Frans Schepers, CEO of Rewilding Europe, looks ahead to 2026 and explains why uniting behind a shared rewilding vision for our continent is more important than ever.

Immediate action at scale is needed to restore nature across Europe. Spearheaded by the Nature Restoration Law, the enabling environment for rewilding has never been stronger — although meaningful implementation by EU Member States is now critical.

The Rewilding Apennines team and local partners are working to ensure that Marsican brown bears and communities can thrive together in Italy’s Central Apennine mountains. This year, an educational programme and a popular festival brought together residents of all ages to strengthen the vital connection between people and the wildlife on their doorstep.

This summer, devastating wildfires swept across Europe, with Spain and Portugal hit hardest. As extreme weather becomes more common, the restoration of natural grazing can help prevent the build-up of flammable vegetation and reduce the severity, scale, and impact of fires.

Nestled in Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains, Zhenda is poised to become a beacon of nature recovery. As they take bold steps to unlock the site’s rewilding potential, the Rewilding Rhodopes team are working towards a wilder future where nature and people thrive together.

Remember when summer nights brought swarms of moths to a single light bulb? When gardens shimmered with butterflies and mornings rang with birdsong? Today, what we see in nature is only a faint shadow of what once was. Rewilding offers a way back.

Rewilding efforts are supporting the return of wildlife in the stunning Velebit Mountains of Croatia. A range of exciting tourism experiences are offering growing numbers of visitors the chance to witness this comeback first-hand — and give back to nature and local communities.

In a changing world, leading ecologist and Rewilding Europe Supervisory Board member Jens-Christian Svenning believes rewilding has a critical role to play in scaling up the recovery of wild nature – and the essential benefits it provides.

Rewilding supports the comeback of all wildlife – including birds. Today, the efforts of Rewilding Europe and our partners are helping European bird species take to the air on a growing scale, delivering wide-ranging benefits for nature and people.

Rewilding efforts mean nature-based tourism in Italy’s Central Apennine mountains is flourishing. This is good news for wildlife, businesses, and communities.