A new advisory report produced by Sophie Trenning, a Van Hall Larenstein student who completed her graduation internship at the Rewilding Academy between February and June 2026, offers the most structured assessment to date of whether the Eurasian lynx could return to the Netherlands — and what would need to happen to make that return successful. The findings are both encouraging and sobering: the Netherlands is potentially ready for the lynx ecologically, but society and governance still have some catching up to do.

A question of preparation, not permission

One of the most important reframings in the report is deceptively simple. The question is not whether the Netherlands should allow the lynx to return. Under European and Dutch conservation legislation, a naturally recolonising protected species automatically receives legal protection the moment it crosses the border. The lynx is already recognised as a native species under Dutch law. If it arrives, it is protected. The real question, as Sophie’s research makes clear, is whether the Netherlands is prepared for the possibility.

That distinction matters enormously. The return of the wolf in 2015 caught Dutch society largely off guard. Management frameworks were built reactively, compensation schemes were established under pressure, and public debate became deeply polarised before adequate governance structures were in place. The report argues that with the lynx — whose nearest established populations are already within around 50 kilometres of the Dutch border in the Eifel and Ardennes — the Netherlands has a rare opportunity to do things differently.

What the research found

To assess feasibility in a rigorous and transparent way, Sophie developed a Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) framework integrating sixteen indicators across three domains: ecology, society, and governance. Each indicator was scored from 1 to 5 based on a systematic review of scientific literature and seven semi-structured expert interviews with specialists in carnivore ecology, conservation law, agricultural stakeholder interests, provincial wildlife policy, lynx management in Spain, captive lynx management, and stakeholder engagement from the Lynx to Scotland initiative.

The resulting overall feasibility score of 3.14 out of 5 places lynx recolonisation firmly in the category of potentially feasible — not a definitive green light, but far from a dead end.

The ecological picture is broadly positive. The Netherlands has abundant roe deer — the lynx’s primary prey — throughout much of the country. The Veluwe in particular, with an estimated 5,500 roe deer, could support multiple lynx territories. Habitat quality in the Veluwe, parts of Limburg, and the Brabantse Kempen was assessed as favourable, and lynx are increasingly understood to be more adaptable to human-dominated landscapes than traditional habitat models suggest. Legal protection under the EU Habitats Directive is already in place. And unlike wolves, lynx pose virtually no risk to human safety — across all of Europe, there are no documented cases of unprovoked lynx attacks on people.

The main ecological constraints are connectivity and population viability. The Dutch landscape is highly fragmented. Infrastructure, urbanisation, and intensive agriculture create significant barriers to dispersal both into and within the country. While individual lynx are capable of dispersing hundreds of kilometres, the available dispersal routes into the Netherlands — primarily through the Ardennes-Eifel corridor into South Limburg — are limited and interrupted. Even if lynx do reach suitable habitat, the patches available are likely too small and too isolated to support a self-sustaining population without ongoing immigration from neighbouring populations. That immigration pressure will likely only become significant once the Belgian population — currently still expanding — reaches a critical mass of around 75 individuals.

On the social side, the assessment is more uncertain. Public attitudes are expected to be cautiously positive: the lynx’s elusive nature and minimal impact on human safety distinguish it meaningfully from the wolf in public perception. But stakeholder attitudes — particularly among farmers, hunters, and land managers — are more complex and more difficult to predict. Concerns about livestock predation, additional management burdens, and the broader political climate around large carnivores in the Netherlands all weigh on the social feasibility assessment. The report is candid about this: perception often becomes reality, and whether or not concerns are objectively justified, they are real to those who hold them and must be taken seriously.

Governance feasibility sits in the middle. The legal framework is solid, and experience gained through wolf management has built genuine institutional knowledge and monitoring capacity. But preparation for the lynx specifically is almost entirely absent. No national strategy exists. No dedicated compensation framework is in place. Much of what was being developed in Limburg before the wolf’s return has since been quietly shelved as the wolf dominated the large carnivore agenda. The report identifies this preparedness gap as one of the most actionable and urgent areas for improvement.

Six pathways to a better future

Perhaps the most practically useful contribution of the report is its scenario analysis, which explores how six different interventions — two ecological, two social, two governance-related — could individually and collectively shift the feasibility score.

The most ecologically impactful scenario involves improving landscape connectivity: building wildlife crossings, strengthening ecological corridors, and creating stepping-stone habitats along the routes most likely to be used by dispersing lynx, particularly between the Ardennes-Eifel region and Limburg, and between Limburg and the Veluwe. This single intervention could raise the overall feasibility score to 3.66 — the largest single gain of any scenario. But it is also the most complex and costly to realise, requiring sustained investment, cross-border coordination, and political commitment over decades. It is, in the report’s own assessment, an essential long-term goal rather than a short-term action.

More immediately achievable are the social and governance scenarios. A national lynx preparedness strategy — defining responsibilities, establishing monitoring protocols, developing incident response procedures, and integrating lynx into existing large carnivore policy frameworks — could be developed before any lynx sets foot in the Netherlands. A cross-border cooperation framework with Germany and Belgium, building on existing European conservation networks, would allow Dutch authorities to benefit from established expertise and receive early warning of dispersing individuals. An education and awareness programme could begin shifting public understanding now, before any controversy arises. And a proactive stakeholder engagement programme — involving farmers, hunters, land managers, and conservation organisations in genuine dialogue, with practical support and compensation mechanisms built in from the start — could transform stakeholder attitudes from a constraint into an asset.

Combined, these interventions could raise the overall feasibility score to between 3.89 and 4.06 — potentially crossing the threshold from potentially feasible into feasible, depending on how well stakeholder concerns are addressed.

The broader lesson

Sophie’s research carries a message that extends well beyond the lynx. It demonstrates something that rewilding practitioners and conservationists often know intuitively but rarely document with this level of rigour: ecological readiness is necessary but not sufficient. A landscape can have the right habitat, the right prey, the right legal framework — and still fail to support a recovering species if the social and governance conditions are not in place.

The Netherlands is, as the report puts it, a densely populated and highly managed landscape. But it is also a country with a long tradition of ambitious nature development, from Plan Ooievaar to Ruimte voor de Rivier. The white-tailed eagle returned. The great egret returned. The wolf returned. Each time, the country adapted. The question now is whether it can learn to anticipate rather than react.

As Sophie writes in her conclusion: “Ultimately, whether lynx recolonisation occurs is not something that can be determined by policymakers, conservationists, or researchers alone. That decision will be made by the lynx itself. The responsibility of society is therefore not to decide whether recolonisation will happen, but to determine how prepared it is to respond should it occur.“

For the Rewilding Academy, that conclusion is both an interesting challenge and an invitation. The report is now available in full and represents a foundation on which to build: for stakeholder dialogue, for policy conversations, for education, and for the kind of careful, patient preparation that gives wildlife — and the societies that share landscapes with it — the best possible chance of coexistence.

Sophie Trenning completed this research as part of her graduation project at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, supervised by the Rewilding Academy. The full report is available on request.

The post Could the Eurasian Lynx Return to the Netherlands? New Research Says Yes — If We’re Ready appeared first on Rewilding Academy.

This article is based on a literature review conducted as part of a graduation internship at the Rewilding Academy.

About the golden jackal

The golden jackal is a medium-sized canid – larger than a red fox, smaller than a wolf. Weighing between 13 and 15 kilograms, with a reddish-brown coat and a pointed snout, it is clearly distinguishable from both relatives. In the field, it can be identified by its paw prints: the two front toes are fused at the rear, a feature visible in loose soil.

The species is flexible and opportunistic. It lives in monogamous packs consisting of a breeding pair, their pups, and female yearlings. Territories in Europe average 2-4 km², but can vary considerably depending on the season and food availability. Young animals searching for their own territory sometimes travel hundreds of kilometres – crossing roads, rivers, and even motorways.

Its diet is broad: small mammals (particularly mice and voles), birds, amphibians, plant matter, carrion, and refuse. In wetter habitats such as marshes and reed beds, it frequently hunts coypu, muskrats, hares, and geese – which explains its nickname, the ‘reed wolf’.

From The Balkans to the Lowlands

The golden jackal is native to Southeast Europe and Asia. A cautious westward expansion began at the end of the 19th century, but it was not until the 1980s that the spread truly accelerated. Today the species is present throughout Central Europe; in Germany, multiple established packs with pups have already been documented. In 2016, the first golden jackal in the Netherlands was recorded on the Veluwe, followed by sightings in Overijssel and Limburg.

