Rewilding the Galápagos can be a model for a new way to coexist with nature | Danny Rueda Córdova and Leonardo DiCaprio

We must work with local communities to restore key species on a global scale if we are to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises gripping the world

• Read more in our Wild world series

There are few places in the world as majestic and full of wonder as Ecuador's Galapagos Islands. From the rosy-hued pink iguanas on the northern rim of Wolf Volcano to the iconic Pinzon giant tortoise on Pinzon Island to the black-tipped reef sharks feeding off Floreana Island, we have both found boundless inspiration in exploring the islands that led Charles Darwin to develop his groundbreaking theory of evolution nearly two centuries ago.

We have both also witnessed a more recent rapidly evolving process in the Galapagos based on a shared vision of restoring the profusion of life that the archipelago is renowned for. This process is rewilding, a positive reframing for nature conservation. There is an idea that rewilding involves restoring nature at the expense of people, but we believe it is all about effectively integrating ourselves within the ecosystems that sustain us - to work with, rather than against, nature to create thriving and resilient ecosystems for the benefit of all.