A Slow Return : Healing The Wounds of Extraction Through Rewilding

I grew up in a world damaged by environmental degradation, and for my thesis, I wanted to look into how we could help heal it. The question is, where do we begin? During my research, I came across the concept of rewilding, which traditionally is defined as “to make wild again”. However, is rewilding only about restoring ecosystems, or does it have a deeper meaning? I argue that true rewilding involves ecological renewal and a profound emotional and cultural reconnection with nature, recognising that we are not separate from the naturalworld but a part of it. The following paper explores how rewilding can play a role in promoting ecological restoration in an Arctic climate and, in turn, reconnecting people with nature again. Using lake Ala Lombolo in Kiruna, Sweden, as a case study, I explore how different nature-based remediation strategies like phytoremediation, mycoremediation, and phycoremediation can show us the way to a more gradual and reciprocal relationship with the land. In this context, showcasing that rewilding is not just about healing ecosystems but also about rethinking how we relate to nature. This is a speculative project developed from environmental data, interviews with experts, and observations of global case studies. Accordingly, it proposes a long-term seasonal remediation strategy that relies on care, slowness, and community engagement. The goal is not just to treat the pollution in the lake but to create a living and evolving landscape capable of nurturing biodiversity, re-silience, and emotional reconnection.