Re-wilding the wilderness

SERIOUS flooding in recent times is prompting people to look at new ways of resolving, long-term, a problem that’s likely to remain with us, given climate change and all that implies.

In England, which seems to have been even harder hit than Ireland, there are calls to turn swathes of upland pastures into woodland. The idea of “re-wilding” the uplands — returning habitats to a natural state — is catching on throughout Europe and is also being mooted, for instance, for the Comeragh and Knockmealdown Mountains, in Co Waterford.

Overgrazing of the uplands is also being blamed for flooding. Too many sheep compact the soil which prevents soakage and speeds water run-off. The thinking now is that such areas should be allowed return to the wild so that water can be trapped by trees and natural vegetation.