The traditional Western concept of “the wild” often conjures images of remote, untouched landscapes. This romanticized view portrays nature as a realm separate from human influence. For centuries, this idea has shaped conservation efforts, aiming to protect areas perceived as untainted by human activity. However, new scientific insights and a deeper understanding of human-environment interactions are now challenging this perspective.
The Illusion of Pristine Nature
The notion of “untouched wilderness” dissolves when examining historical human land use. Many landscapes considered wild by European settlers were managed and shaped by Indigenous peoples over thousands of years. Native American tribes, for instance, regularly employed controlled burning practices to maintain forest health and create open grasslands. These low-intensity fires reduced underbrush, promoted biodiversity, and facilitated hunting and travel.
In the Amazon Basin, ancient communities developed “terra preta,” a fertile dark earth created through the addition of organic matter and other materials to nutrient-poor soils. These human-made soils, which remain highly fertile thousands of years later, supported large populations and intensive agriculture. This historical evidence reframes these ecosystems not as naturally wild, but as ancestral homelands where ecological processes co-evolved alongside human management practices.
Humanity’s Unavoidable Footprint
No ecosystem on Earth remains entirely free from human influence. Pervasive factors like climate change, atmospheric pollution, and the global spread of plastic pollution demonstrate humanity’s far-reaching impact. The worldwide movement of invasive species further alters natural communities, even in seemingly remote areas. These widespread influences mean that human activity is now an intrinsic part of almost every terrestrial and aquatic environment.
Ecologists use “anthropogenic biomes,” or “anthromes,” to classify the planet’s land surface. Unlike traditional biomes based solely on climate and vegetation, anthromes integrate patterns of human population density, land use, and built structures. This framework recognizes that human interactions have reshaped global ecological patterns, viewing them as human systems with natural ecosystems embedded within them. Major anthrome categories include dense settlements, croplands, rangelands, and human-modified forests, all reflecting varying degrees of human transformation.
Conservation in a Human-Shaped World
Given that truly “pristine” nature is largely a historical illusion, conservation efforts must adapt from preserving a static, idealized past. Modern strategies acknowledge humanity’s pervasive influence and focus on fostering dynamic, resilient ecosystems capable of coexisting with human activity. One approach is “rewilding,” which aims to restore ecological processes and functions rather than recreating a specific historical state. This can involve reintroducing keystone species to influence vegetation dynamics and restore trophic cascades.
Rewilding also encompasses restoring natural hydrological processes or allowing natural grazing to shape landscapes. Another strategy is “reconciliation ecology,” defined as designing and managing ecosystems to promote biodiversity and ecosystem services within human-dominated landscapes. This includes modifying environments like farms and cities to better support wildlife, such as integrating trees into agricultural landscapes or converting urban spaces into green infrastructure. The emphasis is on fostering coexistence and enhancing ecological function and resilience wherever people live and work.
Finding the Wild Everywhere
Recognizing that wildness is not confined to remote, untouched parks broadens our understanding and allows us to experience nature in unexpected places. If human influence is now ubiquitous, then opportunities for wildness exist within our everyday surroundings.
A peregrine falcon nesting on a skyscraper, for example, demonstrates the adaptability of wildlife to urban environments. The complex array of life found in a vacant urban lot showcases nature’s resilience and capacity for self-organization. Even a tenacious plant pushing through a crack in the pavement embodies an enduring wild spirit.
This perspective reframes our relationship with nature, transforming it from something we must journey to visit into something we are an inherent part of every day. It fosters a sense of connection and responsibility, encouraging us to recognize and nurture the wild elements within our own backyards and communities.