A pioneering loan from Rewilding Europe Capital has enabled one of a series of dams on the Stångån River in central Sweden to be removed. The removal represents an important step towards realising the free flow of water in the river, benefitting a range of fish and other wildlife species.
Climate change is increasing the risk of catastrophic wildfire outbreaks in Mediterranean regions. A new study, based on the Greater Côa Valley in Portugal, shows that adopting a holistic approach to landscape management could be the most effective way of preventing such outbreaks, with rewilding playing a key role.
In September, the Rewilding Sweden team organised a helicopter drop of 150 tonnes of sand and gravel into the Abramsån River. We caught up with a Norwegian PhD student involved with monitoring the impact of this pioneering intervention to find out why.
Supported by funding from the Open Rivers Programme, the Rewilding Apennines team have overseen the removal of five barriers on the Giovenco River. This is a critical step forward in restoring the natural dynamics of the river system, breathing new life into the landscape and delivering benefits to local communities.
Four cinereous vultures have just been released in the Iberian Highlands in Spain, as part of an ongoing reintroduction programme. The restoration of this iconic and ecologically important bird as a breeding species will enhance the health of the rewilding landscape and support nature-based economic development.
A grant from the Open Rivers Programme has enabled the removal of a number of small dams in the catchment of the Vindel River, in the Nordic Taiga rewilding landscape. By enabling the free flow of water, this will help to revitalise waterscapes and the wildlife populations they support.
Five eagle owls have just been released in the Danube Delta rewilding landscape in Ukraine, as part of an ongoing reintroduction programme. The releases represent a significant step forward in the programme, which aims to re-establish a viable population of the birds in the landscape and enhance the overall health of the delta ecosystem.
Rewilding Europe’s Natural Grazing Facility works to scale up natural grazing by wild and semi-wild herbivores in European landscapes. The first translocation organised through the facility has seen a group of Exmoor ponies released in Denmark’s Saksfjed Vildmark rewilding initiative.
A keystone species in freshwater ecosystems, the white-clawed crayfish is in decline across much of Europe. The opening of a second crayfish breeding centre in Italy’s Central Apennines will enhance reintroduction efforts by the local rewilding team and contribute to the wider restoration of rivers in the landscape.
The Rewilding Europe Award celebrates some of the best rewilding-related imagery from across Europe. This year’s award-winning photo, shot by Swedish photographer Staffan Widstrand, emphasises the importance of restoring natural processes and predator-prey dynamics.