The air in Portugal’s Greater Côa Valley, thick with the scent of rockrose and wild lavender, held a charge of anticipation. In 2024, a small herd of European bison stepped onto this ancient soil, their hulking frames a silhouette against a landscape shaped by millennia of human toil. It was a quiet moment, but it was also a revolution.¹
For the first time since they vanished from these lands, Europe’s largest mammal was back, not by accident, but by design. This was not a scene from a forgotten past, but a glimpse of a meticulously planned future.
This is rewilding. It is a concept as radical as it is simple: step back and let nature heal itself. It is a progressive approach to conservation that trusts in the resilience of the wild, in the power of natural processes to repair damaged ecosystems and restore degraded landscapes.² At the heart of this continental transformation is Rewilding Europe, a Dutch foundation established in 2011 with a deceptively straightforward mission: to make Europe a wilder place.³ ⁴
In just over a decade, Rewilding Europe has propelled this audacious idea from the fringes of conservation theory into the mainstream of European policy.⁵ It has done so by navigating complex ecological challenges, pioneering a new economic model for conservation, and confronting the deep-seated cultural relationship between Europeans and their landscapes. This is the story of how a handful of visionaries began to un-tame a continent, not by erasing humanity, but by betting on a future where people and nature can “not only co-exist, but flourish.”⁶ ⁷
The Genesis of an Idea
An Emptying Continent, A Growing Vision
The story of rewilding in Europe begins not in a pristine forest, but in the quiet exodus from its countryside. Since the mid-20th century, a great migration to the cities has left vast tracts of the continent emptying out. Over 29 million hectares of farmland have been abandoned since 1960, with millions more expected to follow.⁸ ⁹ This depopulation, often seen as a sign of rural decline, created a vacuum—a historic opportunity for nature to return.¹⁰ ¹¹
It was this unique confluence of social change and ecological potential that captured the imagination of four conservationists: Frans Schepers, Staffan Widstrand, Neil Birnie, and Wouter Helmer. On June 28, 2011, they formally established Rewilding Europe, a pan-European initiative with a vision that broke from the past.¹² ¹³ They saw a chance to move beyond traditional conservation, which often felt like a rearguard action to preserve small, fragmented, and degraded pockets of nature.¹⁴ ¹⁵
Their mission was twofold: to demonstrate the tangible benefits of wilder nature in large, diverse landscapes, and to inspire and empower others to join the movement.⁴ The vision was of a Europe where wild nature is not a luxury to be cordoned off, but an essential element of a healthy and prosperous society.⁴ This dual focus on both nature and people would become the bedrock of their strategy.
Even the organization’s branding signaled a break from convention. The choice of purple for its logo, a color rarely seen in the green-dominated conservation world, was deliberate. It represented a “departure from the norm,” a commitment to innovation and challenging the status quo.¹³
The Principles of Un-taming
At its core, rewilding is an act of trust in nature’s own intelligence. It is a philosophy of “letting nature lead,” which means actively removing the human-made obstacles that have constrained it for centuries. This involves freeing rivers by taking down obsolete dams, reducing the intensive management of wildlife populations, and allowing forests to regenerate on their own terms.² ¹⁶
As co-founder Frans Schepers puts it, “We as Europeans have mostly grown up in cultivated places and cultural landscapes, living with this belief that we need to manage, and control nature. This couldn’t be further from the truth.”¹⁷
A central tenet of this approach is the restoration of keystone species—the ecological architects that shape entire ecosystems. Large herbivores like bison and wild horses, and apex predators like wolves and lynx, are not just charismatic fauna; they are the engines of biodiversity. Their grazing, browsing, and predation create complex, dynamic habitats, restoring the intricate web of life known as a trophic cascade.² ¹⁸ As leading ecologist Jens-Christian Svenning observes, the loss of this megafauna “can result in simpler ecosystems, which are less functional for biodiversity and are less resilient to external pressures such as climate change.”¹⁹
Crucially, the founders understood that for rewilding to succeed at scale, it could not be just an ecological project; it had to be an economic one. They built their strategy around the revolutionary idea that wild nature must become a competitive form of land use.²⁰ ²¹ This meant creating new, nature-based economies that could provide sustainable jobs and income in regions suffering from economic stagnation, turning wild nature from a liability to be managed into an asset that could revitalize rural communities.² ²²
Landscapes of Hope – Dispatches from the New Wilderness
Rewilding Europe’s work is not theoretical. It is happening on the ground, in ten vast landscapes spread across the continent, from the Scottish Highlands to the Danube Delta. Each serves as a living laboratory, a showcase for how rewilding principles can be adapted to unique ecological and cultural contexts.
