Rewilding Europe

Rewilding Europe is a programme aiming to rewild one million hectares of land spread across ten different locations in Europe by 2020.[1][2]

Previously named the Wild Europe Field Programme,[3] it was initiated in 2011 by four organisations: WWF-Netherlands, ARK Nature, Wild Wonders of Europe and Conservation Capital[4] following the "Conference on Wilderness and Large Natural Habitat Areas" (Wild Europe) conference in Prague in 2009.[3]

€3 million in start-up funding for the programme was raised in a Dutch lottery.[5]

Locations

The programme will primarily work to rewild ten localities, each of at least 100,000 hectares.

So far, the programme has chosen sites in the following eight areas:

Rewilding Europe had formerly selected an area of the Eastern Carpathians,[7] where Poland, Slovakia and the Ukraine meet. In September 2016, however, the organisation withdrew from the region, citing slow progress and difficulties establishing the project.[10]

Initiatives

The programme runs a number of initiatives in support of its activities:

European Rewilding Network

A scheme to connect areas in the continent where rewilding efforts are taking place, including both the core Rewilding Europe locations as well as man other sites with externally run projects. Promoting the sharing of knowledge and experience between the many projects and locations is a main goal of the network.[11]

Rewilding Europe Capital

Financial programme aiming to provide development loans to businesses in wildlife and nature sectors in order to promote the business case for rewilding. A proposal for support by the European Investment Bank is under review.[12]

European Wildlife Bank

A breeding and restocking programme.[13]

Bison Rewilding Plan

Reintroduction of wisent (European bison) to multiple areas across Europe. A significant reintroduction of bison to Southern Romania began in 2014.[14][15]

Rewilding horses in Europe

Bringing back wild horses, the last of which died out in Europe in 1909.[1][16]

Tauros Programme

Back-breeding and rewilding the extinct wild form of the aurochs, the ancestor of modern cattle.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 "Animals in Europe making a comeback". DW. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  2. ↑ "Rewilding Europe – Executive Summary" (pdf). Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  3. 1 2 "Rewilding Europe". Wild Europe. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  4. ↑ "Initiating partners". Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Manfred Dworschak. "Europe Gone Wild: Back to Nature on the Continent". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  6. ↑ Daniel Cossins (2014-05-01). "Where the Wild Things Were". The Scientist. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  7. 1 2 3 Jessica Aldred; Eric Hilaire; Paddy Allen (2013-10-15). "Making Europe a wilder place – interactive". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  8. ↑ "Bulgaria's Rhodope Mountains Become Part Of Rewilding Europe Initiative". Novinite. 2014-11-13. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  9. ↑ "Oder-Delta wird 8. Rewilding Europe Region" (in German). Deutsche Umwelthilfe. 2015-06-19. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  10. ↑ Rewilding Europe: “Rewilding Europe withdraws from the Eastern Carpathians.” Rewilding Europe News, 15 September 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  11. ↑ Rewilding Europe: “European Rewilding Network.” Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "Rewilding Europe (NCFF)". European Investment Bank. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  13. ↑ Rewilding Europe: “European Wildlife Bank.” Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  14. ↑ "WWF and Rewilding Europe begin the largest reintroduction of bison in Europe". 2014-05-19. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  15. ↑ Jordan Carlton Schaul (2014-05-19). "Rewilding Europe Brings Back the Continent’s Largest Land Animal". National Geographic. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  16. ↑ Rewilding Europe: “Rewilding horses in Europe.” Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  17. ↑ Rewilding Europe: “Tauros Programme.” Retrieved 2 October 2016.

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