We are very proud to announce that Laurentien van Oranje-Nassau (the Netherlands) and Dr. Claude Martin (Switzerland) have become Special Advisors for Rewilding Europe. Both are the first members of a small and dedicated team of Special Advisors that Rewilding Europe is establishing.

Today an article was published in “Trouw”, a Dutch daily newspaper. The article is about the remarkable phenomenon of land abandonment, wildlife comeback and the unique chance to create new wild areas with new economic perspectives in Europe. Trouw journalist Hans Marijnissen  interviewed Managing Director Frans Schepers.

In the summer of 2011 Anke Sparmann, author of German GEO Magazine, travelled across European nature reserves.

A 12-page story was published in the September issue of the National Geographic Magazine, Dutch/Belgian edition. NGM Staff writer Pancras Dijk visited the rewilding areas Campanarios de Azaba and Faia Brava in Western Iberia, both parts of the Rewilding Europe initiative. The opening spread can be seen here.

In the last months Anke Sparmann, author of German GEO Magazine, travelled across European nature reserves. The cover story of GEO’s September issue – published on August 19 – features her journey into a continent getting wilder day by day.

Our ambitious initiative to rewild 1 million hectares of land in Europe by 2020 is now well underway and our local partners are starting up a series of concrete rewilding actions in the field and negotiating with the different stakeholders on many levels.

The Zoological Society of London has commenced a study for Rewilding Europe to examine the population trends of wildlife in Europe over the past 30–40 years. This has been an era of significant wildlife comeback.

Rewilding Europe is pleased to announce the formation of an exciting partnership with Conservation Capital, a unique conservation organisation which focuses exclusively on linking private sector business and investment finance with global biodiversity conservation.

Frans Schepers, Rewilding Europes managing director, was guest in Dutch television show “Koffietijd” (“Coffee Time”). “Koffietijd” is broadcasted daily. Presenter Quinty Trustful asked Frans about the plans of Rewilding Europe and about the importance of the Dutch Postcode Lottery. Land abandonment and restoring natural processes were also mentioned as important aspects of the plans.

Dutch National Postcode Lottery supports Rewilding Europe with 3,1 million euros.