Rewilding Europe is a non-profit group located in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Its goal is to restore natural areas across Europe. The organization has helped increase the number of animals that were once in danger of disappearing, such as the European bison and the Iberian lynx.
History
Rewilding Europe was officially started on June 28, 2011, as a non-profit group that does not take sides and has a special ANBI status. It was registered in the Netherlands. The four people who started Rewilding Europe are Frans Schepers, Staffan Widstrand, Neil Birnie, and Wouter Helmer.
The organization has gotten money from the European Investment Bank and the Endangered Landscapes Programme.
Locations
Rewilding Europe is working in ten rewilding areas across 12 European countries.
The Greater Côa Valley rewilding area is in Portugal, near the border with Spain. Here, Rewilding Europe is increasing the number of semi-wild livestock, such as feral horses and cows. Due to people leaving the area and farmland being abandoned, there has been less grazing. This has led to more plant growth in the landscape. The organization uses grazing to reduce the risk of fires. More "wild" livestock may create more varied landscapes, which could help species like roe deer and the Iberian ibex, which are no longer found in the region. In addition to promoting grazing, the organization also supports ecotourism, works to convince the Portuguese government to protect more land for a wildlife corridor, and is involved in a project to increase the number of wolves in the area.
The Danube Delta, covering 580,000 hectares, is home to many water birds, including pelicans, herons, storks, cormorants, and terns. It is an important place for birds that migrate from distant regions, such as the steppes, boreal forests, and tundras. The area has some of Europe’s few remaining grazed forest landscapes, maintained by wild horses and cattle. Rewilding Danube Delta works with partners to improve the health of 40,000 hectares of wetland and land habitats using rewilding principles. Natural processes like flooding and grazing will shape the landscape, support wildlife recovery, increase biodiversity, and help develop a nature-based economy. The Danube Delta rewilding area is part of the Tauros breeding program, managed by the Taurus Foundation and Rewilding Europe. The program aims to breed cattle that resemble the extinct aurochs. In 2016 and 2017, 18 Tauros cattle were introduced near Sfântu Gheorghe, Tulcea. Rewilding Europe also supports local communities by helping create nature-based businesses. In 2019, a water buffalo herd was released to represent an extinct species, and in 2020, a herd of Turkmenian kulan (a species once found in European Russia) was released.
The Southern Carpathians have large protected areas, rich wildlife, intact forests, and diverse landscapes shaped by traditional farming and grazing. Rewilding Europe is focused on restoring the European bison. Since 2013, Rewilding Europe and WWF Romania have worked together to reintroduce bison to the region. The goal is to create a healthy and genetically diverse population of free-roaming bison in the Țarcu Mountains and nearby Poiana Ruscă Mountains. Bison were released in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Rewilding Europe and WWF Romania are helping to create one of the largest connected wild areas in Europe.
The Velebit rewilding area in Croatia is one of the wildest places in the Mediterranean. It includes two national parks, a biosphere reserve, old-growth forests, and wildlife such as Balkan chamois, red deer, brown bears, wolves, and lynx. Many people have moved away from the area, leading to land abandonment and the loss of cultural traditions. Rewilding Europe is working to turn these challenges into opportunities by creating the 17,000-hectare Velebit Nature Reserve between two national parks. This project supports wildlife management and helps develop a local nature-based economy by creating a wildlife corridor in the Velebit Mountains. Wildlife-watching hides have been built, and more are planned to provide jobs for local people. Rewilding Velebit is also working with the University of Zagreb to protect the Ramino Korito old-growth beech forest, which has rare biological value. On the Lika Plains, Rewilding Europe is reintroducing wild and semi-wild grazers. Since 2015, the project has expanded to cover 1,000 hectares.
In December 2014, a Croatian hiker named Zdenko Đanić was killed by a Sayaguesa bull that had been imported for the project. A shepherd was present, but rescuers arrived too late because the location was remote.