The Return of the Titans (Southern Carpathians & Rhodope Mountains)
In the Southern Carpathians of Romania, a sound not heard for 200 years now echoes through the ancient beech forests: the heavy tread of the European bison. Driven to extinction in the wild, Europe’s largest land mammal is making a spectacular comeback. Here, a partnership between Rewilding Europe and WWF-Romania has established a thriving, free-roaming population of over 200 bison.²³ ²⁴ These are not just symbols of recovery; they are powerful ecosystem engineers, whose grazing and browsing create a mosaic of habitats that benefit countless other species.¹⁸
Further south, in Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains, the reintroduction of bison is part of a grander ambition: to restore the entire food chain, the “Circle of Life.”⁵ ²⁵ Here, the project’s success is measured not only by the birth of the first wild bison calf in centuries but also by the soaring presence of griffon, Egyptian, and black vultures.²⁶ By releasing hundreds of red and fallow deer, the team is rebuilding the wild herbivore populations that provide a natural food source for these magnificent scavengers, weaning them off a dependency on domestic livestock carcasses.²⁷ ²⁸
Learning to Live with the Wolf (Greater Côa Valley, Portugal)
The Iberian wolf, an icon of the peninsula’s wild spirit, is clinging to survival south of Portugal’s Douro River. Its population here is one of the most endangered in Europe, its existence threatened by the age-old conflict with livestock farmers.²⁹
In the Greater Côa Valley, Rewilding Europe is tackling this challenge not with rhetoric, but with practical tools. Through the LIFE WolFlux initiative, the team has worked directly with farmers, providing more than 100 specially trained livestock guardian dogs and dozens of wolf-proof fences to protect their flocks.³⁰ ³¹ This approach acknowledges the legitimacy of local concerns and provides tangible solutions to mitigate conflict.
But the strategy goes deeper. Recognizing that wolves turn to livestock when wild prey is scarce, the team is simultaneously working to restore the wolf’s natural food source. By creating pastures and allowing woodlands to regenerate, they are helping local roe deer populations to rebound.²⁹ As the deer return, the pressure on livestock lessens, laying the foundation for a future where shepherds and wolves can once again share the landscape.
From Bare Hills to Boreal Forests (Affric Highlands & Nordic Taiga)
In Scotland, the Affric Highlands project embodies a 30-year vision to heal a landscape scarred by centuries of deforestation. The goal is to restore the ancient Caledonian pinewoods and rewet vast peatlands, which are vital carbon sinks.³² ³³ But the innovation lies in its economic model. The restoration work generates accredited carbon credits, which are sold to offset unavoidable emissions. A portion of this revenue is then channeled directly back into local community projects, creating a powerful financial incentive for conservation.³⁴
Perhaps the most groundbreaking partnership is in the Nordic Taiga of northern Sweden, the homeland of the indigenous Sámi people. This project was reshaped through deep collaboration. The Sámi, whose livelihoods depend on reindeer herding, were concerned about the reintroduction of large predators. In response, the project shifted its focus. Instead of bringing back carnivores, the partnership now works to protect vital reindeer migration corridors from the threats of intensive forestry and mining.³⁵ ³⁶ ³⁷
This approach has been hailed as a model of “decolonial rewilding,” where conservation becomes a tool for social and environmental justice, empowering an indigenous community to protect its culture, reclaim its land, and build a sustainable future on its own terms.³⁶ ³⁸
Corridors of Coexistence (Central Apennines, Italy)
Deep in the mountains of central Italy lives the Marsican brown bear, a critically endangered subspecies found nowhere else on Earth. Its population has dwindled, but thanks to intensive conservation efforts, it is slowly recovering, growing from around 50 to 65 individuals.³⁹
The core strategy here is the creation of “coexistence corridors”—safe passages that connect national parks and allow bears to roam between them.²³ ⁴⁰ To make these corridors work, Rewilding Europe pioneered the “Bear-Smart Community” model. This is a holistic program that combines practical measures—installing hundreds of electric fences and bear-proof bins—with deep community engagement, including the hiring of local “bear ambassadors” to work with farmers and residents.³⁰ ³⁹ ⁴⁰
The model has been a resounding success, dramatically reducing bear-related damage and building local support for the bears’ presence. It is now being replicated across Europe, adapted for bison in Romania and wolves in Portugal, proving that coexistence is not just possible, but a scalable solution.³⁰
The diversity of these projects reveals a core strength of Rewilding Europe’s strategy. It is not a rigid, top-down blueprint imposed upon the land. Instead, it is a highly adaptive and pragmatic approach, tailored to the specific ecology, economy, and culture of each landscape. This flexibility allows the organization to navigate complex local politics and build the broad coalitions necessary for long-term success.
