base for rewilding in Europe | Hart et al. | 2023 | Europe | English | Systematic review | Review on the evidence-based literature of rewilding in Europe | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110243 |
| 2 | Domestic Livestock and Rewilding: Are They Mutually Exclusive? | Gordon et al. | 2021 | Europe | English | Narrative review | Review on the conflict of rewilding and livestock, and their possible arragements | https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.550410 |
| 3 | Ecosystem-level effects of keystone species reintroduction: a literature review | Hale & Koprowski | 2018 | World | English | Narrative review | Review on studies on reintroduced populations of keystone species, and their ecosystem-level effects following reintroduction | https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12684 |
| 4 | Rewilding the world's large carnivores | Wolf & Ripple | 2018 | World | English | Descriptive study | Global analysis of potential reintroduction areas of terrestrial carnivores | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsos.172235 |