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
Eurídice 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.
Advisory Board
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.
Theo Grüntjens
Forestry engineer, Wildlife photographer
Theo Grüntjens, born in 1953, is a seasoned forestry engineer dedicated to blending nature conservation, forestry, and sustainable management. As head of the Rheinmetall Group’s forestry department, he championed ecologically sustainable conservation alongside economic use and ethical wildlife management. He co-authored “Faszination Birkhuhn” on black grouse conservation and “Heideland”, advocating for the protection of the heath’s unique flora and fauna. His work inspires a deep commitment to environmental stewardship.
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.
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.
