Thriving Together: Webinar & Panel discussion
At Rewilding Europe we envision a wilder, healthier future where people and nature thrive alongside each other. But how do we get there? Find out more in our webinar “Thriving Together”, dedicated to World Rewilding Day 2025. Taking place on March 20, 2025 at 1500 CET, everyone is welcome to join this inspirational discussion!
During the webinar, you’ll hear from a range of experts and rewilding practitioners, sharing their insights and experiences from across Europe. Topics will include how rewilding helps reconnect people with nature, how communities and wildlife can successfully coexist, and how nature-based businesses can contribute to thriving landscapes.
Following a series of short presentations and interactive Q&A sessions , all speakers will come together for a lively panel discussion, moderated by Carolina Soto-Navarro, Head of Wilder Nature at Rewilding Europe, exploring practical ways to create a future where nature and people prosper together.
Whether you’re passionate about rewilding, work in nature conservation, or are simply curious to learn more, this is a unique opportunity to be inspired and get involved.
Meet the host and speakers of the webinar
Carolina Soto-Navarro,
Head of Wilder Nature at Rewilding Europe
Carolina is a leading force in global conservation with over 15 years of experience driving species recovery, ecological restoration, and human-wildlife coexistence. From restoring Iberian lynx populations in Spain to tackling illegal wildlife trade in Southeast Asia and leading large-scale rainforest restoration in Costa Rica, she has worked across a wealth of landscapes and socio-ecological contexts.
Passionate about rewilding as a bold solution for a thriving future, Carolina spearheads our efforts across 11 rewilding landscapes, supporting our local partners to deliver impact on-the-ground.
Carolina will host our webinar, bringing her dynamic insights and deep expertise to moderate an inspiring panel discussion.
Fabien Quétier,
Head of Rewilding Landscapes at Rewilding Europe
Fabien is a leading expert in rewilding, wildlife comeback, and human-wildlife coexistence, supporting the rewilding teams on the ground to help people and nature thrive together. He works on the return of species — from large herbivores such as bison to scavengers and predators — while ensuring communities can adapt and benefit. With over 20 years of experience in biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, and nature-based solutions, Fabien has worked in more than 40 countries, balancing conservation and human livelihoods. In his presentation, he will share practical insights and solutions for fostering coexistence between people and wildlife, drawing from his extensive experience.
Valerio Reale,
Enterprise Manager at Rewilding Apennines
Valerio will share the enterprise perspective on human-wildlife coexistence, focusing on Bear Smart Communities in the Central Apennines, where municipalities, farmers, and entrepreneurs work together to reduce conflict and benefit from wildlife presence. With a background in food systems and agroecology, Valerio helps develop a network of nature-based enterprises that thrive alongside rewilding efforts. By aligning business development with ecological restoration, he shows how local economies can benefit from nature-friendly practices, supporting both people and wildlife. His work demonstrates that coexistence is not only possible but can become a driver of sustainable local development in our landscapes.
Colinda Vergeer,
Project Leader Staatsbosbeheer at De Maashorst
Colinda brings extensive experience in ecosystem restoration, transforming agricultural land into nature across the Netherlands. At De Maashorst, a member of the European Rewilding Network, she focuses on restoring natural processes through hydrological improvements, forest ecology, and natural grazing. Colinda manages herds of Exmoor ponies, European bison, and tauros, monitoring their ecological impact. Acting as a bridge between practice and policy, she helps advance De Maashorst along the rewilding scale. In her presentation, Colinda will share a practitioner’s perspective on how people and wild nature can successfully coexist, highlighting both challenges and solutions from her hands-on experience.
Barbara Marques,
member of the European Young Rewilders
Barbara has been part of the European Young Rewilders in Portugal for almost two years, driven by a lifelong passion for nature. Growing up surrounded by the outdoors, her love for nature only deepened during her greatest adventure — cycling from Portugal to Norway and back on a tandem bicycle with her father in 2017.
Barbara holds a master’s degree in Sustainable Development and is currently pursuing a PhD in Human Ecology. Her research, and her presentation, focuses on the growing disconnection between people and nature, and explores how rewilding can serve as a powerful tool to restore that connection.
Let’s join forces to create a world where nature and people thrive alongside each other.
#RewildingTogether #ThrivingTogether