Underlying this expansion is a combination of factors – but one that is often overlooked is climate change. Rising temperatures are shifting the ecological boundaries within which species can survive, and for the golden jackal, warming winters have made previously inhospitable regions in Central and Northwest Europe newly accessible. In that sense, the jackal is a climate refugee: pushed and pulled northward by a changing climate that is steadily redrawing the map of where wildlife can live. The scale of that shift is perhaps best illustrated by a single data point – in 2020, golden jackals of Balkan origin were recorded north of the Arctic Circle in Norway.

Beyond climate, land-use changes have played a decisive role: the intensification of agriculture (more livestock, more carcass material), heavy hunting pressure on deer providing abundant carrion, and – crucially – the systematic persecution of wolves. As wolves retreated into large, undisturbed nature reserves, smaller woodlands and farmland were vacated and colonised by the jackal. The species effectively followed the footprint of human disruption.

In Europe, the golden jackal is recognised as a native species, since it reaches its expanding range under its own power. It therefore falls under Annex V of the EU Habitats Directive, meaning all member states are obliged to maintain a favourable conservation status.

Suitable habitats in the Netherlands

A habitat suitability analysis by the Dutch Mammal Society (Wennink et al., 2019) assessed which parts of the Netherlands could support golden jackals. The findings are striking: without accounting for wolf presence, the Netherlands could theoretically support up to 1,476 family groups across approximately 16,000 km².

The most suitable habitats are small-scale, structurally diverse landscapes combining low disturbance, sufficient space, and prey diversity: semi-open woodlands, forest edges, reed beds, river banks, and agricultural land with hedgerows and scrub. Core areas identified include the Veluwe, the Utrecht Ridge, National Park Nieuw Land (including the Oostvaardersplassen), and various areas in the northeast and southeast of the country.

When wolf presence is factored in — wolves actively chase jackals out of their territories — the available area shrinks to around 9,685 km², with room for 851 family groups. That remains substantial. Large urban areas and much of the western Netherlands are generally unsuitable.

What role can the golden jackal play in the ecosystem?

Predators are essential to healthy ecosystems. They regulate prey populations, promote biodiversity, and influence prey behaviour through what ecologists call the ‘ecology of fear’ — an effect whereby the mere presence of a predator changes how herbivores use the landscape, indirectly shaping vegetation structure.

For Dutch nature, the arrival of the golden jackal presents several concrete opportunities.

Control of invasive species. In wetter habitats, the golden jackal readily preys on muskrats and coypu — both invasive species that damage riverbanks and flood defences. The American red swamp crayfish, which undermines banks and outcompetes native crayfish, also features on its menu. Natural population control through predation could be a welcome complement to costly eradication programmes.

Reducing goose pressure. Geese — particularly the greylag goose — cause considerable crop and grassland damage in agricultural areas. The golden jackal actively hunts geese, which could locally reduce grazing pressure.

Impact on the fox. The golden jackal competes directly with the red fox in both habitat and diet. Research in Italy shows it can displace foxes from their territories — and under food stress will even hunt foxes, as confirmed by DNA analysis of jackal scat. This could have positive knock-on effects for meadow bird populations, which are already under severe pressure from fox predation.

The risks: an honest assessment

A balanced picture requires equal attention to potential problems.

Meadow birds. The golden jackal also eats birds, including medium-sized species such as pigeons, ducks, and – possibly – meadow birds. It could both reduce fox numbers and itself prey on ground-nesting birds: two opposing effects that make the net outcome for these species uncertain. Enclosing important breeding areas with predator-proof fencing is the most reliable protective measure.

Livestock predation. Although the golden jackal is shy and mainly active at night, incidents involving sheep have been documented in other countries. The risk is real but manageable. Measures proven effective against wolves — electric fencing, livestock guardian dogs, night enclosures — work equally well against golden jackals. Targeted lethal removal of a persistently problematic individual is legally possible as a last resort, under strict conditions, via the existing environmental permitting framework.

Protected small mammals. Peatlands and wetlands are home to rare vole species under strict legal protection. The golden jackal may add predation pressure in these areas. The degree of impact depends heavily on the overall health and biodiversity of the ecosystem concerned.

Lessons from other countries

Countries that have encountered the golden jackal earlier offer useful perspectives.

In Croatia, golden jackals behave as opportunistic omnivores that hunt relatively little as long as sufficient carrion and waste is available. Human-wildlife conflict is rare; farmers have even come to appreciate the species as a natural controller of rats on arable land.

In Germany — where the species is now permanently established — public debate has remained modest compared to the controversy surrounding wolves. In 2025, German authorities issued their first permit for the shooting of a problematic individual on the island of Sylt, following repeated sheep predation.

In Austria, researcher Jennifer Hatlauf has called for standardised monitoring protocols and cross-border cooperation, so that protection statuses and population estimates become properly comparable. The wide divergence in legislation between European countries — from full protection to freely huntable outside the breeding season — currently hampers coherent continent-wide monitoring.

Experiences in South Africa with the closely related black-backed jackal illustrate what can go wrong when policy is poorly coordinated. There, the extermination of large predators triggered a jackal population explosion through ‘mesopredator release’, causing severe livestock losses. The lesson: a layered system of preventive measures, farmer compensation, and structured population monitoring outperforms reactive, ad hoc culling.

What does this mean for the Netherlands?

The arrival of the golden jackal is not a threat to be warded off — it is a natural process consistent with the broader return of wild carnivores to Europe, itself partly driven by the ecological disruptions of climate change. The species can play a valuable role in the ecosystem, provided that policy is put in place proactively and thoughtfully.

The recommendations from the research are clear:

• Establish monitoring through a standardised protocol, including active methods such as camera traps, bioacoustic monitoring, and genetic analysis of scat.
• Support preventive measures for livestock farmers in potential jackal habitat, with subsidies for predator-proof fencing and livestock guardian dogs.
• Designate protected zones for vulnerable bird species and rare small mammals, enclosed with predator-proof fencing where needed.
• Invest in communication and education aimed at citizens, farmers, and policymakers — while public awareness is still low and prejudice limited, there is a genuine opportunity to frame the discussion carefully and constructively.
• Strengthen cross-border collaboration to gain insight into migration routes, population dynamics, and the effects of the species on comparable ecosystems elsewhere.

The golden jackal is already on its way. The question is not whether it will establish itself in the Netherlands, but how we manage that process. With the right knowledge, sound policy, and a willingness to learn from experience elsewhere, the return of this native carnivore can contribute to a healthier, more resilient Dutch landscape.

This article is based on the literature review ‘De Goudjakhals’ by Noortje Looijenga, conducted as a graduation internship at The Rewilding Academy (March 2026). References are available in the full research report.

The post The golden jackal: Europe’s quiet newcomer appeared first on Rewilding Academy.

Held at a critical moment for international environmental action, the meetings focused on accelerating progress towards the 2030 Agenda and the implementation of global commitments on biodiversity, climate change, land restoration, pollution reduction and sustainable development. The Assembly convenes only once every four years and serves as the highest governing body of the GEF, the world’s largest multilateral environmental fund.

Major Outcomes from Samarkand

The most important outcome of the Council meeting was the endorsement of the GEF-9 programming framework for the period 2026–2030, backed by an initial replenishment of USD 3.9 billion from donor countries. This funding will support the final phase of implementation towards global environmental goals set for 2030. Delegates also approved more than USD 232 million in new environmental investments across 24 projects and programmes in 22 countries, spanning biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, land restoration and sustainable development.

The discussions reflected a growing recognition that environmental challenges can no longer be addressed in isolation. Climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, freshwater scarcity and pollution are increasingly understood as interconnected crises requiring integrated, landscape-scale solutions. This aligns closely with rewilding and ecosystem restoration approaches that seek to restore ecological processes while strengthening community resilience and sustainable livelihoods.

A Significant Step Forward for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities

Among the most important achievements emerging from the GEF-9 replenishment process is the commitment to direct 20 percent of GEF-9 programming towards actions led by or benefiting Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). This represents a major shift in global environmental finance and reflects growing evidence that Indigenous Peoples and local communities are among the most effective stewards of biodiversity and natural ecosystems.

The replenishment package also includes continued support for the Inclusive Conservation Initiative and a broader effort to improve access to finance, participation and decision-making opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. These developments signal a move towards more equitable, rights-based and community-led conservation models.

Civil Society Calls for Deeper Partnership

During the Assembly, the GEF CSO Network delivered a collective statement on behalf of civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women and youth from around the world.

The statement welcomed the progress made through GEF-9 and emphasized that meaningful environmental transformation requires more than funding alone. Civil society called for expanded direct access to finance, stronger participation in decision-making, improved transparency and accountability, protection of rights, support for community-generated data and monitoring systems, and greater investment in education and capacity development.

Particular emphasis was placed on ensuring that women, youth, Indigenous Peoples and local communities are not merely beneficiaries of environmental programmes but active partners in designing, implementing and monitoring them. The Network also urged the GEF to strengthen support for the Small Grants Programme, expand civil society engagement in transboundary initiatives and increase direct funding opportunities for local organizations.

