Populations of vultures and other raptors in the Balkans still face a range of threats, with illegal poisoning top of the list. The reintroduction of cinereous vultures in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria throws a spotlight on these threats, but also offers hope for the future.

The aim of the recently established European Wildlife Comeback Fund is to scale up keystone species reintroduction and population reinforcement across Europe. Over the next few months the fund will support a wide range of releases, with benefits for nature and people.

The recently launched Change Makers programme is giving Scottish youth the opportunity to shape a more optimistic, nature-connected future.

A new UN report, set to be published today at COP 15, recognises the Danube Delta rewilding landscape as a European nature restoration showcase. The report aims to accelerate nature restoration by providing examples of inspirational nature restoration initiatives and the wide-ranging benefits they are delivering.

The reintroduction of these endearing and ecologically important rodents, which were once widespread across Ukraine and Europe, will help to create a healthier and wilder steppe landscape.

In Portugal’s Greater Côa Valley, Paul de Toirões is the fourth rewilding site in an expanding network. With the local rewilding team overseeing key restoration measures, it will become an increasingly important ecological stepping stone.

Based in the Southern Carpathians rewilding landscape, the WeWilder Campus will connect visitors and companies with Romanian nature and culture, benefitting the local community and inspiring new ways of doing business.

Young people are the future of rewilding. By inspiring and enabling them, the European Young Rewilders – which builds on the work of its predecessor, the Young Rewilders Community – will accelerate the scaling up of nature recovery.

Following efforts to ensure they stay, survive and thrive in the local landscape, a group of 14 cinereous vultures have just been released into Bulgaria’s Eastern Rhodope Mountains. This will help to strengthen the circle of life and represents another step towards realising the local rewilding vision.

The NaturaConnect initiative, which includes Rewilding Europe in a 22-member partnership, will help to create the Trans-European Nature Network. This well-connected system of natural areas will enhance biodiversity, climate change resilience, and the benefits nature delivers to Europeans.