Rewilding could reshape how nations defend borders

The study introduces the concept of “defensive rewilding”, where ecosystem restoration is used to shape terrain in ways that impede, delay or redirect potential invading forces. Rather than treating environmental policy and defence as competing priorities, the research suggests the two can be closely aligned.

Natural landscapes can act as long-term defensive features. Unlike temporary measures such as minefields or field fortifications, restored ecosystems can create lasting barriers that shape how forces move across a region. 

Examples include: 

• Restoring wetlands to create waterlogged ground that is difficult for armoured vehicles to cross
• Planting forests to reduce visibility and restrict movement
• Returning rivers to a more natural state to make crossings more difficult

Alongside defensive effects, these interventions also support carbon storage, flood mitigation and biodiversity recovery. UEL’s ongoing work on paludiculture - the cultivation of wetland crops - explores how wetland biomass can store biogenic carbon in construction materials whilst creating economic benefits for local communities through ‘defensive rewilding’ policy.

The research draws on both historical and contemporary examples to show how terrain shapes conflict, from the deliberate flooding of landscapes during the First World War to more recent examples from Ukraine, where rivers and saturated floodplains have slowed and redirected armoured advances.

Sam Jelliman, researcher at UEL’s Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) and co-author of the study, said, 

Rather than seeing defence and climate action as competing priorities, our research shows they can reinforce one another. You can invest in landscapes that are both more resilient environmentally and more secure militarily.” 

Peatlands are a particularly strong example. Their low ground-bearing capacity makes them difficult for even light armoured vehicles to cross, while also acting as some of the most effective long-term carbon stores. 

“Peatlands are probably the most challenging terrain to cross, and they’re also one of the most effective natural carbon stores. That makes them a particularly powerful focus - they deliver both defensive and climate benefits at the same time,” Jelliman added. 

While the concept offers long-term advantages, it would need to be carefully balanced against land use, governance and environmental considerations, and implemented as part of a broader defence strategy. 

Alan Chandler, who co-authored the study and is Research Impact Leader at UEL, said, “Nature-based solutions like this challenge us to rethink what infrastructure really means. By working with natural systems rather than against them, we can build resilience that is both sustainable and strategic. It also shows how integrating ecosystem restoration into national security planning could offer a cost-effective and forward-looking approach to defence in an era of growing geopolitical and climate pressures.” 

The study, Defensive Rewilding: A Nature-Based Solution for National Security, by Sam Jelliman, Brian Schmidt and Alan Chandler, was published in The RUSI Journal. This work builds on a wider body of research at UEL’s SRI, where researchers explore how rewilding, green infrastructure and nature-based solutions can deliver environmental, social and economic benefits. From urban biodiversity projects to large-scale green infrastructure planning, the institute works with partners to apply research in real-world settings and shape how landscapes are designed and managed.

Explore our work at the SRI or find out more about our postgraduate research courses.