Dear ReWilder,
There are a few things in life that leave you breathless, in awe of the beauty of nature, so very small and in communion with a world that surrounds us so beautifully. It amazes me how a place like the Okavango Delta, which seems to exist with such ease and instinct, is such an incredibly complex system of relationships. Reconnecting with intact ecosystems such as the Delta is not only critical for the preservation of wild animals, but also for the survival of our species in the years to come. The stakes are high, but the solution is easy.
βThe basic pattern of life is a network. Whenever you see life, you see networks. The whole planet, what we can term 'Gaia' is a network of processes involving feedback tubes. And the world of bacteria is critical to the details of these feedback processes, because bacteria play a crucial role in the regulation of the whole Gaian system.β (Fritjof Capra, The Web of Life, New York: Anchor Books, 1996)
This quote by Fritjof Capra really puts it into perspective how interwoven life is on this planet. This latest ReWild experience into Okavango was an incredibly deep experience that has left me feeling introspective over the past few weeks. Flying over the Delta toward the camp, I could not help thinking about how valuable this land is to everyone, human and more-than-human. Our perspective of economics is limited, and we need to expand it to incorporate the value of places like the Okavango Delta outside of tourism and extractive practices. As one of the world's largest carbon sinks, it really is one of the richest countries in the world and it's about time we acknowledged this.Β
ReWild on a mission π¦
ReWild Africa was commissioned by Firm of the Future to facilitate an immersive biomimicry experience for their team from the Netherlands and make a short film about it. I (Sam) was the biomimicry guide and expedition leader, and Justin Woods was the film lead on the trip (some of the best wildlife content yet - stay tuned!).
Firm of the Future is an organisation based in the Netherlands. They are one of the most innovative and adventurous companies we have come across. Their mission is to help other organisations future-proof by applying sustainability methods and tools to internal and external functions of a business. They have a big focus on applying biomimicry in order to learn from natureβs processes and adapt them for human activities, infrastructure, and organisational structures.
What is biomimicry?Β π¦
Biomimicry is essentially learning from nature. Nature has been here for over 3.8 billion years. Its form, processes and systems have stood the test of time. Surely we can learn from these within the future cities?Β
We accompanied Firm of the Future in the Okavango to look at how water flows in a mature and wild ecosystem, and how the Netherlands might learn from this in their urban planning. The Netherlands, like the Okavango Delta, is also a floodplain, however the water has been managed to flow through cities in 90 degree angles and concrete. Flooding is now a major issue. In the Okavango, we immersed ourselves in the landscape to try and learn from nature, asking questions like:Β
How does nature regulate the flow of water in landscapes?Β
How does nature manage seasons of drought, and seasons of flooding?Β
How can we incorporate these natural systems into our urban design, infrastructure, and systems to mitigate climate risk?Β
When you look at the design of the Delta, you can see from a bird's eye view how water fractals, much like a tree's branches, a leafβs veins, or the system of arteries and veins running through our bodies. How might we build future cities where we might understand better how water flows, and ask how we might see Flow before Structure?
Immersive Experiences π§π½ββοΈ
When we travel into remote parts of Africa, we love getting to know the local guides and indigenous people of the area. Our guides from African Bush Camps were truly remarkable, and they were really in touch with the landscape and the local biodiversity. While tracking leopards with the guides, Chief, Aubrey and DT, and discussing the dynamics of leopards, we heard a squirrel alarm call. We followed the call and within 30 seconds we had come across a beautiful leopard. The squirrel call alerts the entire ecosystem to the presence of the leopard. Communication between animals in the bush is an exceptional example of symbiosis between species. A language that humans need to re-learn.
Shared VisionsΒ π€π½
Re:wild, based in the United States also seeks to protect and restore the wild. They have a singular and powerful focus: the wild as the most effective solution to the interconnected climate, biodiversity and human health crises. Founded by a group of renowned conservation scientists together with Leonardo DiCaprio, Re:wild is a force multiplier that brings together Indigenous peoples, local communities, influential leaders, nongovernmental organizations, governments, companies and the public to protect and rewild at the scale and speed we need. Their vital work has protected and conserved more than 180 million acres benefitting more than 16,000 species in the worldβs most irreplaceable places for biodiversity.
Shared Missions to Protect & Restore π©π½βπΎ
Re:wild is campaigning to stop drilling in the precious Okavango Delta, read about it here: Devil on the Delta.Β
βThe drilling license covers nearly 160 miles of Okavango River bank in Namibia, which brings precious water during the long dry season to the famed Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a Key Biodiversity Area, which is a site of critical importance to the persistence of biodiversity on our planet. Scientists, environmentalists, and local communities fear that this vital river, whose waters are the lifeblood for hundreds of thousands of people, will suffer irreversible damage from the drilling operations already taking place. Most recently Mangundu co-authored a Washington Post op-ed with Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, voicing their concerns about the fate of the Okavango River Basin at the hands of ReconAfrica and calling for an immediate moratorium on oil and gas drilling in the Okavango. In the op-ed, Mangundu and The Duke of Sussex ask a question that came up again and again in our reporting: how should humanity define progress in the midst of the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and human health?β
We support organisations like Re:wild who continue to fight for areas like the Okavango Delta, areas that are vital to the health of our planet and people.Β
News from ReWild AfricaΒ πΎ
Come work with us! We are currently looking for a Research Lead to assist on a documentary series. Take a look here for more information about the role and get your application in quick!
Have a look at our latest films with BBC Storyworks:
Our partners, the Global Landscapes Forum, Cape Town chapter (GLFx Cape Town) have just received funding to push further restoration stories in Africa.Β
Megan just returned from two back-to-back shoots in Uganda telling incredibly inspiring stories. Well done Megs!Β
Wild Regards,
Sam and Team ReWild Africa