These priorities resonate strongly with the Rewilding Academy’s own experience. Across many regions, local organizations often possess the deepest understanding of landscapes, ecosystems and community needs, yet continue to face significant barriers in accessing international funding and technical support.

Why This Matters for Rewilding and Restoration

For the Rewilding Academy, the discussions in Samarkand reinforced a message that has become increasingly clear across the environmental sector: restoring ecosystems requires investing in people as much as in nature.

Successful restoration and rewilding initiatives depend on long-term local leadership, technical capacity, access to knowledge, and strong partnerships between communities, practitioners, researchers and policymakers. Environmental finance is most effective when it strengthens these local systems and enables communities to become long-term stewards of restored landscapes.

Around the world, the Rewilding Academy works with local organizations, universities and conservation partners to strengthen these capacities. Through collaborative curriculum development, professional training and field-based learning programmes, the Academy supports the next generation of restoration practitioners, conservation leaders and environmental professionals.

Current partnerships and programmes span countries including Cameroon, Cambodia, Cuba, Mexico, Indonesia, India, Zimbabwe, Germany and the United Arab Emirates, among others. Across these diverse landscapes, a common lesson continues to emerge: ecological restoration succeeds when local knowledge, scientific expertise and community leadership are brought together.

The growing recognition within the GEF of the importance of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women and youth reflects the same principle. Environmental goals cannot be achieved through top-down approaches alone. Lasting impact depends on investing in the people who live within, depend upon and care for ecosystems every day.

Looking Ahead

As the world enters what many participants described as the “final sprint to 2030,” the challenge now shifts from commitment to implementation. The success of GEF-9 will ultimately be measured not only by the volume of finance mobilized but by whether resources reach the communities and landscapes where they are needed most.

For civil society, the Assembly demonstrated both progress and unfinished work. Important commitments have been secured, particularly regarding Indigenous Peoples and local communities, but continued advocacy will be needed to ensure these commitments translate into measurable outcomes on the ground.

The Rewilding Academy will continue to contribute to these efforts through its role within the GEF CSO Network and through its ongoing work to strengthen restoration capacity, education and community-led initiatives around the world.

As global environmental challenges become increasingly interconnected, so too must the solutions. The future of biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and ecosystem restoration depends on partnerships that connect global ambition with local action. The conversations in Samarkand demonstrated that this understanding is gaining momentum – and that civil society has a vital role to play in turning that vision into reality.

The post Rewilding Academy Engages in Eighth GEF Assembly as Global Environmental Action Accelerates Towards 2030 appeared first on Rewilding Academy.

For centuries, Europe’s landscapes have been defined by human hands. Forests were cleared, fields tilled, and grazing animals were herded and confined. This human-driven mosaic created an ecosystem where open grasslands and light-demanding plant species thrived—but only under continual management. When land use ceases, nature begins to reclaim it. Shrubs and trees spread, open fields darken, and many specialized plants and insects disappear. Today, much of temperate Europe is on a slow march toward dense, shadowed woodlands—a process known as vegetation succession.

Rewilding aims to reverse this trend. By reintroducing large herbivores, conservationists hope to restore self-regulating ecosystems reminiscent of those that existed before widespread human alteration. In northern Europe, this often means substituting extinct wild species like aurochs (Bos primigenius) and wild horses (Equus ferus) with modern cattle (Bos taurus) and horses (Equus ferus caballus). The idea is simple: these animals graze, trampling and browsing vegetation, keeping the landscape open, and creating opportunities for light-demanding plants and insects to persist.

Yet, the success of this approach depends on understanding not just that these animals eat plants, but how they move across the landscape, where they choose to feed, and how their presence affects vegetation patterns over time. Until recently, these questions were difficult to answer. But a team of ecologists in Denmark has brought new clarity by tracking GPS-collared horses and cattle and combining their movement data with satellite observations of vegetation productivity. The results, published in a recent study, reveal both predictable patterns and surprising behaviors.

Grazers Follow the Green—but Not Always

One of the key findings is that both horses and cattle are drawn to open vegetation. This is not surprising: grasslands and short shrubs provide easy grazing and minimize the energy needed to move through dense brush or forest. The animals’ movement patterns, analyzed across seasons, confirmed that areas with lower vegetation density and higher connectivity were favored by both species. Horses, it turns out, tend to roam more widely than cattle, exploring forest edges and patches of shrubs that cattle generally avoid. But both species diverge in their choices when resources become scarce, particularly during winter. Horses maintain a more varied diet, supplementing grasses with leaves from deciduous trees, while cattle rely more heavily on shrubs, especially brambles like Rubus species.

The study also revealed a less expected behavior: both horses and cattle were strongly attracted to a single artificial shelter in the reserve. Despite abundant natural alternatives, the animals repeatedly returned to this human-made structure, highlighting the influence of infrastructure on space-use patterns. It’s a reminder that even in rewilded systems, subtle human interventions can steer animal behavior in ways that may not always align with ecological goals.

Grazing Shapes Vegetation—and Resilience

Beyond movement patterns, the researchers wanted to understand how grazing affects vegetation structure at the landscape scale. By overlaying animal GPS data with satellite-derived vegetation indices, they discovered a clear correlation: areas heavily used by herbivores remained more open, with lower vegetation density, while lightly used areas experienced denser growth. In other words, the presence of these grazers slows the natural progression toward shrub-dominated or forested landscapes.

Interestingly, these highly used areas were also more sensitive to environmental stress, particularly the pan-European drought of 2018. Vegetation in grazing hotspots experienced rapid declines in greenness during the drought but bounced back faster than less-frequented areas once rains returned. This resilience suggests that grazing not only shapes plant structure but may also enhance ecosystem recovery following extreme events—a crucial insight as climate change increases the frequency of droughts and heatwaves in temperate Europe.

When herbivore populations declined by roughly two-thirds after the drought, the landscape greened, but this recovery did not correspond neatly with the previous intensity of grazing. This highlights the nuanced interplay between herbivore activity, climate events, and vegetation dynamics, emphasizing that managing landscapes is rarely straightforward.

Diversity Matters

One interesting outcome of the study is how the combination of cattle and horses—two species often considered ecologically similar—creates more heterogeneity than either species alone. While both are large herbivores, their differences in diet, movement, and seasonal preferences mean that together they influence a wider range of vegetation types. In periods of resource scarcity, the divergence in space-use ensures that some areas receive more intensive grazing while others are left to regrow, promoting a patchwork of vegetation heights and densities. This patchiness is a key driver of biodiversity, providing niches for insects, birds, and smaller plants that thrive in varying light conditions.

Rewilding advocates often emphasize functional diversity—the idea that different species perform different ecological roles. The Danish study provides a clear illustration of this principle. Introducing multiple types of herbivores increases structural variation across the landscape, supporting a broader array of species and enhancing ecosystem stability.

Implications for European Rewilding

The Danish case study underscores the potential of trophic rewilding to maintain open landscapes without constant human intervention. By reintroducing year-round grazing, managers can curb vegetation densification, sustain light-demanding species, and foster heterogeneous habitats. This is particularly relevant in a European context where much of the natural landscape is no longer shaped by traditional land uses like rotational grazing or haymaking.

However, the research also points to challenges. The animals’ attraction to artificial infrastructure, such as shelters or water points, means that human placement of these structures can inadvertently concentrate grazing in specific areas. Thoughtful planning is required to balance animal welfare with ecological objectives. Similarly, understanding seasonal and species-specific behaviors is critical; a one-size-fits-all approach may not achieve the desired outcomes.

Perhaps most importantly, the study highlights how rewilding interacts with climate variability. Grazers not only shape vegetation structure but also modulate its response to extreme weather events. In a warming Europe, where droughts, heatwaves, and unusual precipitation patterns are becoming more common, large herbivores could play an increasingly important role in maintaining ecosystem function and biodiversity.

A Living Laboratory

Rewilding areas like the Danish reserve are more than just conservation projects—they are living laboratories, revealing how nature functions when allowed to self-regulate. Here, horses and cattle act as landscape engineers, creating open spaces and patchy vegetation that support a web of life far richer than any single species alone.

The study’s insights extend beyond Denmark. Across temperate Europe, many abandoned or minimally managed landscapes face rapid densification. Reintroducing large herbivores offers a tangible strategy to counteract this trend, preserving open habitats that have been vanishing since the end of traditional agricultural practices. Moreover, the nuanced understanding of space-use and vegetation dynamics gained from this research provides practical guidance for managers: which species to introduce, how to balance herd sizes, and how to integrate infrastructure without undermining ecological objectives.

