I have recently read about the process of rewilding, which is "the scientific argument for restoring big wilderness based on the regulatory roles of large predators." This process is grounded on the concept of trophic cascades.
The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone has been proposed as such an example, but there are counter views.
If you just walk away from area, leave it alone maybe it is not a disturbance. Maybe big predators will show up someday. But if your intent is to accelerate natural recovery rates or to introduce back certain native animals, vegetation or hydrologic condition, there is apt to be some to a substantial degree of disturbance. Some people like cities and activities, others like the solitude of wilderness. Some want to just know there is a place where rare and endangered species still can live and thrive, while others may not care. Many ecosystems are healthy by their variability and remoteness. Large predators in most instances are going to need sufficient habitat and food, so wilderness may be necessary management option for their presence and health of both ecosystem and organisms. But the habitat has to be right before introducing predators, enough water, food, cover, etc. There has be a period of adjustment to some balance so it becomes self sustaining.
You can't actually "re-wild" an area, because the ecosystem isn't a pure cascade.. Ir is more like a network of levels involving many species, Anything with more than a few species and you get the "butterfly Effect".
Top predators are most sensitive to habitat disturbance, such as fragmentation. This happens because energy is lost with each successive increase in trophic level (the second law of thermodynamics). In cases of rewilding, the issue becomes whether or not a degraded ecosystem can sustain (i.e. has enough energy to support) new or re-introduced top predators. Re-introduction of the Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) to grasslands in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico has had some success, but depends entirely on the maintenance of breeding programs, control of canine distemper, and healthy populations of prairie dogs, the primary food source. About 1200 ferrets are thought to be alive in the wild, as of 2013. Not bad considering the species was thought to be extinct at one time. The following link may be of interest:
http://129.175.106.17/epc/conservation/PDFs/sarrazin.pdf
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