Scientific partners
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) is a DFG research centre with more than 250 employees and members located in Halle, Jena and Leipzig where researchers from 30 nations establish the scientific basis for the sustainable management of our planet’s biodiversity. iDiv is a formal partner with Rewilding Europe, working together on the project “Promoting and shaping the EU restoration agenda, including TEN-G, through mobilisation of rewilding principles to create a coherent ecological network in Europe” (2017–2019). Funded by WWF Netherlands, this partnership represents a collaboration between Rewilding Europe, BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, the WWF European Policy Office, the European Environmental Bureau and German Institute for Integrative Biodiversity Research. This project came to conclusion in March 2020, influencing the new EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 under the EU Green Deal.
Since 2019, iDiv and Rewilding Europe also cooperate within a larger Horizon 2020 project called ‘Terra Nova’, which includes three PhD’s students addressing various topics on European rewilding.
Wageningen University and Research
Wageningen University and Research (WUR) in the Netherlands is a collaboration between Wageningen University and the Wageningen Research foundation. The mission of Wageningen University and Research is ‘to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.
In February 2020, the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group at Wageningen University and Research established Europe’s first special chair on rewilding ecology. Dr. Liesbeth Bakker was appointed to this special professorship, hosted by WUR and developed in cooperation with Rewilding Europe and the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW). The aim is to promote and further the science and study of rewilding, based on a research programme that was agreed between the partners. Rewilding Europe provides limited financial support to this independent chair position.
Netherlands Institute of Ecology
The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) was created in 1992 by merging three important ecological research institutes of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). NIOO’s reseachers and students study animal, plant and microbial ecology in terrestrial and freshwater environments. The multidisciplinary collaboration within this diverse group of ecologists has created unique opportunities to develop the broad, comprehensive approaches needed to solve complex ecological problems.
NIOO is our partner in establishing Europe’s first special chair on rewilding ecology at Wageningen University and Research (WUR) in the Netherlands. Dr. Liesbeth Bakker was appointed to this special professorship, hosted by WUR and developed in cooperation with Rewilding Europe and NIOO. The aim is to promote and further the science and study of rewilding, based on a research programme that was agreed between the partners. Rewilding Europe provides limited financial support to this independent chair position.
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international conservation charity, established in 1826. With science informing work in the field and using two Zoos as a focus to drive engagement, ZSL’s focus is on developing, implementing and promoting sustainable use of the world’s resources, allowing humans and wildlife to thrive.
Cooperation with the Zoological Society of London started back in 2011, when we worked together to produce the first Wildlife Comeback Report in Europe (published in 2013).
In April 2020, the partnership between ZSL and Rewilding Europe was renewed through the signing of an MoU to collaborate on multiple research, conservation and communications aspects of rewilding in a European context. The partnership will focus on a number of topics, including an update of the Wildlife Comeback Report, monitoring of wildlife through camera trapping in our rewilding areas through the ‘Instant Wild’ programme (starting with Central Apennines and Velebit Mountains), applied research and a new IUCN motion on rewilding.
University of Amsterdam
A modern institution with a long and rich history, the University of Amsterdam (UVA) is one of Europe’s most prominent research-led universities. VUA and Rewilding Europe are partnering with an additional 7 Universities, 2 NGOs and 3 companies in a European wide project entitles “ Terranova”.
Funded by the European Union, “Terranova” aims to train 15 researchers to PhD level, working with policy makers to form a new generation of young professionals capable of finding solutions to the interdisciplinary challenges of land management where nature and cultural and economic needs are balanced.
Rewilding Europe will participate in “Investigating the potential of natural restoration and rewilding in the European landscape”. We will not only map the current natural disturbance regimes (e.g. herbivory, fire) but we will also develop potential 2050 scenarios of land-use change in Europe and create land management guidelines on rewilding practices.
