Five years of practical action and community engagement have strengthened human-bear coexistence across the Central Apennine mountains of Italy. By helping local communities and Marsican bears share space and thrive together, this work has strengthened the foundations for the continued comeback of this iconic subspecies.
A landmark census has revealed encouraging signs for the endangered Marsican brown bear. As this iconic subspecies expands beyond its historic stronghold in Italy’s Central Apennines, connected, bear-smart landscapes will be key to its long-term recovery.
The Rewilding Apennines team and local partners are working to ensure that Marsican brown bears and communities can thrive together in Italy’s Central Apennine mountains. This year, an educational programme and a popular festival brought together residents of all ages to strengthen the vital connection between people and the wildlife on their doorstep.
For six days in July, the KinoAppennino event saw Italy’s Central Apennine mountains transformed into an open-air film workshop. Guided by creative filmmakers, local residents stepped in front of the camera to help craft a range of moving short films — captivating audiences and sparking fresh enthusiasm for rewilding.
Steps taken to help people share space with bears in the Central Apennines of Italy mean the future of the Marsican brown bear now looks brighter. In 2026, an event in the Central Apennines rewilding landscape will shine a light on these actions, share ideas, and find better ways for people and wildlife to thrive together.
“The Central Apennines: A Story of Co-existence” – a beautiful short film by award-winning French filmmaker Emmanuel Rondeau – is the fifth episode in the Wilder Europe series. Featuring interviews with a range of passionate and dedicated people, it shows how rewilding efforts in Italy’s Central Apennine mountains are helping communities and wild nature thrive together.
Over 2,000 Mediterranean trout have just been released in a tributary of the Liri River in the Central Apennines. A leap forward in the restoration of this important native species, the release will also benefit a wide range of other wildlife and help to heal this living waterway.
Supported by funding from the Open Rivers Programme, the Rewilding Apennines team have overseen the removal of five barriers on the Giovenco River. This is a critical step forward in restoring the natural dynamics of the river system, breathing new life into the landscape and delivering benefits to local communities.
A keystone species in freshwater ecosystems, the white-clawed crayfish is in decline across much of Europe. The opening of a second crayfish breeding centre in Italy’s Central Apennines will enhance reintroduction efforts by the local rewilding team and contribute to the wider restoration of rivers in the landscape.
In the heart of the Central Apennines rewilding landscape, the residents of Pettorano sul Gizio are benefitting from lives that are increasingly entwined with local nature.
