Over the last two decades, Dalmatian pelicans have staged a remarkable comeback in Montenegro’s Lake Skadar National Park. As part of the Wilder Parks initiative, Rewilding Europe and a coalition of partners are now building on this success, stepping up efforts to restore natural processes, strengthen wildlife populations, and create new opportunities for local communities.

Two national parks in Belgium and Montenegro, and a nature park in Croatia, have joined the European Rewilding Network. Connecting with a growing community of rewilding practitioners and accessing a range of practical tools and expertise will help them amplify their nature recovery efforts.

For over a century, protected areas have been the backbone of nature conservation in Europe – safeguarding habitats and species from urban sprawl, intensive agriculture, and the relentless advance of human infrastructure. Yet no protected area can function in isolation. Healthy ecosystems depend on connectivity: on wildlife corridors, permeable landscapes, and the freedom for species to move and thrive.