REWILDING EUROPE: a new beginning, for wildlife, for us.

REWILDING EUROPE: A new beginning. For wildlife. For us.

Rewilding Europe is bringing back the variety of life to Europe's abandoned lands. Fresh ideas and new livelihoods based on a common heritage.

Rewilding Europa aims at rewilding one million hectares of Europe by 2020. The programme will initiate 10 areas, each of at least 100,000 hectares, reflecting the majority of European ecosystems, flora and fauna. The ten areas will serve as the front-runners for a large scale shift in land use across Europe towards wilderness-based economies. Millions of people will be offered the opportunity of enjoying a Wild Europe.

Launch of the initiative in  Brussels

On 18 November 2010 Rewilding Europe was launched in Brussels, moderated by Her Royal Highness Princess Laurentien van Oranje. Rewilding Europe is a collaboration between WWF Netherlands, ARK Nature and Wild Wonders of Europe, pioneering a unique concept that aims to rewild one million hectares of Europe’s abandoned landscape by 2020. 10 projects, each comprising of at least 100,000 hectares, will serve as front-runners for a larger shift in land-use across Europe towards an economically viable, nature based economy.

Land abandonment as opportunity.

According to the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), widespread land abandonment is forecasted to continue until 2030. Estimates indicate a total decline of more than 30 million hectares and a subsequent increase of forests areas across the EU. Results of an independent report by IEEP, commissioned by WWF Netherlands, were presented today as well, providing key evidence of the extent of current trends in European social demographics. These findings confirm crucial support for the ambitions of Rewilding Europe.

European cities have expanded on average by 78% over the last 50 years. In 2020, it is estimated that four out of five European citizens will live in urban areas. This implies a major shift in rural Europe as well. The countryside is depopulating rapidly, land is taken out of agricultural production. Youth are leaving for the cities, whilst older people try to survive in villages where local economies hardly have a future.

Land abandonment, forestation and the subsequent loss of rural economies and biodiversity is often seen as a problem. However, Rewilding Europe sees a historical opportunity unfolding in Europe. Never before has the social and economic situation in Europe allowed large parts of the countryside to be taken out of active use, without a clear perspective of its future. Rewilding Europe aims to turn this situation into an opportunity in which a modern society can be built on a wilderness comeback, creating an economically viable, nature based economy.

Five projects

Representatives of the initiative’s first 5 projects (Velebit, Western Iberia, Danube Delta, Southern Carpathians and Eastern Carpathians), Ladislav Miko (Director Nature, European Commission), Harvey Locke (Wild Foundation USA), major funding institutions, other politicians, economists, communities and NGO’s from all over the continent, attended the launch to jointly call for action to rewild Europe.

Het Large Herbivore Network, together with ECNC, is one of the partner organisations.

During the annual ‘Good Money Gala’ on Wednesday 9 February 2011 the Dutch National Postcode Lottery (Nationale Postcode Loterij) announced that a project proposal submitted by ARK on behalf of Rewilding Europe (WWF-Netherlands, Wild Wonders of Europe and ARK Nature) was approved. With this grant of 3,1 million Euro Rewilding Europe can make a prompt start on their pioneering project to rewild 1 million hectares of abandoned agricultural landscape in five areas across Europe: Velebit, Eastern Carpathians, Western Iberia, Danube Delta and Southern Carpathians. Rewilding will include the re-introduction of the original wild, large grazing herbivores, and provide current generations a unique opportunity to develop complete ecosystems as the foundation for new rural economies, where nature itself is the driving engine.

Read more in the Rewilding Europe brochure 2010 (Pdf).