the Netherlands. Conceived as a bold ecological experiment, Oostvaardersplassen introduced large herbivores—konik horses, red deer, and cattle—into a fenced reserve to mimic Pleistocene grazing dynamics. Without predators and without the ability to migrate, herbivore populations rose and fell dramatically, leading to winter starvation events that sparked public controversy. Te project became a global touchstone for debates
about what “wildness” means in a human-bounded world. In contrast to American Prairie’s antifence ethos, Oostvaardersplassen is defined by its fences, and by the ecological consequences of containing large animals within a closed system. While the experiment revealed important insights into herbivore-driven ecosystems, it also highlighted the ethical and ecological challenges of rewilding in constrained landscapes. Tis model underscores the tension between ecological authenticity and human control, and the difficulty of recreating ancient processes in modern, fragmented environments.
4. Continental-scale connectivity: Y
ellowstone to Y ukon A fourth model is the continental-scale connectivity
approach exemplified by the Yellowstone-to-Yukon (Y2Y) initiative. Rather than building a single reserve, Y2Y works to restore wildlife movement across a 2,000-mile corridor stretching from Wyoming to the Canadian Arctic. Te focus is on predators and wide-ranging species—wolves, grizzlies, wolverines, elk—whose survival depends on the ability to move across vast distances. Y2Y does not acquire land; instead, it builds partnerships
with governments, tribes, private landowners, and conservation groups to create a network of protected areas, wildlife crossings, and habitat linkages. Where American Prairie is assembling a contiguous grassland ecosystem, Y2Y is stitching together a continental tapestry of connected habitats. Tis model reflects a growing recognition that ecological resilience depends not only on the quality of habitat but on the permeability of landscapes. Movement is life, and connectivity is the infrastructure of evolution.
5. Indigenous-led rewilding:
sovereignty and reciprocity Te fifth model is Indigenous-led rewilding, which reframes
the entire conversation by centering sovereignty, cultural landscapes, and reciprocal stewardship. Examples include the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks on Vancouver Island, Māori restoration projects in Aotearoa, and numerous tribal bison programs across the Great Plains. Tese initiatives do not treat rewilding as a return to some prehuman baseline; instead, they emphasize the restoration of relationships—between people and land, species and stories, ceremony and ecology. Cultural keystone species such as salmon, bison, or kiwi
are restored not only for their ecological roles but for their significance in Indigenous cosmologies and governance systems. In this model, rewilding is inseparable from justice, sovereignty, and the renewal of cultural lifeways. While American Prairie collaborates with tribes, it is not Indigenous-governed; Indigenous-led projects offer a different paradigm, one in which ecological restoration is braided with cultural resurgence.
Summer 2026 FUNGI Volume 19:2 27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
