Rewilding

I was reading about how weeds had taken over parts of Kauai when its top predators moa-nalo, large flightless ducks became extinct and shortly thereafter with the introduction of rabbits and goats so did many native plants. On a small site there a renewed effort to grow endangered native plants began but without the moa-nalo weeds were hard to control, thus threatening the successful resurgence of the native plants. Since the giant ducks are extinct a new weed predator or surrogate duck needed to be found. That animal is the giant tortoise and they are noshing on weeds, laying eggs, and thriving. This is an example of what is called rewilding and it includes setting aside land for wild areas and restoring ruined ecosystems by reshaping them using the big animals at the top of the food chain. Since many of these top predators have gone the way of the moa-nalo researchers and rewilding enthusiasts want to replace them with substitutes, like they did with giant tortoise in the example. Europe is taking the initiative in the rewilding movement and has already set aside 10 areas of 1000 hectares each to be rewilded by 2020. Rewilding in Yellowstone by returning wolves, nearly 70 years after they had been wiped out is another successful example of the process here in the states. Now if I could just figure out a way to use rewilding to get rid of the weeds in my garden all would be well.