• Environment
• Forestry

Process Oriented Nature Conservation (PONC): wilder, cheaper and more robust nature management : Guidelines on how to apply the principles of process oriented nature management

In our contemporary European landscape there is an increasing division between the natural and the cultural landscape (agriculture, industry, habitation, …). What little is left of functioning ecosystems is often secured in nature reserves, under very strict legal protection. And rightly so! But the cultural landscape surrounding these natural areas is increasingly devoid of any natural processes or biodiversity and our choices in the cultural landscape have an ever increasing negative impact on the ecosystems in the adjoining natural areas. In the PONC project (2020-2023), where PONC stands for Process Oriented Nature Conservation, we explored the possibilities for allowing natural processes back into the cultural landscape, for the good of both nature ánd humans. There are several options on how to look at the concept of process oriented nature conservation. We used this term, rather than the term ‘rewilding’ because we were aiming at man-made landscapes where man obviously is a part in the equation, compared to vast areas which are ‘re-wilded’ after they were deserted by inhabitants. The overview of natural processes and listing of possible proxies for these natural processes, can help to focus on natural processes rather than focusing on just species or habitats. The PONC score we developed is a tool to measure and visualise the impact of introducing PONC principles on a site. This might help in communicating with stakeholders. PONC is a joint project of Natuurinvest (coordinator, Belgium) and Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos (Belgium); Ark Rewilding Nederland (the Netherlands); Fjällbete (Sweden); Pro Natura (Sweden); Milvus Group (Romania); and Knepp Estate (UK) in England.