Rewilding Europe

Located in Portugal in the Côa Valley on the border with Spain. Rewilding Europe is trying to increase the number of semi-wild livestock such as feral horses and cows. Due to depopulation and land abandonment, there is a significant decrease in grazing, which has caused natural succession and more plant cover in the landscapes. The organisation promotes grazing as a tool to lower the risk of fire. The organisation claims more "wild" livestock will lead to more diverse "mosaic landscapes", which may improve conditions for populations of roe deer and species extinct from the region such as Iberian ibex. Besides the promotion of conservation grazing, the organisation is also occupied with promoting ecotourism, advocacy in order to convince the Portuguese government to set aside more land in order to create a biological corridor, and a project to increase number of the wolves in the area.[1]

The 580,000 hectare large delta is home to massive amounts of water birds of all kinds, most notably pelicans of two species, herons, storks, cormorants and terns. It is a favourite staging area for passage migrants and also wintering grounds for masses of migrating water birds from the steppes, the boreal forests and the tundras further north. The region has some of Europe's very few remaining grazed mosaique forest landscapes, kept in their natural state by the wild horses and wild cattle still present. Working with partners, the Rewilding Danube Delta team is working to significantly improve the ecological integrity and natural functioning of 40,000 hectares of wetland and terrestrial delta habitat, using rewilding principles on a landscape scale. Revitalised and self-governing natural processes, particularly flooding and natural grazing, will govern landscape formation, driving other natural processes, wildlife comeback, increased biodiversity and the development of a nature-based economy. The Danube Delta rewilding area is part of the Tauros breeding programme, managed by the Taurus Foundation and Rewilding Europe. The aim of the programme is to bring back a functional, wild version of the aurochs – called the Tauros – by establishing viable wild populations of this animal in several European locations. Due to translocations in 2016 and 2017, the number of Tauros grazing near Sfantu Gheorghe is now 18 animals. Rewilding Europe works to create new opportunities for delta communities by supporting the development of nature-based business.[2]

Part of the region which counts more than 1 million hectares of protected areas already in place, rich wildlife, large intact forests, a high concentration of biodiversity, relatively intact wild landscapes, wild rivers, and large areas of mosaic vegetation largely shaped by traditional farming and grazing practices is a good start for nature conservation work.

The work of Rewilding Europe and its partners is focused on bringing back the European bison. Since 2013, Rewilding Europe and WWF Romania have been working together in the Southern Carpathians rewilding area to reintroduce this iconic species. The major objective of this ongoing project is to create a demographically and genetically viable population in the Southern Carpathians, comprising free-roaming sub-populations in the Tarçu Mountains and nearby Poiana Ruscă Mountains.

So far bison releases took place in 2014 and 2015. In June 2016, a third bison release took place as part of the European Commission-funded LIFE Bison project, with a fourth release of nine animals taking place in April 2017. Rewilding Europe and WWF Romania work together to create one of the largest contiguous wild areas in Europe.[3]

Situated on a mountain chain right on the Adriatic coast in Croatia, Velebit rewilding area is one of the wildest areas of the whole Mediterranean. The area hosts two national parks, a biosphere reserve, several hiking trails, old-growth forests, deep canyons, ancient open lands and wildlife like Balkan chamois, red deer, brown bear, wolf and lynx.

Many local inhabitants have moved out of the area towards the coast. As a result, many areas of this region are now characterised by land abandonment, rural exodus and fading cultural tradition. Rewilding Europe is working with its partners to transform challenges into opportunities. This has seen the establishment of the 17,000-hectare Velebit Nature Reserve, situated between two large national parks. Here rewilding is offering a fresh approach to wildlife management and underpinning the development of a local nature-based economy, creating a wildlife and ecological corridor in the Velebit mountains.

Wildlife watching hides are constructed and new ones will be built in future to create job opportunities benefiting the local community. In collaboration with the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Forestry, the Rewilding Velebit team are working to have the Ramino Korito old-growth beech forest, located in the southern part of Velebit Mountains, designated a special woodland reserve, highlighting the rarity and biological value. On the Lika Plains, a grassland located in the foothills of Velebit Mountains, Rewilding Europe is working to reintroduce wild and semi-wild grazers. Since it began in 2015 the project has doubled in size and now extends across 1000 hectares.[4]

On December 10, 2014 hiker Zdenko Đanić was killed by Sayaguesa bull.