Looking Forward

The Danish study also raises broader questions about the future of European ecosystems. As climate change accelerates and human influence continues to ebb and flow, managers will need to consider both ecological and behavioral factors in conservation planning. Grazers can be allies in maintaining landscape heterogeneity, but their impact depends on species composition, population dynamics, and the spatial configuration of resources.

Trophic rewilding is, in essence, an experiment in letting ecological processes govern themselves. By reintroducing species that were once lost, we can restore the interactions that shaped Europe’s landscapes for millennia. Horses and cattle may seem ordinary, even domesticated, but in the right context, they perform roles that no machinery or human management can fully replicate. They eat, they roam, they trample—and in doing so, they keep the land open, resilient, and alive with diversity.

As these herds wander the Danish reserve, they are writing a new chapter in Europe’s ecological story. One where wildness, in its broadest sense, is not just about animals running free—it’s about animals shaping the land itself, one patch of grass, shrub, or tree at a time. And for conservationists, scientists, and nature enthusiasts alike, watching this slow, subtle dance between grazers and vegetation offers both hope and a roadmap for rewilding a continent.

The post How Feral Horses and Cattle Are Shaping Europe’s Landscapes appeared first on Rewilding Academy.

A Trans-European Network for Nature

The project’s core ambition is to build a Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N) — an interconnected mosaic of protected areas, ecological corridors, and semi-natural landscapes. While protected areas currently cover about 26% of the EU’s land, only a fraction enjoys strict protection, and many key species remain underrepresented. Using a method called Integrated Spatial Planning (ISP), NaturaConnect identifies where new protection can do the most good — especially for species and habitats in decline. The project emphasizes targeting protection where it delivers the highest conservation value, not just where it’s politically convenient.

Going Beyond Borders

One of the brief’s most striking findings is that EU-wide planning outperforms national efforts. When countries plan conservation independently, they often prioritize species that are rare nationally — but common elsewhere. In contrast, cross-border collaboration ensures attention goes to truly endangered and range-restricted species, maximizing biodiversity gains across Europe. Maps created through ISP show that shared planning leads to more cost-effective, complementary, and resilient conservation outcomes. “We can do more with the same space if we work together,” says Dr. Martin Jung, lead analyst for the project.

Strict Protection: Not One-Size-Fits-All

The concept of “strict protection” — areas where natural processes are left largely undisturbed — is gaining traction in EU policy. But NaturaConnect highlights a nuanced reality: different places require different strategies. Some sites may thrive under total non-intervention, while others, like ancient wetlands or species-rich pastures, may need active management to support biodiversity. The team is also exploring how strict protection could align with social and cultural values, ensuring that communities remain allies in restoration efforts.

Next Steps: A Living Plan for a Wilder Europe

Over 100 experts from 20+ institutions are contributing to NaturaConnect. Their evolving models will soon incorporate ecosystem services, climate change resilience, and socio-economic costs, aiming to deliver a roadmap that is scientifically sound and politically feasible. The message is clear: we can still choose a future where Europe’s landscapes pulse with wildness, resilience, and life — but only if we plan smartly, inclusively, and together.

🔗 Read more about NaturaConnect and the full science brief here.

📩 Contact the Rewilding Academy if you’d like to collaborate on transnational conservation planning.

The post Rethinking Protection: A New Map for Europe’s Wild Future appeared first on Rewilding Academy.

🔗 Full report: Turning Over a New Leaf – Interconnected Disaster Risks 2023

The Challenge: Knowing What to Do, But Failing to Act

Climate change is accelerating. Species extinction and ecosystem degradation are occurring at unprecedented rates. The world produces over two billion tonnes of waste annually, a figure expected to double by 2050. Scientists have repeatedly sounded the alarm: phase out fossil fuels, restore ecosystems, and shift to sustainable living. Yet, progress remains sluggish. The question is no longer what to do—but why aren’t we doing it?

Introducing the Theory of Deep Change

This year’s report responds to that question by introducing the Theory of Deep Change (ToDC). This new framework helps us understand why surface-level responses often fall short. It explains that real change requires addressing the root causes of global crises—our beliefs, values, and social systems.

The theory involves four core stages:

1. Observe current outcomes.
2. Identify root causes.
3. Envision a desirable future.
4. Explore transformations to achieve it.

Rather than simply preventing catastrophe, ToDC helps reimagine how we might live in a future that is abundant, resilient, and just.

Five Transformational Shifts

The report outlines five key transformations needed for deep systemic change:

1. Rethink waste – From trash to treasure
2. Realign with nature – From separation to harmony
3. Reconsider responsibility – From me to we
4. Reimagine the future – From seconds to centuries
5. Redefine value – From economic wealth to planetary health

These changes require moving away from reactive, short-term thinking to proactive, long-term systems redesign.

From Plastic Waste to Planetary Health

One practical example explored is our relationship with waste. Current systems are based on linear consumption: extract, use, discard. Even well-intended efforts like recycling struggle because they operate within a system that rewards overproduction and disposability.

To fix this, ToDC suggests changing our underlying assumption that material consumption equals happiness. Only by shifting our values to recognize resource finiteness and the value of durability can we build effective circular systems—supported by policies such as right-to-repair laws or design standards that promote reuse and longevity.

🔗 Technical report: Rethinking Waste – Interconnected Disaster Risks 2023

Inner and Outer Levers of Change

The report distinguishes between inner levers—changes in personal or collective values—and outer levers—changes in societal structures like laws and institutions. While inner levers deal with the “soil” (beliefs and assumptions), outer levers affect the “trunk and branches” (structures and systems).

When used together, these levers can reinforce one another. For instance, the global shift in attitudes toward smoking resulted from both public health campaigns (inner levers) and regulatory action (outer levers). This same interplay is needed to address climate and ecological breakdown.

A Global Responsibility: Moving Beyond Unilateralism

UNU-EHS also warns of the dangers of individualistic or unilateral climate actions, such as solar geoengineering. Though marketed as quick fixes, such technologies can have unintended global consequences—worsening inequalities and climate injustices. Instead, we must embrace global cooperation, based on shared responsibility and mutual care.

🔗 Technical report: Reconsidering Responsibility – Interconnected Disaster Risks 2023

Learning from the Past: The Montreal Protocol

The report highlights the 1987 Montreal Protocol as a rare but powerful example of successful global coordination. Through binding agreements, financial support, and shared goals, the Protocol reversed ozone depletion—a feat now guiding us toward full ozone recovery by 2066. It proves that unified global action is possible—and effective.

Hope Through Radical Imagination

While today’s risks are daunting, UNU-EHS emphasizes that human-made systems can be unmade—and remade. With bold imagination and deliberate action, we can cultivate systems rooted in planetary health and collective wellbeing. The report urges us not just to limit harm but to actively build the future we want.

🔗 Technical report: Redefining Value – Interconnected Disaster Risks 2023

🔗 Technical report: Reimagining the Future – Interconnected Disaster Risks 2023

🔗 Technical report: Realigning with Nature – Interconnected Disaster Risks 2023

Rewilding is deep change

In the technical report “Realign with Nature” (2025), rewilding is presented as a vital approach to restore ecological integrity and reconnect humans with natural processes. The report highlights rewilding as a means to support ecosystems in regaining their functionality by reintroducing keystone species, allowing natural succession, and reducing human control over landscapes.

Rather than managing nature for useful outcomes, rewilding embraces uncertainty and complexity, fostering self-sustaining systems that can adapt to change. This approach aligns with the broader transformation advocated by the UNU-EHS—to shift from dominating and exploiting nature to collaborating with it. Rewilding, in this context, is not just an ecological intervention but a cultural shift toward humility, participation, and coexistence with the living world.

Turning Over a New Leaf: A Call to Action

“Turning Over a New Leaf” doesn’t just diagnose the crisis—it offers a roadmap to deep, meaningful transformation. By rethinking what we value, reimagining our relationship with nature, and committing to both personal and collective change, we can move from crisis to opportunity.

This is not about returning to an idealized past—it’s about courageously creating a future where both people and planet can thrive. The time to act is now—and it starts with shifting our beliefs, our systems, and ultimately, our direction.

The post Turning Over a New Leaf: How Deep Change Can Tackle Our Interconnected Crises appeared first on Rewilding Academy.

The presence of red deer is often seen as a sign of ecological balance, as their grazing keeps forest undergrowth in check and creates habitats for smaller plant and animal species. Historically, red deer have been hunted for their size and strength, but conservation efforts in recent decades have helped maintain their numbers, especially in protected areas like national parks.

