Rewilding Europe

🦅 Bonelli’s eagles are soaring over Sardinia once again! With support from the European Wildlife Comeback Fund, four of these iconic birds have just been released in Tepilora Natural Park, marking another step towards re-establishing a breeding population on the island. Once locally extinct, the species is making a comeback thanks to dedicated reintroduction efforts led by GREFA. Grupo de Rehabilitación de la Fauna Autóctona y su Hábitat, with releases overseen by ISPRA (the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) under the EU-funded LIFE Abilas initiative. 🙌 Through the #EuropeanWildlifeComebackFund we supported this effort by covering key costs such as captive breeding, transport, and post-release monitoring. By providing flexible funding, the fund is helping scale up wildlife recovery across Europe. The grant also supported the release of four birds in 2024. "Rewilding focuses on restoring natural processes, not just on the land, but also in the skies," explains @Sophie Monsarrat, Rewilding Manager at Rewilding Europe. "As one of the island's few large raptors, the Bonelli's eagles on Sardinia will play a vital role in the island's food web and circle of life." 👉 Learn more about this #WildlifeComeback 🔗 https://loom.ly/Wu7qFcM 📷 GREFA (1,2,3) | Staffan Widstrand (4)

🦅 𝘙𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘱? At Citizen Zoo's Rewilding Futures conference in Cambridge, global #rewilding professionals came together to discuss strategies for taking nature recovery to the next level. As part of two inspiring and empowering days, we were excited to see our own rewilding experts take the stage and share their insights and knowledge. 🌍 Our Executive Director Frans Schepers delivered a keynote presentation with David Thomas, Programme Director of the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme, on eight key success factors for large-scale nature recovery, drawing from over 13 years of experience across 22 landscapes in Europe. 📜 Amy Duthie and Giulia Testa led an insightful session on how international and regional policies—such as the #NatureRestorationLaw—can support rewilding, while showcasing Rewilding Europe’s work in guiding policymakers. 🌿 Carolina Ángela Soto-Navarro and Sophie Monsarrat presented rewilding models from Rewilding Europe’s landscapes, demonstrating how these can be used to restore wilder nature and deliver long-term benefits for nature and people. As Frans Schepers put it: “𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦.” 📖 Read our reflections from the conference: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eQC7twgK #NatureRecovery #LandscapeRestoration #ScalingUpRewilding #RewildingTogether #RewildingConference #RewildingFutures

🎥 A short video by BBC World Service's podcast series 'People fixing the world' on the essential role of large herbivores in nature restoration and huge wildfires prevention. 🐂 🐎 Our rewilding experience with tauros and horses in the Iberian Highlands can be a valuable approach to this issue so closely related to climate change. Don´t miss it! 👉 https://lnkd.in/diZX5Brg #pastoreonatural #renaturalización #RewildingSpain #tauro #caballos #caballodePrzewalski #grandesherbívoros #prevencióndeincendios #restauracióndeecosistemas #SistemaIbéricoSur #VisibilidadPositiva #BBCWorldService #IberianHighlands #fireprevention #largeherbivores #naturalgrazing #AltoTajo #climatechange #ecosystemsrestoration #naturerestoration #Przewalskishorse Pablo Schapira Perez Craig Langran Mara Zamora Crespo Rewilding Europe

🌿 Seven more Sorraia horses have arrived at the Ermo das Águias #rewilding site in the Greater Côa Valley! 🐎 These mares, coming from Germany, join the herd already roaming in the area to strengthen its genetic diversity and boost reproduction. Through #NaturalGrazing, these semi-wild horses play a key role in restoring the landscape. Their presence helps reduce wildfire risk and creates better conditions for other species to flourish—small steps with a big ecological impact. 🌼🦋 Currently acclimatising in a dedicated area, they’ll soon roam freely, contributing to the rewilding of one of Portugal’s wildest regions. Watch their arrival in action! 🎥: João Cosme | Rewilding Portugal #KeystoneSpecies #GreaterCôaValley #SorraiaHorses #WildPortugal #WildestSideOfPortugal

🌍 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲? 🌿 On 𝟮𝟵 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆, Rewilding Europe and the EUROPARC Federation are hosting a joint webinar to showcase how #rewilding can enhance the health, connectivity, functionality, and resilience of Europe’s protected areas—delivering benefits for both people and nature. Drawing on the example of Kemeri National Park, the Manager and Chairman of this beautiful National Park in Latvia will tell about their efforts and highlight how rewilding measures—like #WetlandRestoration and #NaturalGrazing—are creating vibrant, self-regulating ecosystems and offering inspiration for protected areas across Europe. This webinar is part of the collaboration between Rewilding Europe and the EUROPARC Federation, aimed at supporting Protected Areas in creating landscapes where nature and people thrive. 🗓️ 𝟮𝟵 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 ⏰ 𝟭𝟭:𝟬𝟬–𝟭𝟮:𝟭𝟱 𝗖𝗘𝗧 🎟️ 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲! 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 👉 https://lnkd.in/eBQMUNtN 🌿 #RewildingEurope #EUROPARC #NatureRestoration #ProtectedAreas