The Pragmatism of the Wild
Rewilding is a hopeful vision, but it is grounded in a clear-eyed pragmatism. Its architects understood that to fundamentally change a continent, they needed more than just good ideas; they needed a sustainable financial engine and a willingness to learn from the failures of the past.
Making Nature Pay: The Rewilding Economy
While philanthropic grants and public subsidies are vital, Rewilding Europe’s long-term strategy hinges on attracting private investment. “If we really want to scale up nature recovery in Europe, we need help from the private sector,” says Frans Schepers.¹⁷ To achieve this, the organization created a unique financial architecture designed to make nature an investible asset.
The cornerstone of this model is Rewilding Europe Capital (REC), the continent’s first enterprise-focused funding facility for rewilding.⁴¹ ⁴² REC provides commercial loans—not grants—to nature-based businesses at modest interest rates of 2–6%.⁴³ ⁴⁴ This transforms conservation from a charitable cost into an economic opportunity.
This innovative approach quickly gained traction, attracting a landmark €6 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) as the first project under its “Bank on Nature Initiative.”⁴⁵ ⁴⁶ This was a powerful validation, signaling to the financial world that rewilding was a credible and scalable economic activity.
The impact is tangible. In Italy’s Central Apennines, a loan from REC helped the company Wildlife Adventures transform an old shepherd’s hut into unique tourist accommodation. The business now serves over 2,000 visitors a year, employing local guides and demonstrating a direct economic return from the presence of wild bears.⁴⁷ ⁴⁸ This is just one of dozens of businesses REC has supported, creating jobs and building a robust economic case for the wild.
This enterprise model is part of a diversified and resilient financial strategy. In 2024, Rewilding Europe’s consolidated income grew by 25% to over €20 million, fueled by a combination of enterprise loans, major grants from national lotteries and philanthropic foundations, and public funding from the EU.⁴⁹ ⁵⁰
| Table 1: Rewilding Europe’s Financial Ecosystem (2024) | |
| Income Source | Amount (€) |
| Income from non-profit organisations | 14,003,898 |
| Income from lotteries | 3,100,000 |
| Income from public funds (e.g., EU) | 1,822,823 |
| Income from companies | 405,298 |
| Income from individuals & legacies | 780,233 |
| Total Consolidated Income | 20,256,453 |
| Source: Rewilding Europe Financial Statements 2024⁴⁹ ⁵⁰ |
The Ghost of Oostvaardersplassen: Lessons from Failure
The rewilding movement is haunted by a cautionary tale: the Oostvaardersplassen (OVP) in the Netherlands. Hailed in the 1980s as a pioneering experiment, it became a public relations disaster and a profound ethical crisis.⁵¹
The project’s design was fatally flawed. Large herbivores—horses, cattle, and deer—were introduced into a 55-square-kilometer fenced reserve with no predators and a strict policy of non-intervention.⁵¹ ⁵² The result was an ecological and ethical collapse. The enclosed animals overgrazed the landscape, decimating biodiversity. During harsh winters, with no possibility of migration, they starved. In the winter of 2017 alone, 3,000 animals—60% of the population—died or were shot by rangers to prevent further suffering, sparking a massive public outcry.⁵¹ ⁵³
The failure of OVP provided a crucial, if brutal, set of lessons that have directly shaped Rewilding Europe’s approach. It demonstrated the folly of pursuing non-intervention in a small, closed, and incomplete ecosystem. It underscored the absolute necessity of scale, ecological connectivity through wildlife corridors, and pragmatic, adaptive management. Most importantly, it proved that rewilding cannot succeed without the consent and involvement of the public.⁵³ ⁵⁴ Rewilding Europe’s entire model—with its emphasis on vast landscapes, human-wildlife coexistence measures, and deep community partnerships—is a strategic response designed to avoid repeating the mistakes of Oostvaardersplassen.