The Smaller, Shyer Roe Deer

Another native species, though less conspicuous, is the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). This small and shy herbivore is found in forests and woodland edges across Europe. Unlike the red deer, which is more likely to graze on open grasslands, roe deer are browsers, feeding on leaves, twigs, and shrubs. Their smaller size allows them to thrive in environments where larger deer species might struggle, and they are known to be solitary and cautious, making them more elusive than their larger relatives.

Roe deer are extremely adaptable and can live in a wide range of habitats, including urban areas and agricultural landscapes. They are most active during the dawn and dusk, and their ability to thrive in fragmented landscapes makes them one of the most widespread deer species in Europe.

The Invaders

While the red and roe deer are native to Europe, other species have been introduced by humans, often with unforeseen consequences for the local ecosystem. Among the most prominent of these are the fallow deer (Dama dama) and the sika deer (Cervus nippon).

Fallow Deer

Native to the Mediterranean region, fallow deer were introduced to much of Europe in the medieval period, primarily for hunting purposes. They are medium-sized deer, larger than roe deer but smaller than red deer. Fallow deer are generalists, meaning they are equally at home in both woodlands and open grasslands. Their ability to adapt to a wide range of environments, from parklands to forests, has allowed them to thrive across much of Europe.

Fallow deer are also grazers but will consume a wide variety of plant material, including shrubs and tree leaves. As a result, they can outcompete native species like roe deer in certain areas, particularly where food is limited.

Sika Deer

Sika deer are invasive, alien species in Europe. Originally native to East Asia, sika deer were introduced to Europe in the 19th century, primarily for ornamental purposes in parks and estates. These medium-sized deer are similar to red deer but are generally smaller and more agile. Sika deer are primarily grazers but also feed on shrubs and tree bark.

Sika deer have been particularly successful in establishing themselves in European woodlands, where they often coexist with red deer. However, their introduction has raised concerns due to their potential to hybridise with red deer, resulting in changes to the genetic makeup of native populations. Sika deer are also more aggressive than roe and fallow deer, and their competition with native species for food and habitat has become a growing concern.

Muntjac Deer: The Smallest and Most Secretive

The muntjac deer, often considered the smallest deer species in Europe, is another introduced species. Native to Southeast Asia, the muntjac was introduced to Britain in the 19th century and has since spread to parts of Europe. These tiny, secretive deer are often found in dense woodlands, where they browse on a variety of plant material, including tree shoots and shrubs.

Muntjac are highly adaptable and have a much smaller impact on larger native species, largely due to their size and preference for dense undergrowth, which smaller deer species like roe deer also favor. However, their ability to thrive in fragmented habitats and their aggressive nature when defending territory could potentially make them a competitor to native species, especially where resources are scarce.

The Dynamics of Deer Interaction

The coexistence of multiple deer species in Europe creates a complex web of interactions. In some cases, these species can facilitate one another’s presence by utilizing different ecological niches, while in other instances, competition for food and space can lead to conflict.

Facilitation

In certain environments, species can benefit from one another’s presence. For example, the large red deer might help maintain open landscapes by grazing on grasses, which could provide more favorable conditions for smaller species like roe deer. Similarly, muntjac and roe deer, both small and solitary, might share habitat without significant overlap in their feeding patterns. Muntjac’s preference for dense undergrowth and roe’s habit of browsing shrubs allows them to coexist in woodland edges, where larger deer species like red or sika might avoid.

Competition 

However, competition for resources remains a significant concern, particularly between introduced species and native species. Fallow deer, for example, compete directly with roe deer for access to food, while sika deer’s ability to hybridize with red deer raises genetic concerns. Furthermore, the presence of larger species, such as fallow and sika deer, can outcompete smaller species like roe and muntjac, particularly in habitats where food resources are scarce. This competition can have a detrimental impact on native species, potentially leading to population declines or shifts in habitat use.

Niche Segregation 

The concept of niche segregation is central to understanding how species coexist. Each deer species has evolved to occupy a specific ecological niche—whether it’s the red deer’s preference for open grasslands or the muntjac’s affinity for dense woodlands. As a result, these species are able to reduce direct competition and minimize overlap in their diets and habitats. For instance, sika and red deer can coexist in mixed woodlands, but sika often prefer denser underbrush where red deer cannot access as easily. This segregation is influenced by factors like size, feeding behavior, habitat preferences, and reproductive strategies. Here’s how they typically segregate their niches:

1. Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)

• Size: Medium-sized deer (larger than roe deer but smaller than red deer).
• Habitat: Prefers woodlands, grasslands, and heathlands, often found in mixed forests with dense undergrowth.
• Feeding: Primarily grazers, but will also browse. They feed on grasses, herbs, shrubs, and young trees.
• Behavior: Sika deer are more active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular), and they tend to be more aggressive in defense of territory.
• Niche: They tend to coexist with red deer in woodland areas but prefer more dense vegetation for cover.

2. Fallow Deer (Dama dama)

• Size: Smaller than red and sika deer but larger than roe deer.
• Habitat: Can thrive in both woodlands and open fields. They are commonly found in parklands and areas with a mix of woodland and grassland.
• Feeding: Fallow deer are generalists, grazing on grasses, herbs, and shrubs but can also browse tree foliage.
• Behavior: They are also crepuscular, and during the rut, males are particularly vocal.
• Niche: Fallow deer often overlap with sika and roe deer in woodland areas but have adapted to a wide range of environments.

3. Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

• Size: The largest deer species in Europe.
• Habitat: Prefers woodlands, moorlands, and open grasslands. They often occupy upland areas and forests with a mix of grassy glades.
• Feeding: Grazers that feed on grasses, shrubs, and woody plants. Red deer prefer open grasslands for feeding, especially during the spring and summer.
• Behavior: Mostly diurnal (active during the day), with males becoming highly vocal during the rut.
• Niche: Red deer tend to avoid dense forest areas occupied by smaller deer like roe and sika. They are often found in more open, expansive areas or larger woodlands.

4. Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)

• Size: Smallest of the European deer species.
• Habitat: Prefers deciduous and mixed woodlands, often found in the edges of forests and farmland.
• Feeding: Primarily browsers, feeding on leaves, twigs, herbs, and berries. They can also graze on grass, especially in winter.
• Behavior: Very solitary and shy, roe deer are mainly active at dawn and dusk.
• Niche: Roe deer tend to avoid larger, more aggressive species like red deer and sika, and they thrive in forest edges and more fragmented habitats, often where competition is lower.

5. Muntjac Deer (Muntiacus spp.)

• Size: Very small, one of the smallest deer species in Europe.
• Habitat: Prefers dense woodlands, often with thick underbrush, and is commonly found in more enclosed, fragmented habitats like parks and gardens.
• Feeding: Primarily a browser, munching on a wide variety of vegetation, including leaves, shoots, and shrubs.
• Behavior: Muntjac are mostly solitary, though they can form small groups. They are also crepuscular and are known for their loud barking calls.
• Niche: Muntjac prefer dense, understory-rich habitats and are more likely to overlap with roe deer, though they can live in more human-modified areas. They tend to avoid the open grasslands occupied by red and fallow deer.

Overview of Niche Segregation

• Sika Deer tend to overlap with red deer in forested areas but prefer areas with dense cover and tend to be more aggressive.
• Fallow Deer are generalists and adapt well to both woodland and open habitats, coexisting with both sika and roe deerin mixed landscapes.
• Red Deer, being the largest, are dominant in open grasslands and upland areas, often avoiding smaller species like roe and muntjac.
• Roe Deer prefer forest edges, avoiding larger species like red and sika deer but can overlap with muntjac.
• Muntjac are highly adapted to dense woodland habitats and thrive in smaller, more fragmented environments.

Each species has adapted to a particular ecological niche based on size, feeding habits, behavior, and habitat preferences. This reduces direct competition, especially where different species specialize in different types of food or shelter.

Potential Negative Impacts

Hybridization and Displacement

While the introduction of deer species like fallow and sika can provide prey opportunities and enrich biodiversity in some areas, especially where native deer are missing, their presence can also have detrimental impacts on native ecosystems. For example, sika deer, which have been shown to hybridise with red deer, could lead to a loss of genetic integrity in native red deer populations, disrupting the balance of ecosystems that depend on these species. The competition for food and habitat, especially in areas where resources are limited, can lead to declines in native populations.

Scientific studies have documented the aggressive behaviour of sika deer towards red deer, particularly during the rutting season. Sika stags exhibit high levels of aggression, often disrupting red deer mating behaviours by attacking young red stags and mating with red hinds, even in the presence of dominant red stags. This aggressive behavior contributes to hybridisation between the species, leading to ecological and genetic consequences for native red deer populations

Alteration of plant communities and ecosystems

Additionally, the species-specific grazing pressure from deer species can have a lasting impact on plant communities, particularly in sensitive habitats like woodlands and heathlands. Overgrazing can lead to a reduction in plant diversity, which in turn affects other wildlife that depend on those plants for food and shelter. Species-specific fouraging preferences for certain plant species can reshape entire plant communities, triggering cascading effects on other herbivores, including rodents and insects—and the species that rely on them.

