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 NaturaConnect initiative, which includes Rewilding Europe in a 22-member partnership, will help to create the Trans-European Nature Network. This well-connected system of natural areas will enhance biodiversity, climate change resilience, and the benefits nature delivers to Europeans.
A newly established rewilding site in northern Portugal, known as Ermo das Águias (‘wilderness of the eagles’), is providing an opportunity to improve landscape connectivity and promote the regeneration of native vegetation and enhance the benefits of natural grazing.
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.
Showcasing rewilding efforts in the Central Apennines, the new website will connect people with wild nature and help realise the area’s rewilding vision.
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.
Located in the buffer zone of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, the water tank, which has claimed the lives of five critically endangered bears in two separate incidents, has now been partially filled in. Work continues to identify other potentially dangerous tanks and wells.
By reconnecting isolated areas of wild nature, wildlife corridors are an effective method of enhancing biodiversity and boosting animal populations. Rewilding Europe, which is working to establish wildlife corridors in a number of its operational areas, believes rewilding can help to create an urgently needed, well-connected network of green and blue infrastructure right across Europe.
Rewilding Europe is delighted to announced that Salviamo l’Orso, our partner in the Central Apennines rewilding area, has been awarded a grant from the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA).
