As WILD and partners planned the 11th World Wilderness for Rajasthan (India) in 2021, one of the many major program elements was ‘rewilding’, created to emphasize that humans needed to take responsibility for the huge amount of damaged lands and seas. Rewilding revives biodiversity, helps local communities and promotes the important but virtually unrecognized positive role of wildlife in the carbon cycle. One week before +1500 delegates were to convene in Jaipur, the COVID  pandemic was declared and WILD11 was canceled. 

We already had numerous outcomes that were ready to launch as a result of  expert planning and collaborations. SO…we launched them!!  One of them was the Global Charter for Rewilding the Earth, clarifying for the first time ever 12 principles to guide this important…and necessary…practical action and ethical state of mind. Tom Butler  (editor and board member, Tompkins Conservation) worked with the experts to draft a stunning, easy to read, highly effective document to stimulate and help guide a much-needed global movement.

As we considered the Charter…developed, vetted and ready for adoption at W11… we knew we needed to move ahead with it despite the global pandemic. An idea came quickly to mind…a global alliance of practitioners to share methods and friendship, collaborate, and create a fundable aggregation of different ways to rewild the earth.

Three of us, the original drivers of the Charter, took it on: Magnus Sylven, Karl Wagner and me. Not unusually, there was no funding --  but ample commitment, expertise and passion. We sent out a few emails and cranked it up….the Global Rewilding Alliance was born. The WILD Foundation agreed to incubate it as long as necessary. As expected , the first few years were difficult because ‘networks’ are not easy to fund. Re:wild.org stepped up in a basic but important role and has since remained a founding supporter…and others eventually responded, sensing a momentum on a good and important issue. Rewilding is not only an ethical and practical necessity, it is an intention and fully positive solution to help create a better world. It is all about generating successful stories of a practice that heals, supports, and reinvigorates our earth and human communities.

 The effectiveness and vision grew steadily. Today there are over 300 (and growing) NGO network members…well-vetted, and effective in practical rewilding or in communicating the need. In 2023,  WILD ‘spun-off’ GRA into a distinct NGO, registered and based in Switzerland. MUCH has already been achieved in  changing global policy, supporting Network members, and in starting to materialize a new  vision—a much-needed global rewilding fund! 

Check out GRA through our website, reach out to us, look at our very useful publications and our growing vision. It’s a fabulous product of the World Wilderness Congress’ collaborative style and commitment to outcomes.