A further ten inspiring rewilding initiatives have joined the European Rewilding Network since the official launch of the network at WILD10 in Spain, on October 9, 2013. Right now, the European Rewilding Network comprises of thirty members and a number of further local initiatives in several more countries are lining up to join. Members have also begun to exchange expertise and best practices on rewilding issues directly with each other. The first experience-sharing event in which all members are warmly welcomed to participate will take place in April.

According to the Belgian TV-show “Dieren in nesten”, The European bison, the wolf, the brown bear, the wolverine, and the lynx are the “The Big 5 of Europe” – the continent’s five most impressive wild mammals. All these five are – and especially so the European bison which ranked as number 1 – among the symbolical species for Rewilding Europe and emblematic for the wildlife comeback in Europe.

The vision of how Europe can be rewilded showing some of the latest insights, experiences and successful working examples is presented in the brochure “Making Europe a Wilder Place, a series of presentations of the forefront of rewilding in Europe”. This 34-page brochure is now available. The proceedings are the result of a full-day seminar organised by Rewilding Europe on October 9, 2013 at WILD10, the World Wilderness Congress in Salamanca, Spain.

WILD10, the 10th World Wilderness Congress runs in Salamanca, Spain from 4 to 10 October 2013: a massive, inspirational international event for a whole week. Hope to see you all there! And please do not miss out on the Rewilding Europe activities!

The Dutch rewilding area ‘Gelderse Poort’ is the first member of the European Rewilding Network, the newest initiative of Rewilding Europe aiming to connect and unite rewilding initiatives and activities all over Europe.

Since the concept of rewilding was defined and expanded by conservation biologists Michael Soulé and Reed Noss in a paper published in 1998, projects and initiatives aiming to restore large wilderness areas, natural processes, corridors or keystone species have flourished all around the world.

Rewilding Europe is starting a new initiative: the European Rewilding Network. In the past decades many new projects that clearly link to rewilding have evolved, and many others are about to germinate. As the rewilding movement becomes more and more prominent throughout our continent, Rewilding Europe believes it is valuable to connect European rewilding initiatives in order to inspire others and share experiences. Therefore, the European Rewilding Network aims to establish a living network of many rewilding initiatives, to support rewilding in Europe as a conservation tool.