bread autumn 2024 - Randal Plunkett and Dalibor Dostál

The lecture will introduce a unique approach to wild landscape restoration that Randal Plunkett has called V-wilding. His approach combines ecological principles with vegan philosophy and offers a model for sustainable restoration of natural habitats without the intervention of chemicals or mechanical activities such as deforestation. Randal Plunkett, a descendant of the Irish Dunsany family, has been working since 2014 on wilderness restoration on more than a third of the extensive land that historically belonged to his family. Without the use of fertilizers, deforestation, or animal cruelty, he allows nature to develop freely, resulting in the return of species that have not been present here for centuries. The symbiotic relationship between plants and animals has aided adaptation development, leading to a remarkable revival of the natural environment. During the lecture, Randal Plunkett will also speak about nature's ability to adapt to species loss and changing conditions. He will explain why conceptual vegan wilderness restoration is much more important than people think and will present his critique of the popular term "regenerative grazing," which he believes is merely a renaming of bad habits.
Dalibor Dostál will focus on the return of large herbivores as a means of restoring biodiversity, which is disappearing today at an unprecedented rate. This approach utilizes the natural behavior of herbivores such as bison, wild horses, and aurochs for sustainable landscape management. Since the establishment of the first reserve in Milovice in 2015, the project has expanded to 15 locations across the Czech Republic, where these animals contribute to ecosystem preservation. The lecture will provide insight into the successes of this approach and its future potential.
 
Randal Plunkett is the owner of Dunsany Estate, which he inherited in 2011 and transformed into the largest private nature reserve in Ireland. After taking over the management of the estate, he decided to reintroduce the original flora and fauna to the area in a natural and organic manner. From his 1700-acre property, he leases 950 acres of agricultural land to local farmers, while the remaining area is designated as a nature reserve. He collaborates with a number of organizations and institutions for the research of flora and fauna.

Dalibor Dostál is the director of the conservation organization Česká krajina, which he founded in 2015 in collaboration with Czech scientists. This unique large herbivore reserve, located in the former military area of Milovice in the Central Bohemian Region, has faced constant destructive pressures since its inception. The aim of establishing the reserve is to inspire our society to change its approach to the environment and encourage active participation in a greener future. The former military area of Milovice represents a naturally valuable lowland preserved to such an extent. However, the area is also lucrative for development and commercial projects due to its proximity to cities and highways.