Today, rewilding in the Velebit Mountains of Croatia is going from strength to strength. By showcasing the landscape, its wildlife and local rewilding efforts, the new Rewilding Velebit website should prove an effective tool for outreach and upscaling.
A herd of 10 Przewalski’s horses – the last truly wild horse – has been released in the Iberian Highlands rewilding landscape in Spain. Having arrived in May, the animals will soon roam free across an extensive area, where they will help to reduce the risk of wildfire, enhance biodiversity, boost nature-based tourism and environmental education, and improve the conservation status of this endangered subspecies.
In the middle of June, a second group of cinereous vultures were translocated to the Rhodope Mountains rewilding landscape in Bulgaria. Their arrival and eventual release is the next step in a long-term programme to re-establish these ecologically important birds as a breeding species.
The Rewilding Ukraine team have been working together with local partners to restore the connectivity of floodplains in the Danube Delta since 2019. By connecting Katlabuh Lake with the Danube River, their latest efforts are a step towards revitalising an entire chain of water bodies, with wide-ranging benefits for nature, local communities and society.
Thanks to burgeoning support and the passion and dedication of our entire European team, 2022 saw Rewilding Europe’s rewilding efforts reach a new high. Our latest Annual Review, which is packed with inspirational and educational content, shows that we are well-prepared to demonstrate and catalyse rewilding on an ever-larger scale, with a focus on our 10 rewilding landscapes.
A new rewilding centre has opened on the German side of the Oder Delta rewilding landscape. As nature continues to recover in the area, the multi-functional building will help to build engagement, develop nature-based tourism, and ultimately enhance rewilding impact.
The welcome and inspirational return of wildlife species to European landscapes presents a range of challenges, as evidenced by recent poisoning incidents in the Central Apennines of Italy. By ensuring people benefit from nature – and by educating and enforcing – these challenges can be overcome.
Rewilding Europe has signed a major financial partnership with the Ecological Restoration Fund. The funding will support and scale up practical rewilding and enhance the work of the European Wildlife Comeback Fund, thereby helping to realise the ambitions set out in our “Strategy 2030”.
Hungary is a country just beginning its rewilding journey, and so we are delighted to welcome the Pentezug initiative, which aims to rewild open grasslands using semi-wild grazers with minimal human intervention.
The European Rewilding Network’s newest member is dedicated to Scottish wildcat conservation and recovery. Around 20 wildcats will be released into the wild each year, with the first releases beginning in June 2023.