Impact on Smaller herbivores

invasive muntjac (Muntiacus spp.) and sika deer (Cervus nippon) could compete with smaller herbivores and rodents for resources, particularly in ecosystems where food availability is limited.

Diet Overlap and Competition

Both muntjac and sika deer are generalist herbivores with diets that include:

• Muntjac: Leaves, shoots, fruits, and low-growing vegetation, including brambles and seedlings.
• Sika deer: Grasses, heather, shrubs, and tree bark, with a preference for young tree shoots and ferns.

While they primarily feed on vegetation suited to their size and behavior, muntjac in particular may compete with smaller herbivores like hares, rabbits, and rodents by consuming similar low-lying plants, fruits, and seedlings. In areas where muntjac are overabundant, their foraging pressure can reduce the availability of young plants and understory vegetation, potentially displacing small herbivores that rely on the same food sources.

Sika deer, which consume a broader range of grasses and tree bark, are less likely to directly compete with rodents but may alter plant community structure, making habitats less favorable for small mammals.

Cascading Ecological Effects

• Reduced understory vegetation: Overgrazing by muntjac can lead to habitat loss for small mammals, insects, and ground-nesting birds.
• Disrupting food chains: Competition for fruits and seedlings may impact rodent populations, which in turn affects predators like owls and foxes.
• Forest regeneration issues: Heavy browsing of young trees by both species can slow woodland regeneration, impacting the broader ecosystem.

While competition between deer and smaller herbivores depends on population densities and habitat conditions, invasive species like muntjac and sika deer have the potential to disrupt native ecosystems through resource competition and habitat degradation.

What about Moose?

When comparing red deer, roe deer, fallow deer, sika deer, and muntjac with moose (Alces alces) in Europe, their interactions can also be shaped by competition, facilitation and niche segregation, depending on habitat, resource availability, and population densities.

Potential Competition with Moose

Moose are large, selective browsers, primarily feeding on woody vegetation, including willows, birches, and aquatic plants. While their diet overlaps with some of these smaller deer species, competition is likely limited under normal conditions due to dietary niche differences. However, under high densities or in degraded habitats, competition may become more pronounced:

• Red deer & sika deer: These species can compete directly with moose for woody browse, especially in winter when herbaceous plants are scarce. Sika deer, in particular, have been known to outcompete native deer in some areas due to their adaptability.
• Fallow deer: Being more of a mixed feeder (grazing and browsing), fallow deer may have some dietary overlap with moose, but competition is likely lower than with red or sika deer.
• Roe deer & muntjac: These species are smaller browsers with a preference for low shrubs, herbs, and young tree shoots. While they share food sources with moose, their smaller size and different browsing strategies likely reduce direct competition.

Facilitation Effects

Some interactions may be mutually beneficial rather than competitive:

• Habitat modification: Moose browsing can open up dense forests, allowing more light to reach the understory, potentially benefiting smaller browsing species like roe deer and muntjac.
• Trophic interactions: By feeding on different plant parts, these species may reduce competition and even enhance food availability for one another. For instance, red deer and moose targeting taller shrubs could stimulate regrowth of lower vegetation, benefiting roe deer and muntjac.

Niche segregation

• Aquatic Adaptations vs. Terrestrial Grazing: Moose are the only cervid in Europe specialized in foraging on aquatic vegetation. They can submerge completely, feeding on plants like water lilies, pondweed, and horsetail, which are rich in sodium and minerals.
• Seasonal shifts: Moose dominate in winter, when woody browse is the primary food source, while red deer thrive in summer, when grasses and forbs are available.

Impact of Introduced & Invasive Species

Among the introduced species:

• Sika deer pose the greatest concern for moose due to interactions with red deer, which could alter ecosystem dynamics.
• Muntjac and fallow deer are less likely to affect moose populations directly, but overgrazing by high muntjac densities could degrade forest understories, indirectly impacting moose by reducing food availability.

Sika deer, as an introduced species in Europe, can influence red deer through hybridisation, competition, and habitat alteration. This, in turn, can have cascading effects on moose:

1. Hybridisation with Red Deer

• Sika and red deer can interbreed, producing hybrid offspring. Over time, this genetic mixing can alter red deer populations, potentially changing their behavior, morphology, and ecological role. If red deer become less competitive due to hybridization, their population dynamics may shift, indirectly affecting species that interact with them—including moose.

2. Increased Competition for Resources

• Where sika deer and red deer coexist, sika deer often outcompete red deer by being more aggressive and better adapted to human-altered landscapes. Sika deer are highly adaptable browsers and grazers, consuming many of the same plant species as red deer. In areas where sika deer numbers increase, red deer may be displaced from preferred feeding areas, forcing them into habitats where they overlap more with moose. This could heighten competition for browse species like young trees, shrubs, and aquatic vegetation, particularly in winter when food is scarce.

3. Impact on Vegetation and Ecosystem Structure

• If sika deer alter the vegetation structure through overgrazing or selective feeding, this can influence habitat quality for both red deer and moose. For example, if red deer are pushed into areas with lower-quality forage, they may overbrowse young trees, reducing the availability of food and shelter for moose, which rely on regenerating forests.

How This Affects Moose

While moose and red deer generally reduce direct competition through niche partitioning—moose favor aquatic plants and higher browse, while red deer are more mixed feeders—changes in red deer behavior or abundance can disrupt this balance. If red deer populations shift due to sika deer pressure, moose may encounter increased competition for browse species, or even habitat encroachment as red deer are forced into less favorable areas.

This interaction highlights the unpredictable ecosystem effects of introduced species, where sika deer, despite their smaller size, can create indirect but significant ecological consequences that ripple through the larger herbivore community.

A Delicate Balance

The presence of multiple deer species in Europe, both native and introduced, has led to a complex and dynamic ecological landscape. While niche segregation and facilitation allow for some degree of coexistence, competition for resources and the potential for hybridisation pose significant challenges. As these deer species continue to interact, the balance of ecosystems may shift, with some native species potentially suffering as a result of competition and genetic dilution.

Understanding these interactions is crucial for managing deer populations and maintaining the health of Europe’s ecosystems. Through careful monitoring and conservation efforts, including reintroduction or recolonisation by carnivores, it may be possible to restore and maintain a balance between protecting native species and preventing irreparable damage to European ecosystems in a rapidly changing world.

The post Deer Dynamics in Europe: Native and Invasive Species appeared first on Rewilding Academy.

The Historical Context: Wolves and the Scottish Ecosystem

Wolves once roamed freely across Scotland, playing a pivotal role in maintaining ecological balance. As apex predators, they regulated the populations of large herbivores, particularly red deer (Cervus elaphus). However, extensive hunting and habitat loss led to the extinction of wolves in Scotland by the late 17th century, with the last recorded wolf killed in 1680. Their absence has had cascading effects on the ecosystem, most notably on deer populations.

The Deer Dilemma: Overgrazing and Woodland Decline

In the absence of natural predators, red deer populations have flourished, reaching numbers as high as 400,000. This overabundance has led to significant overgrazing, impeding the regeneration of native woodlands. Young saplings are often consumed before they can mature, and existing trees suffer from bark stripping. Consequently, Scotland’s native woodland coverage has dwindled to a mere 4% of the land area, one of the lowest in Europe. This degradation not only affects biodiversity but also reduces the landscape’s capacity to sequester carbon, a critical function in the fight against climate change.

The Proposed Solution: Reintroducing the Grey Wolf

The study by Dominick Spracklen et al. employs ecological modeling to assess the potential impacts of reintroducing grey wolves to the Scottish Highlands. The models suggest that a population of approximately 170 wolves could effectively reduce red deer densities to levels that allow for natural woodland regeneration. This predator-prey dynamic would mirror the ecological processes that occurred before wolves were extirpated.

Carbon Sequestration Potential: A Natural Climate Solution

One of the most compelling findings of the study is the projected increase in carbon sequestration resulting from woodland expansion facilitated by wolf predation on deer. The researchers estimate that the regenerated forests could sequester about 1 million tonnes of CO₂ annually over a century. This figure represents approximately 5% of the UK’s carbon removal target for woodlands to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Financially, this translates to an annual benefit of £154,000 per wolf, based on current carbon market values.  

