What is rewilding? It is a global trend that focuses on nature repairing and restoring itself.
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However, it also includes the reintroduction of species by humans into areas where they once flourished.
Two recent examples have been put forward.
There was a proposal to release Tasmanian devils into Wilsons Promontory National Park.
Why? Devils were once widespread on the mainland.
The explosion in cat and fox populations since European arrival has resulted in large scale extermination of native animals.
Reintroducing the devils is hoped to have an effect on these feral species.
They would deprive them of food sources, compete for nesting spaces and predate on their young.
A more controversial proposal is to reintroduce dingoes into the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.
Again, it is an attempt to eliminate feral species as well as controlling the large numbers of kangaroos and wallabies that have flourished in recent years and are having a devastating effect on the landscape.
Of course, local farmers are up in arms, but the continuing destruction of our native wildlife has reached crisis point.
Although hard to calculate, it's estimated there are 5-23 million feral cats in Australia; each cat killing between five and 30 native animals a day.
Drastic action is needed, and the reintroduction of a predatory species is necessary.
Rewilding is not just about reintroducing species; it is about restoring damaged ecosystems.
A great example is Ned's Corner, near Mildura.
Formerly a 30,000 ha sheep station, it was reduced to a wasteland through overgrazing and rabbits.
Environmental water allocations enabled plants and animals to survive.
Free from the pressures of grazing and the removal of rabbits allowed native vegetation to increase via natural regeneration, extensive planting and direct seeding.
There are now 1000 native plant and animal species, including 77 threatened plants, 24 reptiles and 190 types of birds.
Researchers have discovered 21 species not known to science.
Rewilding takes many forms.
Former mines that have been stripped of vegetation can be reforested.
No fishing zones instituted to restore fish stocks.
It can also include removing old fences to allow free movement of animals, restoring natural flood systems and, of course, not logging old growth forests to ensure there are sustainable nesting hollows.
Rewilding areas may allow species under threat of extinction to survive - let's hope.
