Rewilding Europe is a programme aiming to rewild one million hectares of land spread across ten different locations in Europe by 2020.
Contents
- Locations
- Initiatives
- European Rewilding Network
- Rewilding Europe Capital
- European Wildlife Bank
- Bison Rewilding Plan
- Rewilding horses in Europe
- Tauros Programme
- References
Previously named the Wild Europe Field Programme, it was initiated in 2011 by four organisations: WWF-Netherlands, ARK Nature, Wild Wonders of Europe and Conservation Capital following the "Conference on Wilderness and Large Natural Habitat Areas" (Wild Europe) conference in Prague in 2009.
€3 million in start-up funding for the programme was raised in a Dutch lottery.
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 nine areas, with one left to select:
In September 2016, though, Rewilding Europe withdrew from the Eastern Carpathians again.
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.
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.
European Wildlife Bank
A breeding and restocking programme.
Bison Rewilding Plan
Reintroduction of wisent (European bison) to multiple areas across Europe. A significant reintroduction of bison to Southern Romania began in 2014.
Rewilding horses in Europe
Bringing back wild horses, the last of which died out in Europe in 1909.
Tauros Programme
Back-breeding and rewilding the extinct wild form of the aurochs, the ancestor of modern cattle.