Rewilding efforts mean nature-based tourism in Italy’s Central Apennine mountains is flourishing. This is good news for wildlife, businesses, and communities.

The recovery of nature in Croatia’s Velebit Mountains is enabling an economic shift from hunting to wildlife watching. By putting cameras in the hands of local students, and enabling them to connect with their natural environment, a recent photography workshop highlighted the social benefits of this transition.

Wildlife watching hides can benefit rewilding in many ways. A newly published best practice manual from Rewilding Europe provides guidance for businesses and initiatives that want to develop and operate them.

Designed for entrepreneurs involved in guiding, hospitality and tourism, Rewilding Europe’s pioneering, three-stage Rewilding Training Tourism programme aims to professionalise and scale up nature-based tourism across Europe.

With an enhanced website and more enticing holiday offerings than ever, the company is well-placed to take advantage of a resurgence in nature-based tourism.

Taskforce activities, which in 2018 included data collection, website and app development, educational initiatives and community outreach, helped bolster the success of the area’s ongoing bison reintroduction programme.

The newly opened island, one of five created in the Markermeer as part of the Netherlands-based Marker Wadden rewilding project, attracted crowds of nature lovers. By creating new habitat and improving water quality, the project is reconnecting people with wild nature and boosting biodiversity.

Attracted to fish stranded in the Stettin Lagoon by August’s low water levels, the huge gathering of eagles drew crowds of photographers and nature lovers. The presence of so many of these majestic birds bodes well for rewilding efforts in the area.

Given a thumbs up by the local entrepreneurs who participated, the informative and inspirational event will hopefully boost rewilding-related nature-based tourism in the area.

A succession of European Erasmus+ students are now volunteering with Italian NGO Salviamo l’Orso. As they make an invaluable contribution to Marsican brown bear conservation in the Central Apennines rewilding area, they are also learning from their experience.