The Politics of Letting Go
Despite its growing success, rewilding faces significant headwinds. Promoting a wilder vision in a continent of deeply “cultural landscapes” inevitably creates friction.⁵⁵ There are legitimate concerns from farmers about crop damage and livestock predation, and from hunters who see their traditional roles changing.⁵⁴ ⁵⁶
The concept has also drawn academic critique. Some scholars question the very idea of a historical “baseline” to which nature should be returned, arguing that ecosystems are dynamic, not static.⁵⁷ Others point to the inherent paradox of actively managing a landscape to become “unmanaged.”⁵⁸
Furthermore, existing conservation policy in Europe, designed to protect specific species and habitats in a fixed state, is often ill-suited to the unpredictable, process-led nature of rewilding. As one expert noted, this makes policy “one of the massive constraints on rewilding in Europe at the moment.”⁵⁹
A Wilder Tomorrow?
In little more than a decade, Rewilding Europe has steered a radical idea from the margins of conservation to the heart of European policy. The recent passage of the EU’s historic Nature Restoration Law is a testament to how far the movement has come.⁵ Rewilding is no longer a fringe concept; it is a mainstream strategy for tackling the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.⁶⁰
Frans Schepers has called for a shift away from a “narrative of anxiety” towards a “narrative of empowerment.”¹⁷ Rewilding offers just that: a hopeful, proactive, and tangible story of recovery. It demonstrates that we are not merely custodians of a diminishing natural world, but that we can be active agents in its restoration.⁵ ⁶¹
Immense challenges remain—cultural resistance, political inertia, and the sheer scale of the task. Yet Rewilding Europe has provided a powerful proof of concept.⁶² It has shown that it is possible to build a new and mutually beneficial relationship with the natural world, one that creates economic opportunity, fosters social cohesion, and allows ecosystems to regain their magnificent complexity.
The vision is continental in scope, but its power may lie in its personal resonance. As Schepers suggests, the journey can begin in a single backyard, by simply making space for nature and watching what happens.¹⁷ It is a small act that reflects a much larger truth: that a wilder, more resilient, and more hopeful future is within our grasp, if only we have the courage to let go.
Endnotes
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² Rewilding Europe, “What is Rewilding?,” Rewilding Europe, accessed 2024, https://rewildingeurope.com/what-is-rewilding/.
³ Rewilding Europe, “About Rewilding Europe,” Rewilding Europe, accessed 2024, https://rewildingeurope.com/about-rewilding-europe/.
⁴ Rewilding Europe, “Our Story,” Rewilding Europe, accessed 2024, https://rewildingeurope.com/our-story/.
⁵ Global Rewilding Alliance, “The Global Rewilding Movement: Our Collective Impact,” Global Rewilding Alliance, 2024, https://globalrewilding.earth/wp-content/uploads/The-Global-Rewilding-Movement-Our-Collective-Impact-reduced.pdf.
⁶ Rewilding Europe, “Our Story,” Rewilding Europe, accessed 2024, https://rewildingeurope.com/our-story/.
⁷ Thomas Pauvret, “Decolonial Rewilding: A New Environmentalism of the Poor for the European High North?,” Sybil, 2022, https://www.sybil.es/sybil/article/download/2111/2333/3865.
⁸ Resilient Rural, “How Rewilding is Revitalizing Europe’s Countryside: Nature, Climate, Wealth,” Resilient Rural, 2024, https://resilientrural.eu/how-rewilding-is-revitalizing-europes-countryside-nature-climate-wealth/.
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