Characterized by a rich diversity of ecosystems and, therefore also wildlife species. The work of Rewilding Europe and its partners in Central Apennines focuses on developing large „coexistence corridors“ by connecting the local economy with wilder nature in four corridors collectively covering more than 40,000 hectares.

In the protected areas, the Abruzzo and Majella National Parks and Sirente Velino Regional Park, the corridors are aimed to benefit the wildlife populations, and the quality of nature and nature related experiences. The 10-year project's goal is to reduce bear mortality and conflict by installing traffic accident prevention measures, removing old fencing, restoring and improving signage, and distributing new mobile electric fences. Furthermore, RE and its partners work on supporting nature-based enterprises in and around corridor areas, and raising awareness about wildllife and nature conservation amongst local communities and people visiting the area is.[5]

The Rhodope Mountains is the only breeding area for griffon vultures in Bulgaria and also the most important breeding site for the globally threatened Egyptian vulture on the Balkan peninsula. The work of Rewilding Europe focuses on restoring food chains in Rhodope Mountains. Restoring natural food chains is a flagship project of Rewilding Europe, supported by the European Commission through the LIFE project “Conservation of black and griffon vultures in the cross-border Rhodope mountains”. Rewilding Europe's main focus is to help vultures and other scavenging species by boosting the availability of wild herbivore carcasses, thereby closing the circle of life.

Together with local partners Rewilding Europe is increasing the number of local ungulates through several annual red deer and fallow deer releases, with reintroduced animal behaviour monitored through the use of GPS collars. Rewilding Europe is boosting biodiveristy through mosaic landscape creation. Together with partners, Rewilding Europe is creating space for natural processes like forest regeneration, free flowing rivers, herbivory and carnivory to impact ecosystems. Rewilding Europe and Rewilding Rhodope extends its efforts to restore steppe habitat, and increase the population of the endangered European ground squirrel.[6]

The region is a unique combination of rich mosaic of large wild continental, marine and freshwater ecosystems. The region stretches over more than 250 000 hectares, of which nearly 70 000 hectares are the open waters of the lagoon. Rewilding Europe and local partners have started work on several pilot business projects here, based on the exploration of nature-based economic opportunities. A developing network of local wilderness guides, wildlife watching tours and hides, lodging and other nature-based enterprises is creating jobs and burgeoning support for rewilding.

The eventual aim is to develop an alternative, sustainable and competitive model of land and sea use for local landowners, entrepreneurs and residents. The Oder Delta team is working with partners to boost biodiversity in the delta by improving habitats. The Rewilding Oder Delta team is currently working to restore fish populations and fish migration in the Stettin Lagoon and associated rivers. Activities such as include the rewilding of river banks, the restoration of natural hydrodynamics, the removal of obstacles to support fish migration, and the re-wetting of areas adjacent to waterways are being performed.[7]

Currently working in collaboration with fishing associations on both the Råne and Piteå, Rewilding Lapland is now working hard to boost fish migration, through activities such as spawning ground restoration and the removal of artificial obstacles. Sonar-based fish counters are used on both rivers to measure results. Together with river restoration, Rewilding Lapland is exploring new nature-based business opportunities, providing support to enterprises involved in fishing and otter watching on the lower Råne.

Rewilding Lapland and local partners to support guided reindeer migration, raising awareness of these threats and supporting Sami communities in their fight for traditional grazing rights. Rewilding Lapland collaborates with Sami communities to develop wildlife watching businesses and guided reindeer tourism, the Rewilding Lapland team and partners are working to grow a local nature-based economy and reduce human-wildlife conflict.[8]

European Rewilding Network (ERN) is an online network set up to connect areas in the continent where rewilding efforts are taking place, including both the core Rewilding Europe locations as well as many other sites with externally run projects. Promoting the sharing of knowledge and experience between the many projects and locations is a main goal of the network. The tools ERN uses are Online Seminars (webinars) held quarterly on various rewilding topics. ERN forum, open and free to all members, this online platform is used to post questions and information, interact at any time, and view previous webinars on a wide range of rewilding-related topics. ERN Bridge, is a virtual bridge set up in hopes to close the gap between the needs of the vast numbers of rewilding initiatives with students and volunteers searching to gain experience by working in nature conservation and rewilding. Direct access to Rewilding Europe Capital (REC), Europe's first ‘rewilding enterprise’ funding facility that provides financial loans to new and existing business that catalyse, support and achieve positive environmental and socio-economic outcomes that support rewilding in Europe. ERN members are eligible for a direct access to European Wildlife Bank, a tool designed to facilitate the reintroduction and restocking of herbivores to rewilding areas across the European continent.[9]

