Feral: Rewilding the Land, the Sea, and Human Life

Feral presents an optimistic approach to environmentalism centered on rewilding rather than focusing primarily on the consequences of climate change. George Monbiot argues for grounding environmental efforts in hope and allowing nature to demonstrate its own value, rather than relying on defensive arguments about science and climate threats. Monbiot takes readers on a journey to ecosystems around the world that have been rewilded—freed from human intervention and allowed to resume their natural ecological processes. He describes kayaking among dolphins and seabirds off the Welsh coast and exploring forests in Eastern Europe where lynx and wolf packs are reclaiming their historical hunting grounds. The book presents rewilding as a way to address what Monbiot calls "ecological boredom" while repairing centuries of environmental damage. Through these examples, Monbiot envisions a future where humans and nature coexist as part of a single, healing world rather than remaining in conflict.