Broader Ecological and Societal Benefits

Beyond carbon sequestration, reintroducing wolves could yield a plethora of ecological and societal benefits:

• Biodiversity Enhancement: The resurgence of native woodlands would provide habitats for a multitude of species, fostering greater biodiversity.
• Natural Flood Management: Healthy forests play a crucial role in water regulation, potentially mitigating flood risks.
• Public Health Improvements: A controlled deer population could lead to a decrease in deer-related road accidents and a reduction in the prevalence of Lyme disease, which is associated with deer ticks.
• Economic Opportunities: The presence of wolves could boost ecotourism, attracting wildlife enthusiasts and contributing to the local economy.

Challenges and Considerations: Navigating Human-Wolf Coexistence

While the ecological arguments for wolf reintroduction are compelling, several challenges must be addressed:

• Livestock Predation: Farmers express concerns about potential wolf attacks on livestock, which could lead to economic losses. Implementing robust compensation schemes and preventive measures, such as secure fencing and livestock guardian animals, would be essential.
• Hunting Interests: Deer stalkers and hunting communities fear that reduced deer populations could impact recreational hunting opportunities. Engaging these stakeholders in dialogue and exploring adaptive management strategies would be crucial.
• Public Perception: Wolves have been historically vilified, and lingering fears persist. Comprehensive public education campaigns are necessary to dispel myths and promote understanding of wolves’ ecological roles.
• Legislative and Policy Frameworks: Reintroduction efforts would require alignment with national and international wildlife regulations, necessitating thorough legal considerations.

The Path Forward: A Collaborative Approach

The study emphasizes that any wolf reintroduction initiative must be underpinned by extensive stakeholder engagement and public consultation. Building consensus among conservationists, landowners, farmers, hunters, and the general public is vital for the project’s success. Adaptive management strategies, informed by continuous monitoring and research, would be essential to address emerging challenges and ensure positive outcomes.

Embracing a Holistic Vision for Scotland’s Future

Reintroducing grey wolves to the Scottish Highlands represents more than the return of a species; it symbolizes a commitment to ecological restoration and climate resilience. By reinstating a natural predator, Scotland has the opportunity to rejuvenate its native woodlands, enhance biodiversity, and contribute meaningfully to global carbon sequestration efforts. This holistic approach acknowledges the intricate interdependencies within ecosystems and the profound impact of keystone species. As Scotland stands on the cusp of this transformative journey, the howl of the wolf may once again echo through its glens, heralding a new era of harmony between nature and humanity.

The post Return of the Wolf: Restoring Scotland’s Wild Heart appeared first on Rewilding Academy.

For decades, Purnima has been at the forefront of conservation, leading the Hargila Army, an inspiring grassroots movement dedicated to protecting the endangered Greater Adjutant stork (Hargila) in Assam, India. Through her work, she has transformed local perceptions of the stork from a neglected, despised species to a cherished symbol of cultural pride. Her efforts have not only revived dwindling Hargila populations but also uplifted communities by integrating conservation with women’s empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, and traditional knowledge.

Honoring 12 Other Changemakers

Purnima joins an extraordinary group of 12 women recognized by TIME this year for their groundbreaking contributions across different fields. From environmental advocacy to social justice, science, and human rights, these leaders are paving the way for a more just and sustainable future.

This recognition is more than a personal achievement—it is a testament to the power of community-driven conservation and rewilding. As Purnima always emphasizes, conservation is strongest when it is rooted in local traditions, led by the community, and driven by shared responsibility.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Purnima Devi Barman and all the inspiring Women of the Year 2025. Their work serves as a beacon of hope for the planet and future generations.

Read TIME’s full feature here: https://time.com/7216405/purnima-devi-barman-hargila-storks/

The post Purnima Devi Barman Named One of TIME’s Women of the Year 2025 appeared first on Rewilding Academy.

A Comprehensive Resource for Ecosystem Restoration

The Global Ecosystems Atlas plays a pivotal role in advancing ecosystem restoration efforts worldwide. It equips a diverse range of stakeholders, including policymakers, environmental organizations, local communities, and businesses, with reliable, real-time data about ecosystems’ spatial distribution and health. This critical information is essential for identifying areas in need of restoration, planning targeted interventions, and tracking the progress of restoration initiatives.

By mapping ecosystems with unprecedented detail and precision, the Atlas helps stakeholders prioritise conservation efforts and ensure that restoration projects are implemented in the most effective and ecologically appropriate locations. It is a powerful tool for identifying degraded ecosystems, such as mangroves, wetlands, and forests, and provides the necessary data to guide efforts to revive these crucial habitats.

Supporting Global Conservation Efforts

At the core of the Global Ecosystems Atlas is its potential to support and accelerate global biodiversity conservation goals. With ecosystems around the world increasingly under threat from human activities, climate change, and habitat loss, the need for comprehensive and coordinated conservation strategies has never been more urgent.

The Atlas supports the integration of ecosystem data into environmental policy and economic planning, promoting a shift toward more sustainable land-use practices. It helps governments and private institutions align their policies with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international frameworks, such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). By providing an accessible, up-to-date repository of ecosystem data, the Atlas facilitates informed decision-making, helping to ensure that biodiversity conservation is at the forefront of global efforts to tackle environmental challenges.

Enhancing Ecosystem Accounting and Restoration Targets

One of the Atlas’s standout features is its alignment with the United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) Ecosystem Accounting framework. This framework allows countries and organizations to account for the value of ecosystems, not just in terms of biodiversity, but also in relation to their contributions to the economy, human well-being, and climate regulation.

The integration of ecosystem accounting into national decision-making processes is a critical step in shifting towards a more sustainable and equitable global economy. By accounting for natural capital and incorporating ecosystem services into national accounting systems, countries can ensure that ecosystem restoration and conservation are prioritized alongside economic development. The Global Ecosystems Atlas plays a crucial role in this process by providing the data necessary for accurate and reliable ecosystem accounts, making it easier to measure progress toward restoration targets and align actions with global sustainability goals.

A Collaborative Effort for Ecosystem Protection

The development of the Global Ecosystems Atlas underscores the power of international collaboration in tackling the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Yana Gevorgyan, Director of the GEO Secretariat, highlighted the importance of working together to create a unified and comprehensive resource. “The launch of the Global Ecosystems Atlas proof-of-concept is a testament to perseverance and collaboration, showing that when we come together with intention and purpose, we can overcome obstacles and work towards transformative change,” said Gevorgyan.

The Atlas is a product of global collaboration among governments, environmental organizations, research institutions, and the private sector, with the collective goal of safeguarding ecosystems and promoting long-term ecological health. Its success depends on the continued collaboration of these stakeholders to ensure that data remains accurate, up-to-date, and widely accessible.

Empowering Local Communities and Indigenous Knowledge

While the Global Ecosystems Atlas is primarily designed to support policymakers and large organizations, it also has the potential to empower local and indigenous communities in ecosystem restoration efforts. These communities often have deep, place-based knowledge of the ecosystems in which they live, and the Atlas provides them with the tools to integrate scientific data with traditional knowledge.

By offering detailed data on the health and distribution of local ecosystems, the Atlas helps communities make informed decisions about land use, conservation strategies, and restoration practices. This approach enhances community engagement and ownership of restoration projects, ensuring that local knowledge and priorities are integrated into broader conservation efforts.

The Atlas is a valuable resource for ecosystem restoration projects led by indigenous groups, women, and local communities. By providing real-time data on ecosystems, it allows for more effective management of land and natural resources, supporting the development of sustainable livelihoods and the restoration of degraded ecosystems.

Real-Time Data for Adaptive Management

The integration of Earth observation technologies, artificial intelligence, and other advanced tools makes the Global Ecosystems Atlas a dynamic platform that can adapt to changing conditions. The ability to continually update the Atlas ensures that it remains an accurate, real-time resource that reflects the current state of ecosystems around the world.

This dynamic capability is essential for adaptive management in ecosystem restoration. As restoration efforts progress, the Atlas allows for the monitoring of ecosystem health, enabling stakeholders to adjust their strategies in response to emerging challenges. Whether it’s tracking changes in biodiversity, the success of reforestation campaigns, or the restoration of wetland ecosystems, the Atlas provides the data needed to guide restoration efforts toward success.

Addressing the Urgency of Ecosystem Restoration

The Global Ecosystems Atlas is a game-changing tool in the fight to restore and conserve ecosystems. With a comprehensive, harmonised, and accessible platform, it is poised to support a wide range of stakeholders in their efforts to protect biodiversity, restore degraded ecosystems, and integrate nature-based solutions into economic planning. As the world faces an unprecedented environmental crisis, the Atlas offers hope, providing the data and tools needed to inform restoration efforts and guide global conservation initiatives toward transformative change.

For the Rewilding Academy and other organisations dedicated to ecosystem restoration, the Global Ecosystems Atlas offers an invaluable resource in the quest to heal the planet’s ecosystems and create a more sustainable future for all.

The post The Global Ecosystems Atlas: A Crucial Tool for Ecosystem Restoration and Conservation appeared first on Rewilding Academy.

