Study: Black Death 'rewilding' reduced plant biodiversity for centuries
Mar 6th 2026
An analysis of fossil pollen shows plant diversity fell for centuries after the 14th century plague, suggesting that human land use and biodiversity often depend on each other rather than being in simple conflict.
- Fossil pollen records across Europe show plant biodiversity declined significantly in the 150 years after the Black Death.
- Abandoned farms and villages allowed forests to expand but did not increase plant diversity.
- Plant biodiversity only returned to pre-plague levels about 300 years after human populations and agriculture recovered.
- Researchers say many valued plant species depend on long-term human disturbance such as farming and grazing.
- The study, published in Ecology Letters by the Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, challenges the idea that untouched landscapes are always richer in species.
- Authors warn that simply removing people is not a guaranteed path to biodiversity recovery and recommend mosaic land management approaches.