European Rewilding Network
ERN1310

Central Apennines

Red deer stag on a mountain slope at sunrise in Central Apennines rewilding area in Italy.
Bruno D'Amicis / Rewilding Europe
The four corridors currently proposed for the Marsican brown bear in the Central Apennines rewilding area in Italy cover more than 40,000 hectares.
Staffan Widstrand/Rewilding Europe
Removing barbed wire in Central Apennines

In the Central Apennines rewilding landscape Rewilding Europe is working with local partners to develop large “coexistence corridors” by connecting the local economy with wilder nature in five corridors collectively covering more than 100,000 hectares. These corridors link the national parks of Abruzzo, Molise and Lazio and Majella to the Sirente Velino Regional Park. The aim is to support wildlife within the corridors, which in turn extends the range and abundance of wildlife within the parks.

Within these corridors, local communities will learn to live alongside the spectacular wildlife of the Central Apennines, of which the Marsican brown bear is the most iconic species. By reducing the damage caused by such wildlife, and by allowing communities to benefit from it, people living here will become ambassadors for the area’s wild nature. Actions in the field are focused on reducing bear mortality and conflict, promoting co-existence, supporting nature-based enterprises in and around corridor areas, and raising awareness amongst local communities and people visiting the area.

Specification Description Achievements Exchange
Project: Central Apennines
Region: Central Apennines
Type of protection: National and Regional Parks, non protected areas
Habitat types: Mountain grasslands, Alpine grasslands, Beech Forest, Oak Forest, Limestone canyons and caves, Mountain streams, Wooden pastures
Keystone species: Brown Bear, Wolf, Red deer, Roe deer, Wild boar, Apennine Chamois, Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Lanner falcon, White-backed woodpecker
Fauna (mega) species present: Apennine brown bear, Wolf, Apennine chamois
Aim and vision: Work with local communities to increase wildlife acceptance and favor use of abandoned land as an economic opportunity.
Secure the conservation of large mammals and birds reconnecting existing protected areas in a wide ecological framework in the Central Apennines.
Uniqueness of the project: Central Apennines have a unique array of landscapes, habitat types, wildlife, ancient villages and culture, very close to big cities, such as Rome.
Other activities: Community involved, Eco tourism, Education, Sale of sustainable products
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on: Corridors between protected areas are managed to favor the presence of flagship species and their free movement between protected areas.
A number of sustainable businesses have been established providing new economic opportunities to local communities, decreasing villages abandonment.
Inspirational value: In one of the richest European regions for biodiversity and nature, located in the heart of Italy, and where national parks and reserves have been established since more than 90 years, Rewilding Apennines works to create effective ecological corridors between the PAs, at the same time improving the functionality of the ecosystem and creating new economical opportunities for the local communities
Experience you would like to share: Wildlife advocates; camera trap monitoring; ecological network implementation; participative process
Experience you would like to gain: Large carnivore and vulture conservation; poison prevention; local products marketing; wildlife watching facilities
Map
Country
Italy
Start year
2013
Size (ha)
100000
Area type
Mountainous
Flagship species
Bear, Chamois, Vulture
Central Apennines
Central Apennines
Central Apennines
Red deer stag on a mountain slope at sunrise in Central Apennines rewilding area in Italy.
Bruno D'Amicis / Rewilding Europe
The four corridors currently proposed for the Marsican brown bear in the Central Apennines rewilding area in Italy cover more than 40,000 hectares.
Staffan Widstrand/Rewilding Europe
Removing barbed wire in Central Apennines

In the Central Apennines rewilding landscape Rewilding Europe is working with local partners to develop large “coexistence corridors” by connecting the local economy with wilder nature in five corridors collectively covering more than 100,000 hectares. These corridors link the national parks of Abruzzo, Molise and Lazio and Majella to the Sirente Velino Regional Park. The aim is to support wildlife within the corridors, which in turn extends the range and abundance of wildlife within the parks.

Within these corridors, local communities will learn to live alongside the spectacular wildlife of the Central Apennines, of which the Marsican brown bear is the most iconic species. By reducing the damage caused by such wildlife, and by allowing communities to benefit from it, people living here will become ambassadors for the area’s wild nature. Actions in the field are focused on reducing bear mortality and conflict, promoting co-existence, supporting nature-based enterprises in and around corridor areas, and raising awareness amongst local communities and people visiting the area.

Map
Country
Italy
Start year
2013
Size (ha)
100000
Area type
Mountainous
Flagship species
Bear, Chamois, Vulture
Specification
Project: Central Apennines
Region: Central Apennines
Type of protection: National and Regional Parks, non protected areas
Habitat types: Mountain grasslands, Alpine grasslands, Beech Forest, Oak Forest, Limestone canyons and caves, Mountain streams, Wooden pastures
Keystone species: Brown Bear, Wolf, Red deer, Roe deer, Wild boar, Apennine Chamois, Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Lanner falcon, White-backed woodpecker
Fauna (mega) species present: Apennine brown bear, Wolf, Apennine chamois
Description
Aim and vision: Work with local communities to increase wildlife acceptance and favor use of abandoned land as an economic opportunity.
Secure the conservation of large mammals and birds reconnecting existing protected areas in a wide ecological framework in the Central Apennines.
Uniqueness of the project: Central Apennines have a unique array of landscapes, habitat types, wildlife, ancient villages and culture, very close to big cities, such as Rome.
Other activities: Community involved, Eco tourism, Education, Sale of sustainable products
Achievements
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on: Corridors between protected areas are managed to favor the presence of flagship species and their free movement between protected areas.
A number of sustainable businesses have been established providing new economic opportunities to local communities, decreasing villages abandonment.
Exchange
Inspirational value: In one of the richest European regions for biodiversity and nature, located in the heart of Italy, and where national parks and reserves have been established since more than 90 years, Rewilding Apennines works to create effective ecological corridors between the PAs, at the same time improving the functionality of the ecosystem and creating new economical opportunities for the local communities
Experience you would like to share: Wildlife advocates; camera trap monitoring; ecological network implementation; participative process
Experience you would like to gain: Large carnivore and vulture conservation; poison prevention; local products marketing; wildlife watching facilities
Central Apennines
Central Apennines
Central Apennines
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