The Central Apennines have a wide variety of ecosystems and wildlife. Rewilding Europe and its partners are creating large "coexistence corridors" to connect local communities with nature across more than 40,000 hectares. In protected areas like the Abruzzo and Majella National Parks and the Sirente-Velino Regional Park, the corridors aim to improve wildlife habitats and nature experiences. A 10-year project seeks to reduce bear deaths and conflicts by installing traffic safety measures, removing old fences, improving signs, and using mobile electric fences. Rewilding Europe also supports nature-based businesses and raises awareness about wildlife conservation among local people and visitors.
The Rhodope Mountains are the only place in
Rewilding Europe tools
Rewilding Europe uses several tools to support its work.
The European Rewilding Network (ERN) is an online group that connects areas in Europe where rewilding projects are happening. These areas include Rewilding Europe’s main locations and other sites with projects led by different groups. The main goal of ERN is to help people share knowledge and experiences between these projects. ERN uses tools like online seminars (webinars) held four times a year on topics related to rewilding. It also has an online forum that is free for all members to use. Members can ask questions, share information, and watch past webinars on rewilding topics. ERN Bridge is another tool that helps match rewilding projects with students and volunteers who want to work in nature conservation and rewilding.
ERN members can access Rewilding Europe Capital (REC), which is Europe’s first funding program for businesses that support rewilding. REC provides loans to businesses that help protect the environment and improve communities. Members can also access the European Wildlife Bank (EWB), a tool that helps reintroduce native animals like Tauros cattle, horses, and bison to rewilding areas. EWB keeps a database with information about these animals, including births, deaths, and availability for new rewilding projects.
Rewilding Europe Capital (REC) is a program that gives loans to businesses that help rewilding by protecting nature and improving local economies. In 2016, the European Investment Bank gave REC a 6 million euro loan as part of the “Bank on Nature Initiative” started by the European Commission. The loan agreement was signed at the Berlaymont Building in Brussels, the European Commission’s headquarters. REC is part of Rewilding Europe’s work to show how businesses can support wild nature in Europe. By 2018, REC had given loans totaling 520,000 euros to 18 businesses.
The European Wildlife Bank (EWB) is a tool used to help restore natural numbers of native herbivores in rewilding areas. These animals, such as Tauros cattle, horses, and bison, help ecosystems function naturally. EWB keeps a database with information about all the animals in the bank, including births, deaths, and availability for new projects. By 2018, Rewilding Europe had signed 16 contracts with partner organizations in nine countries.
A policy brief titled “Making Space for Rewilding: Creating an Enabling Policy Environment” was written in 2016 by Paul Jepson and Frans Schepers. The brief explains that rewilding is becoming a widely accepted conservation method in Europe. It highlights that rewilding has gained attention from scientists, conservationists, and the media. The brief includes interviews with ten experts to explore ways to support rewilding through EU policies.
Rewilding Europe uses this brief to help create policies that support rewilding in nature conservation and land-use planning. Four main goals for EU policy include: 1) recognizing rewilding as a new conservation approach that combines science, culture, and society; 2) using rewilding as a way to improve EU nature policies and help meet goals for protecting wildlife; 3) supporting rewilding projects and working with the rewilding movement to prepare for the 2030 biodiversity strategy.
In March 2017, five organizations, including Rewilding Europe, BirdLife Europe, WWF, and others, started a three-year project funded by WWF Netherlands. The goal was to strengthen the EU’s plan to restore ecosystems and create a connected network of natural areas in Europe using rewilding principles.
In 2020, a group of organizations, including WWF, The Rivers Trust, and Rewilding Europe, formed a coalition to restore Europe’s rivers and streams to their natural state.
Since starting, Rewilding Europe has published yearly reports that share updates about its work, progress in rewilding areas, goals for the next ten years, and information about nature-based economies and tourism.
Rewilding Europe works with many European universities because rewilding is a long-term conservation approach that needs support from future generations. Some of the universities it partners with include Oxford, Cambridge, Leipzig, Madrid, Amsterdam, Zagreb, and Warsaw.