World Rewilding Day saw many of Rewilding Europe’s rewilding teams organise public events. Showcasing rewilding efforts, these brought people closer to nature.

For many years a network of dykes and canals have choked the life out of the Danube Delta. Rewilding efforts in the Ukrainian part of the delta are now restoring water flow, enhancing wildlife populations and benefitting local communities.

A new rewilding centre in northern Portugal’s Greater Côa Valley will build engagement with local residents and showcase ongoing rewilding efforts.

The Tarutino Steppe Festival took place at the end of September in the Ukrainian Danube Delta. Showcasing local nature, culture and rewilding efforts, the event will help local communities by enhancing the area’s tourism value.

The Wilder Blean initiative is working to create a wilder woodland landscape by boosting natural grazing, including the introduction of the UK’s first European bison herd. European Rewilding Network membership will help the initiative realise its rewilding vision.

Engaging local people and businesses is critical to the success of rewilding efforts. In the Central Apennines rewilding area in Italy, two recent community events helped to spread the word about rewilding and connect residents with the wild nature on their doorstep.

The rewilding of land, even on a relatively small scale, can enrich wild nature and the lives of people connected to it. Joining the European Rewilding Network will help Green Sod Ireland deliver its community-focused rewilding vision.

With its focus on online content creation and field-based exploration, the Lupi EcoClubs programme is taking nature-based education to the next level.

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.

How can wild nature help to develop a region? At the beginning of May a group of social entrepreneurship professors and students met with community representatives in the Southern Carpathians rewilding area for a brainstorming session. The ideas they generated will help to develop nature-based business and reinforce the connection between people and locally reintroduced bison.