Based in the Normandy region of France, the PRELE initiative is breathing new life into forests, wetlands, and farmland by letting nature lead its own recovery. Its pioneering role in advancing French rewilding makes it a highly valued new member of the network.
The rise of rewilding in France
Today, rewilding in France is gaining real momentum. Inspired by a growing confidence in nature’s remarkable ability to recover and manage itself, conservation is shifting towards restoring natural processes — from the free flow of rivers to the natural regeneration of forests — and strengthening coexistence with wildlife. This vision is shaping wilder, healthier, and more resilient landscapes, where people and nature can thrive side by side, and where urgent challenges such as climate change can be addressed with greater hope and effectiveness.
The newest member of Rewilding Europe’s European Rewilding Network — Programme Régional pour les Espaces en Libre Évolution (PRELE) — is France’s first regional initiative dedicated to libre évolution (or “free evolution”). The principle of libre évolution, which lies at the heart of many French rewilding initiatives, is based on a simple but powerful idea: allowing ecosystems to recover and evolve with minimal human interference. By reducing and removing human intervention — and by eliminating artificial barriers such as dams and fences — nature is given the space and freedom to restore itself.
A pioneering model for free evolution
Led by the Conservatoire d’Espaces Naturels de Normandie (CEN Normandie), PRELE is redefining how natural areas are managed across Normandy by creating spaces where animals, plants, and fungi can flourish undisturbed.
PRELE brings together a growing network of rewilding sites and offers private landowners a direct way to contribute to nature recovery. Unlike many other rewilding networks in France, the programme is not limited to forests. It embraces a wide range of landscapes — from fallow farmland and wetlands to naturally regenerating woodlands — helping nature return in all its diversity. As the network expands, PRELE is positioning Normandy at the forefront of rewilding in France, demonstrating how collaborative, long-term approaches can help ecosystems become wilder. There is huge scope to expand this approach to other regions in France.
Burgeoning impact
Across France, libre évolution and rewilding are already reshaping landscapes. A major milestone in the development of the French rewilding movement came in June 2025, when the Dauphiné Alps joined Rewilding Europe’s growing network of operational landscapes. Working closely with a broad coalition of local partners, Rewilding France is rolling out a series of rewilding actions in the area. These are focused on protecting and restoring forests, rewilding rivers, and reviving natural grazing through the reintroduction of semi-wild horses and bovines.
And in the Arc-Châteauvillain Integral Forest Reserve — which joined Rewilding Europe’s European Rewilding Network in July last year — more than 3,000 hectares of previously managed woodland are now regenerating naturally, free from most human disturbances. This is creating richer, more dynamic forests that benefit biodiversity, climate resilience, and local communities alike.
Amplifying rewilding efforts together
The expanding European Rewilding Network now includes 105 rewilding initiatives across 29 European countries. PRELE’s programme coordinator Lou Beben is looking forward to connecting with other member initiatives to share knowledge and experience, which will help to boost the network’s collective expertise and impact.
“Joining the network is an opportunity to connect with others across Europe who are working towards a world that recognises the immense contribution of the wild to our human societies,” she says.
Forging deeper connections with nature
PRELE’s vision goes beyond restoring ecosystems. The programme seeks to transform how people see and relate to nature, helping communities recognise the power and value of letting nature lead its own recovery. By working closely with local authorities, conservation groups, and environmental experts across Normandy, PRELE is fostering a deeper, more lasting, and more valuable connection with the wild.
Education and outreach are at the heart of the initiative. Through workshops, school presentations, and community activities, PRELE is helping citizens, local governments, and environmental organisations discover the power of libre évolution — fostering a new sense of wonder, respect, and partnership with the natural world.
Onwards and upwards
Looking ahead, libre évolution is set to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of rewilding in France. As pressures from climate change, biodiversity loss, and land-use change continue to grow, approaches that give nature the space to adapt and regenerate are gaining wider recognition among conservationists, policymakers, and landowners.
At the same time, rewilding in France is likely to continue expanding through new partnerships, landscapes, and regional initiatives that place coexistence at their core. From large mountain ranges to rivers, forests and lowland mosaic habitats, the movement is helping reconnect people with wilder nature while supporting vibrant rural futures. Together, libre évolution and practical rewilding action point towards a hopeful vision for France — one where nature is trusted to manage itself, and where wild landscapes are valued as essential allies in tackling the challenges of the 21st century.
Let’s rewild together
Rewilding Europe extends a warm welcome to all European rewilding initiatives that focus on practical, results-oriented rewilding and encourages them to apply for European Rewilding Network membership.