The Team
Our team brings together a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, collaborating to build capacity and develop projects focused on scaling up ecosystem restoration. Our collective expertise spans areas such as rewilding, biodiversity conservation, regenerative agriculture, and ecotourism, as well as science, spatial technologies, and nature-based entrepreneurship. We are also outdoor adventure enthousiasts.
Board of directors
Purnima Devi Barman
Director of Species Restoration & Community Climate Education
Purnima Devi Barman is a wildlife biologist and the founder of the Hargila Army, an all-female conservation initiative protecting the greater adjutant stork, in Assam, India. In 2022, she was awarded the Champions of the Earth award in the Entrepreneurial vision category, UN’s highest environmental honour.
Euridice Leyequien Abarca
Training & Research Director
EurÃdice Leyequién is International Training and Education Director at the Rewilding Academy. She is a Professor-Lector Management of Forested Landscapes, ecologist and an advocate for climate resilient rural communities and landscape restoration. Specialised in science-policy-practice interface by developing climate smart ecosystem management and regenerative agriculture.
Arend de Haas
Ecosystem Restoration & Capacity Development Director
Restoration and conservation ecologist with 25 years of experience with ecosystem restoration and conservation, carbon project development, ecotourism and sustainable community development. Co-founder of the African Conservation Foundation and a specialist in GIS, remote sensing and project impact measurement and monitoring.
Marc Wilbers
Education Director
Marc Wilbers is a passionate naturalist with extensive expertise in topics concerning wolf behaviour and bison reintroduction. His lifelong fascination with nature has endowed him with a deep understanding of flora and fauna, and how they interact with each other and their physical environment within a specific area or habitat.
Wolf Science Advisory Team
The team of wolf specialists brings extensive expertise in wolf ecology, behavior, and conservation. They provide scientific insights and practical guidance on coexistence strategies and wolf management.
Marc Wilbers
Education Director
Marc Wilbers is a passionate naturalist with extensive expertise in topics concerning wolf behaviour and bison reintroduction. His lifelong fascination with nature has endowed him with a deep understanding of flora and fauna, and how they interact with each other and their physical environment within a specific area or habitat.
Steffen Heiber
Carnivore Specialist
Steffen Heiber has been involved in wolf monitoring since 2012, managing two wolf packs in Brandenburg, Germany. Trained by the Lupus Institute and WWF, he has expertise in conflict management and large carnivore conservation. His international experience includes work in Poland, Romania, and Georgia.
Theo Grüntjens
Forestry engineer, Wildlife photographer
Theo Grüntjens is a forestry engineer and wolf expert specialising in nature conservation and sustainable management. As head of Rheinmetall Group’s forestry department, he balanced ecological conservation with ethical wildlife management. Co-author of books on black grouse and heathland preservation, his career reflects a profound dedication to protecting biodiversity.
Rick van Malssen
Carnivore ecologist
Rick van Malssen is an ecologist and nature guide with expertise in predator monitoring, wolf research, and ecotourism across Europe. He specializes in tracking wolves and lynx, advising on predator fencing, and mentoring interns. As an ecotourism entrepreneur, he educates on coexistence strategies and wolf-human interactions through guided experiences and presentations.
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board serves as our guiding compass. Whenever we need direction, it’s invaluable to consult with experts for advice. Beyond providing strategic insights, the board also plays a key role in network development, ensuring we maintain strong connections across the field. This helps foster collaboration on critical issues, facilitating short lines of communication between key actors involved in vital environmental work.
Klaus Tamm
Photographer
Klaus Tamm, an internationally acclaimed nature photographer, masterfully captures the fragile beauty and mystique of the natural world through his lens-painted images. His evocative work inspires deep connections to nature, featuring remote and atmospheric landscapes from Scandinavia to South America, the Falklands, and beyond, encouraging viewers to pause and appreciate nature’s sublimity.
Prof. dr. ir. Raoul Beunen
Implementation and Policy Advisor
Prof. dr. ir. Raoul Beunen, professor of Environmental Governance at the Open University, specializes in sustainability transitions and tackling environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and spatial planning. A passionate bird enthusiast, he actively contributes to public debates on nitrogen issues and nature conservation while advocating for biodiversity and sustainable landscapes through initiatives addressing ecological challenges.
Derek Gow
Advisory Board Rewilding
Derek Gow is a British farmer, conservationist, and author pioneering rewilding in the UK. His Devon farm hosts reintroduced species like beavers, wildcats, and white storks, supporting his mission to restore native wildlife. Influenced by Gerald Durrell, Gow has written Bringing Back the Beaver and Birds, Beasts, and Bedlam and now explores Britain’s wolf reintroduction in Hunt for the Shadow Wolf, emphasising the ecological benefits of apex predators.
Sulaiman Tameer
Wildlife Veterinarian and Rescue/Rehab Specialist
Sulaiman Tameer is an award-winning wildlife veterinarian and advocate known for his tireless efforts in advancing animal rights and conservation in Kurdistan, Iraq. Sulaiman’s wildlife rescue operations encompass a wide range of activities, from rescuing and treating injured or orphaned animals to rehabilitating them and releasing them back into their natural habitats.
Alberto Ballar
Ecologist, Herpetologist
Alberto Ballar Ortiz, a biologist with expertise in ecology and sustainable development, specializes in herpetology, focusing on conservation and biodiversity. With a Master’s in Environmental Management from Madrid, he now shares his passion for nature through guided tours and environmental education.
Arjan Otte
Wildlife photographer
Arjan Otte, a passionate wildlife photographer and nature enthusiast, is fascinated by wolves and he finds inspiration in their untamed beauty. Living near the Veluwe nature reserve in the Netherlands, Arjan captures stunning images that blend artistic expression with a message of ecological appreciation, showcasing animals in their natural habitats.
Louis Nkembi
Community-based Conservation Specialist
Louis Nkembi is an award-winning conservationist and environmental champion with a profound commitment to preserving Africa’s rich biodiversity. With extensive experience in the field of community-based conservation, Louis has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise in addressing environmental challenges.
Erik de Boer
Paleoecologist
Erik is a paleoecologist affiliated with the Universiteit van Granada. He is using long-term data of species responses to environmental change to study species survival mechanisms and predict future changes in biodiversity. He specifically focuses on the impact of human arrival on the landscape and the consequences of extinction in island ecosystems.
