reclaiming
v.v. to take back something that was lost, stolen, or taken away. It can also mean making land useful again, like turning an old factory site into a park.
v. to recover possession of something previously lost or surrendered; to bring uncultivated or waste land into a state of productivity. Often implies a restoration of rights or utility.
The city is reclaiming the old industrial area to build a park.
After years of neglect, the local community is reclaiming the abandoned garden to grow fresh vegetables for the neighborhood.
The indigenous group spent decades in court reclaiming their ancestral lands, eventually securing a landmark ruling that recognized their historical and legal rights to the territory.
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.