A new study has confirmed that Marsican brown bears play a valuable role promoting the Central Apennines as nature-based tourism destination.

A diverse event calendar saw the Rewilding Apennines team engage with a wide range of people and local communities in 2022, helping to promote rewilding. Their efforts are driving the rewilding movement forward, with real momentum going into 2023.

Italian and Greek partners in the LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors initiative recently visited Canada to learn about Bear Smart Communities in British Columbia. The insights acquired and collaborative ethos developed will enhance rewilding efforts.

Shot by Bruno D’Amicis and Umberto Esposito, the short film “Central Apennines, A Rewilding Journey” is a beautiful vignette of rewilding in the Central Apennines of Italy. Boosting outreach in the local community, it will also help to promote rewilding to a wider audience.

Coordinated by Rewilding Europe, 12 partners from Italy and Greece are kicking off a new EU-funded programme that will support living harmoniously with bears in Europe. The LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors initiative will support the development of a network of communities in coexistence corridors.

Funding from Fondation Ensemble will support the comeback of griffon vultures, Apennine chamois and white-clawed crayfish in the Central Apennines rewilding landscape. This contributes to the area’s overall rewilding vision and is good news for nature and people.

The Bear Smart Communities of the Central Apennines rewilding area in Italy are already benefitting Marsican brown bears and local residents. A new memorandum of understanding between Rewilding Europe and nature-focused property rental site nature.house will help to scale up their positive impact.

Held in the village of Pettorano sul Gizio, many of whose residents are already experiencing the economic benefits of rewilding, the event brought together entrepreneurs from across Italy.

From GPS collars and citizen science to drones and predictive risk maps, technology is playing an increasingly influential role in making Europe a wilder place.

A generous donation from campaign organiser Organic Basics will fund a variety of important rewilding measures, while the campaign itself has helped to raise Rewilding Europe’s profile.