Rewilding Europe Capital (REC) is the first ‘rewilding enterprise’ funding facility that provides financial loans to new and existing business that catalyse, support and achieve positive environmental and socio-economic outcomes that support rewilding in Europe.[10]

European Investment Bank provided Rewilding Europe Capital with a 6 million euro loan finance contract. It is the first project of the “Bank on Nature Initiative”, set up by the European Commission. The signing ceremony took place in the Berlaymont Building, headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels.[11] REC forms part of the enterprise component of Rewilding Europe, which is working to build a business case for wild nature in Europe. REC was established to positively stimulate enterprise economies connected to natural landscapes and their wildlife. REC achieves this by providing commercial business loans to businesses that can: positively address negative socio-economic impacts caused by rural land abandonment; directly and indirectly support rewilding processes and activities in Europe and to those which deliver economic returns from nature and wildlife related sectors that also work to conserve natural landscapes, capital and rural cultures and heritage connected to them.[10] By 2018 Rewilding Europe in total loaned out to 18 enterprises the sum of 520,000 euros.[12]

Launched at the end of 2016, European Safari Company (ESC), is a dynamic online booking platform dedicated to offering authentic and personalized nature and wildlife-based travel experiences. Heavily committed to providing clients with access to wilder nature, local cultures, spectacular landscapes and unique wildlife experiences, the European Safari Company differentiates itself through its strong connection and support for rewilding and nature-based economies. European Safari Company supports and connects locally based partners with unique experiences the travellers.

European Wildlife Bank (EWB) a tool Rewilding Europe uses to help bring back more natural numbers of the original native herbivores in our rewilding areas. These big grazers and browsers play key roles for the natural functioning of Europe's ecosystems. Tauros, wild horses and European bison are an example of the species involved in the European Wildlife Bank. European Wildlife Bank developed a database for all the animals in the bank. This includes information on births and deaths in all relevant areas across Europe, the start and end dates of contracts, the yearly availability of animals, and the demand for animals from new rewilding areas. By 2018 Rewilding Europe signed 16 contracts with partner organisations in nine countries.[13]

Titled "Making Space for Rewilding: Creating an enabling policy environment" is a policy brief written by Dr. Paul Jepson, Course Director at the School of Geography and Environment at the University of Oxford and Frans Schepers, Managing Director of Rewilding Europe. The brief was written with the aim to make rewilding widely acceptable and recognizable as an innovative conservation method. The brief communicates that rewilding as such represents a growing movement in Europe and has attained scientific, practical and media presence. The interviews have been conducted with ten experts from the field of EU nature and legislation and in rewilding to explore the opportunities to create a policy environment which would support fuller expression of rewilding visions and principles.

With the help of this brief, Rewilding Europe works on getting support on enabling environment for rewilding in its nature conservation and land-use policies. Four main targets to be implemented in the EU policy are: 1) recognizing rewilding as a new conservation approach emerging from the inter-disciplinary conservation science interacting with currents in culture and society, 2) positions rewilding as a complimentary approach with the potential to extend the scope and impact of the EU nature policy in a cost-effective manner, supporting better implementation of the Nature Directives and 3) undertakings to support and invest in rewilding initiatives and studies and engage in dialogue with the rewilding movement in preparation for the 2030 biodiversity strategy.[14]

In March 2017, a coalition of five organisations kicked off a new initiative to promote and strengthen the EU ecological restoration agenda. By signing a Memorandum of Understanding, Rewilding Europe, BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, WWF European Policy Office, the European Environmental Bureau and the German Institute for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), launched this 3-year initiative, funded by WWF Netherlands. The overall aim of the project is to strengthen the EU restoration agenda and ensure that specific actions are taken to create a coherent ecological network in Europe, by promoting and using rewilding principles.[15]

Rewilding Europe engages with many European universities, as rewilding is a future-oriented, long-term conservation approach, and which requires raising awareness of the younger generations. Some of the universities with which Rewilding Europe has good connections are Oxford, Cambridge, Leipzig, Madrid, Amsterdam, Zagreb and Warsaw.