Join ZSL and the British Ecological Society Rewilding SIG to discuss the opportunities and challenges of utilising rewilding to achieve the 30 by 30 target.
The 30 by 30 target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is a key global commitment to protect, conserve, and manage at least 30% of the world’s land and sea by 2030 to reverse nature decline and enhance biodiversity. Rewilding could represent a major route to achieving this target, though many countries do not currently list rewilding as a formal category for 30×30. This in-person event aims to address this issue, bringing together experts in nature recovery to discuss the opportunities and challenges for rewilding to significantly contribute to meeting the 30 by 30 target set by the Convention on Biological Diversity and adopted by the United Kingdom.
Through a combination of short talks, discussion panels and poster session, we will (i) set the policy context pertaining to biodiversity loss, nature recovery and policy frameworks supporting this recovery nationally and internationally; (ii) introduce rewilding and discuss the multiple benefits associated with it, paying attention to the evidence base to date; (iii) discuss how rewilding works in practice, and the challenges associated with rewilding projects; and (iv) identify key steps for moving the rewilding agenda forward, ensuring a meaningful contribution to the 30 by 30 target.
This one-day symposium aims to bring together experts in nature recovery to discuss how rewilding may help address the current 30 by 30 target set by the Convention on Biological Diversity and adopted by the United Kingdom. The event will be in-person only, aiming to be concise and impactful. It will combine 15min talks (12min presentation + 3min questions) with a poster session, a panel debate and other ways of breaking up the structure and bringing more diverse voices. Visit the BES event page to view the full agenda.
Call for posters
The call for posters will be open from 15 April – 15 August. We are looking for posters that focus around the event topic. Email your abstract to rewilding@britishecologicalsociety.org
Who should attend?
The targeted audience for the symposium includes a mix of scientists, practitioners and policy makers. The event will be pitched so as to attract scientists both inside and outside of the ecological/conservation community, thereby promoting interdisciplinary discussions. We are also keen to engage the next generation of scientists, who need to early on appreciate the political context and myriad of constraints shaping nature recovery options. As such, we would hope to see the symposium well attended by students.
| Ticket type | Price |
| Member concession* | £35 |
| Member** | £42 |
| Non-member | £50 |
*This is a BES member-only rate available to students, unemployed or retired members and anyone who is a resident in a low or lower-middle income country.
** This is a BES member-only rate
Registration closes at 17:00 (BST) on Monday 7 September 2026.
We try to make our events as inclusive as possible and work hard to keep our prices low but understand there are barriers to accessing our events for various reasons. Because of this, the BES have Training and Travel grants, which you may be eligible to apply for, and a support fund in place to help BES members who need it overcome those barriers. Please do get in touch at events@britishecologicalsociety.org to discuss how we can support you.
Members can benefit from discounted and concession ticket prices. Students are eligible for one year of free BES membership – learn more here.
In person only: This event will take place in person and there will be no opportunity to join virtually.
For queries: Please contact the Rewilding SIG at rewilding@britishecologicalsociety.org
Cancellation: If you can no longer attend, please contact us at events@britishecologicalsociety.org Please note we are only able to refund cancellations that are requested at least 2 weeks prior to the event. Tickets are non-transferable.
BES code of conduct: All delegates of BES events should adhere to the BES code of conduct to ensure the safety of themselves and others participating. Please read this before attending.