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De-extinction beyond species: Restoring ecosystem functionality through large herbivore rewilding.
Abstract: This perspective positions rewilding as a novel approach to ecosystem restoration, emphasising the restoration of natural processes to create self-willed ecosystems. Central to European rewilding is the de-domestication of cattle and horses to act as functional analogues of the extinct aurochs and wild horses. This de-extinction pathway shifts the focus from the loss of species to the loss of their ecological roles caused by human actions commencing millennia ago. The focus on restoring functional effects provides a strong policy rationale for large herbivore de-domestication, aligning with nature-based solutions to address environmental challenges. This alignment requires a pragmatic approach that prioritises the restoration of ecosystem functions over genetic purity and offers flexibility and scalability in rewilding efforts. I argue that creating a new category of 'ecosystem engineer' livestock is more effective than seeking wild status for these animals. As they are released into recovering ecosystems, de-domesticated large herbivores are recreating their ecological roles, 'life-spheres' and interactions. These processes open new avenues in both extinction discourse and ecological theory and encourage us to explore how de-extinct species can drive the recovery of European ecosystems.
© The Author(s) 2025.
Publication Date: 2025-01-13 PubMed ID: 40078938PubMed Central: PMC11895704DOI: 10.1017/ext.2024.27Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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Overview
- This research explores how rewilding with de-domesticated large herbivores can restore ecosystem functions, shifting conservation focus from species preservation to reviving ecological roles lost due to human activity.
- It proposes using cattle and horses as functional equivalents of their extinct wild ancestors to support ecosystem recovery and align with nature-based environmental solutions.
Introduction to Rewilding and De-Extinction Concepts
- Rewilding is presented as an innovative ecosystem restoration method centered on natural processes and self-regulating ecosystems.
- This approach goes beyond simply reintroducing species; it emphasizes restoring the ecological functions and dynamics those species once fulfilled.
- The concept of de-extinction in this context means reintroducing ecological roles rather than resurrecting species genetically.
- Specifically, de-domestication of cattle and horses to act as analogues for the extinct aurochs and wild horses is central to European rewilding efforts.
Shift in Conservation Focus From Species to Ecological Roles
- Human activities over millennia have caused the loss of not only species but also their associated ecological functions.
- This research argues for shifting the focus from conserving individual species to restoring lost ecosystem processes and functional effects.
- By reviving the ecological roles of extinct species through de-domesticated analogues, ecosystem functionality and resilience can be enhanced.
Policy Implications and Practical Considerations
- Restoring functional effects via de-domesticated large herbivores supports strong policy justification aligned with nature-based solutions aimed at addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.
- The author advocates a pragmatic approach that prioritizes ecological function over genetic purity to facilitate flexibility and scalability in rewilding projects.
- This may involve recognizing a new category of ‘ecosystem engineer’ livestock, differentiating these animals from traditional livestock or wild fauna.
- Such a designation focuses on their unique role in restoring ecosystem processes rather than their wild status or genetic lineage.
Ecological and Extinction Discourse Implications
- The release of de-domesticated large herbivores into recovering ecosystems is shown to recreate key ecological interactions and ‘life-spheres’ that were disrupted by past extinctions.
- This approach expands ecological theory by demonstrating how functional traits and ecosystem engineering by these animals influence system recovery.
- It also broadens the extinction discourse, suggesting that de-extinction efforts can encompass reinstating ecological functions, not just species themselves.
- Such perspectives challenge conventional views on conservation and open new pathways for restoring dynamic and functioning ecosystems in Europe and potentially elsewhere.
Cite This Article
APA
Jepson PR.
(2025).
De-extinction beyond species: Restoring ecosystem functionality through large herbivore rewilding.
Camb Prism Extinct, 3, e3.
https://doi.org/10.1017/ext.2024.27 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- PJ Consulting, Musselburgh, East Lothian, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Browne RK. Intergenerational justice, the impending sixth mass extinction, reproduction and advanced biotechnologies, and humanity's future.. Camb Prism Extinct 2025;3:e13.
- Giergiczny M, Dunn-Capper R, Budziński W, Fernandez N, Pereira HM. The political dimensions of rewilding preference.. iScience 2025 Sep 19;28(9):113349.
- Caplan AL. Should scientists be allowed to bring distant human ancestors back to life?. PLoS Biol 2025 Sep;23(9):e3003384.
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