📸🌿 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦! The 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱—part of the prestigious GDT Gesellschaft für Naturfotografie e.V. European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition—is back! Submissions are now open, offering you the chance to capture 𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: stories that evoke passion, curiosity, and wonder. 🌍✨ We’re looking for powerful photographs that 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, with themes like: 🌊 Restored natural processes: Rivers carving paths, forests regenerating, or the circle of life in action. 🦫 Wildlife shaping landscapes: Keystone species like beavers, bison, or wolves driving ecosystem recovery. 🦌 The return of iconic species: Europe’s native species reclaiming their habitats. 🤝 Harmony between people and nature: Coexistence, wildlife corridors, and shared spaces benefiting both. 💪 Active rewilding efforts: Moments where people help nature recover, leaving space for natural processes to thrive. Your photos should reflect nature taking the lead, wildlife as architects of change, and people and wild nature thriving together. 📅 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲: 𝟭 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 👉 Explore tips, themes, and how to enter: https://loom.ly/hLvjxlI Let your lens capture the magic of Europe’s rewilding journey! 🌟 #RewildingEuropeAward #EWPY #WildlifePhotography #Rewilding #NatureRecovery #EuropeanWildlife 📷 Examples by: Markus Varesvuo, Wild Wonders of Europe | Staffan Widstrand | Arthur de Bruin | Neil Aldridge

🐎 🌿 For the first time in millennia, wild Przewalski’s horses are roaming freely near the source of Spain's Tagus River, thanks to a groundbreaking rewilding initiative. 🐴 “This is the wildest species of horse that still exists,” says Pablo Schapira, Fundación Española de Renaturalización - Rewilding Spain’s head of socioeconomic development. Once widespread across Eurasia, these horses nearly vanished due to hunting and domestication. At one point, only 12 animals remained in captivity. Today, thanks to recovery programs in #Mongolia, #Kazakhstan, #Hungary, #France and now #Spain, their population has grown to around 3,000 over the past two decades. But rewilding is more than conservation. These horses play a critical ecological role as “architects of the forest,” grazing and opening up woodland spaces. They also create opportunities for local communities, generating tourism income and directly employing locals in Guadalajara’s Iberian Highlands. Read the full article by Jake Threadgould for REVOLVE. https://lnkd.in/dwCCnq6g Pablo Schapira Perez

🌍 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗮 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆! Rewilding has the power to bring back wildlife, restore ecosystems, and create a brighter future for people and nature. And there are plenty of reasons to feel optimistic as we look ahead to the next 12 months: ✨ 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 Europe is already home to amazing wild places and iconic species. Many animals are making a natural comeback when given the space to thrive. In 2025, we’re further supporting this through translocations of #KeystoneSpecies like European bison, cinereous vultures, and Przewalski’s horses, as well as restoring rivers, forests, and other landscapes to let #NaturalProcesses flourish. 📏 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 We have set ambitious targets to significantly increase the area being rewilded, scaling up the hectares where natural processes are given the space to shape land and sea. 💼 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 We’re committed to growing nature-based economies and amplifying engagement with rewilding, ensuring that the return of wilder nature delivers sustainable benefits for people and communities. 📜 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 The Nature Restoration Law’s binding targets for EU Member States are now in force – and #rewilding can play a key role in achieving them. 🌍 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 There’s huge potential to rewild Europe’s extensive network of protected areas, making them better connected and more resilient – something we’re working towards with partners like the EUROPARC Federation. 💡 Jump with us into 2025 and discover how bigger and bolder actions can amplify rewilding’s positive impact! 👉 https://loom.ly/hQnRExM #RewildingEurope #NatureRecovery #WildlifeComeback #Biodiversity #ClimateAction #RewildingTogether

🌍 Wolves play a vital role in maintaining balanced and thriving ecosystems, yet their protection remains a hotly debated topic across Europe. This thoughtful post by Rewilding Apennines outlines 10 (+1!) science-based reasons why #coexistence is the way forward—drawing on expert research and data. 🐺📊 Wolves, as a keystone carnivore, help regulate prey populations and promote biodiversity, benefiting entire landscapes. Let’s ensure that decisions about their future are informed by facts, not fear. 📖 Explore the list by Rewilding Apennines and visit our website to learn more about how coexistence can be made possible through real-life examples from across Europe 👉 https://lnkd.in/e8xHWYn #Rewilding #ThrivingTogether #ScienceBasedPolicy

𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮 🌊🌳✨ In the Oder Delta, where nature transcends the German-Polish border, rewilding efforts are breathing new life into rivers and wetlands. From restoring riverbeds with gravel 'prisms' to reviving riparian vegetation, the Rewilding Oder Delta team is helping to reconnect waterways, support wildlife 🦅🐟, and enhance resilience to climate change. Curious about how these actions are transforming this giant #wetland ecosystem and what’s next for the team? 💡 👉 Explore the full story in our latest blog: https://loom.ly/A-4nIzA 📷 Neil Aldridge / Brais Palmas / Staffan Widstrand #RewildingEurope #OderDelta #NatureRecovery #Rewilding #Biodiversity #Wetlands 🌍