Celebrating the Bern Convention’s 45th anniversary, the film underscores the importance of this historic agreement in preserving Europe’s wildlife. Yet, just as the global community aims to protect biodiversity, a proposal threatens to roll back progress by allowing more culling of wolves, putting decades of conservation efforts at risk.

While human-wolf conflicts require careful management, culling disrupts pack structures and can heighten tensions with the livestock industry. Instead of resorting to short-term culling solutions, European countries should focus on long-term strategies for coexistence, blending traditional practices with modern methods to prevent damage and foster sustainable relationships between wolves and rural communities.

New film

Over 300 NGOs, including Io Non Ho Paura Del Lupo and The European Nature Trust, alongside 310,000 supporters, are rallying to protect wolves. The Wolf Within challenges us to rethink our relationship with nature, illustrating the need for harmony between human development and wildlife preservation. It calls on viewers to take action, joining the fight for stricter protections and ensuring the continued survival of wolves across Europe.

In a world that increasingly distances us from the wild, the wolf within symbolises our own deep connection to the natural world. To rewild ourselves is to reclaim lost instincts, to understand that our survival and well-being are intertwined with the health of the ecosystems we inhabit.

From the movie: “It doesn’t matter who we are or where we come from. The steady gaze of the wolf locks onto us, and in that instant, the chains binding us to daily illusions snap. There’s no person, man or woman, who can remain untouched by such an encounter. In the wolf’s gaze lies a connection to something larger than ourselves, a wake-up call to the wild around us, and a calling to the wolf within.“

The film’s message is clear: it is time to rewild our hearts and minds, embracing the wolf not as an enemy but as a vital part of Europe’s natural heritage. The stakes are high, and the time to act is now. To support the cause, viewers are urged to sign the petition and join this critical movement for wildlife conservation.

To watch the film: visit WaterBear.

Add your voice to the petition: Stop wolf hunting in Europe

The post The Wolf Within: Rewilding Ourselves appeared first on Rewilding Academy.

• English
• Nederlands
• Deutsch

The wolf polarises opinions, but this animal captivates us all. It is understandable that savvy entrepreneurs want to benefit from this interest. The sale of wolf-related products and merchandise underscores the fascination with this creature, and the growing interest translates into an increase in wolf tourism.

Excursions led by experienced and respectful guides not only provide a unique opportunity to discover wolf tracks and learn more about their behavior but also help foster an understanding of nature and the role of the wolf within it.

Just like in other regions where wildlife tourism is important, such as Southern and Eastern Europe and Africa, wolf tourism can make a valuable contribution to the local economy and employment. Moreover, it promotes better acceptance of the wolf and coexistence with humans.

Responsible Wildlife Tourism

Respecting nature is paramount. It is crucial that excursions take place in small groups, where wildlife is not disturbed, and visitors learn that spotting a wolf is a rare privilege. The wolf must remain elusive, and people should not actively seek out the animals. Caution is especially necessary during the pup-rearing season, as young pups are curious. Unintentional approaches can be dangerous, not only for people but also for the wolves themselves, as habituation to humans can lead to more conflicts.

Positive examples from abroad illustrate the benefits of well-organised wildlife tourism.

Yellowstone National Park

In Yellowstone, United States, wolf tourism generates millions annually, which not only stimulates the economy but also contributes to the protection of wolves and nature. In 2023, 4.5 million wildlife tourists in Yellowstone National Park spent $623 million in and around the park. These expenditures supported 8,560 jobs in the local area and provided a cumulative benefit of $828 million to the local economy. This figure arises from spending on accommodations, restaurants, guides, and other services for tourists specifically coming to see the wolves. Since the reintroduction of wolves in 1995, tourists from around the world have traveled to Yellowstone to catch a glimpse of these iconic animals, further increasing annual revenues

Białowieża, Poland

The same applies in Białowieża for the European bison or wisent, where tourism fosters valuable coexistence. The European bison serves as the emblem of the National Park. Presently, the Polish section of the Białowieża Forest hosts the largest free-ranging population of European bison in the world, estimated to be around 800 individuals. It is estimated that tourism in Białowieża National Park and surrounding areas contributes between €6 and €10 million to the local economy. This amount primarily comes from spending on accommodations, guiding services, and local shops and restaurants.

Spain

In regions like Northern Spain, wildlife tourism is growing as rural areas face depopulation, with younger generations moving to urban centers for better job prospects and educational opportunities. This demographic trend, characterised by an aging rural population and dwindling youth presence, has led to economic challenges in sustaining traditional industries such as agriculture and livestock farming. However, the rise of wildlife tourism has provided an alternative economic lifeline, attracting visitors interested in natural experiences and wildlife observation, particularly around wolves and bears. This shift offers a sustainable path for rural revitalisation, creating jobs and incentivising conservation efforts, which help counterbalance the adverse effects of depopulation by injecting fresh economic vitality into these remote areas.

Asturias

Asturias is a stronghold for Iberian wolves, and the region has developed a reputation for wolf tourism, which, in addition to other ecotourism activities, attracts significant numbers of visitors. Wildlife tourism in Asturias, which includes both wolf and bear watching, contributes to local economies through spending on accommodations, guided tours, restaurants, and local goods.

Wolf and wildlife tourism support local jobs in hospitality, guiding services, transportation, and crafts. Small businesses, like family-run guesthouses and restaurants, benefit from the influx of tourists, and tour guides specialising in wildlife play a crucial role in the local economy.

Castile and León

Castile and León have extensive rural landscapes where wolf populations have been established for centuries. Wolf tourism has grown here, drawing both national and international visitors. The resulting revenue from ecotourism supports both local infrastructure and community services.

The region has fostered training programs to develop skilled nature guides, who help tourists learn about wolf behavior and habitat. Additionally, local restaurants, lodgings, and small businesses benefit from seasonal influxes, and wildlife reserves also create jobs for conservation and tour management.

Catalonia

In Catalonia, wildlife tourism is developing around various species, including wolves, which are returning to the Pyrenees. Wildlife tourism here enhances the appeal of rural areas and supports local economies by attracting nature enthusiasts.

Although wolf tourism is still emerging, other wildlife tourism has established a foundation of rural employment in Catalonia. Tourism has supported jobs for local guides, conservation staff, and businesses that serve these tourists, from hospitality to artisanal products. As wolf populations grow, so too does the potential for targeted tourism and job creation around this niche.

India

Education and real-life experiences play a crucial role in conservation efforts, as exemplified by the work of Purnima Devi Barman, also known as the “Stork Sister.” Her initiatives have highlighted the significance of community involvement and awareness in protecting endangered species, particularly the greater adjutant stork in Assam, India.

Purnima’s approach focuses on educating local communities about the ecological value of the stork and its habitat. She emphasises the importance of understanding the stork’s role in the ecosystem, which has helped shift local perceptions from viewing it as a nuisance to recognising it as a valuable part of their environment. Through hands-on workshops, community engagement, and the creation of the “Hargila Army,” composed of local women, Barman has fostered a sense of stewardship among residents, empowering them to participate actively in conservation efforts. The “Hargila army” now provides 30,000 extra eyes in the field.

This educational model demonstrates that combining knowledge with practical experience can lead to meaningful changes in behavior and attitudes towards wildlife. As people become more informed about the benefits of biodiversity and the ecological roles of species like the greater adjutant stork, they are more likely to advocate for conservation measures . Barman’s success illustrates that when communities are educated and involved, they can be powerful allies in the fight against biodiversity loss.

For further details about Purnima Devi Barman’s work and the impact of community education in conservation, you can visit the Rewilding Academy’s page.

The Netherlands

Ecotourism is one of the fastest-growing segments in the tourism market and is essential for supporting nature conservation efforts. The economic contribution of nature recreation and nature tourism has been calculated based on the amounts that people spend on these activities, such as travel and accommodation costs. The expenditures are primarily directed towards recreational activities in forests (€4.3 billion), dunes and beaches (€2.8 billion), and open nature areas like heathlands and (semi-)natural grasslands (€1.9 billion). Spending on nature recreation and tourism accounts for 9 percent of the total expenditures for recreation and tourism in the Dutch economy.

In areas like the Veluwe, the presence of large game species, including wolves, attracts visitors, contributing to the local economy through park entrance fees, guided tours, and accommodation bookings. The Veluwe region attracts approximately 12 million visitors each year. This number highlights its popularity as a destination for nature enthusiasts, offering a variety of outdoor activities and attractions across its extensive forests, heathlands, and recreational areas.

As traditional industries like agriculture and livestock farming face challenges, wildlife tourism provides an alternative source of income. This diversification is vital for rural communities struggling with depopulation and economic stagnation.

Our experiences during excursions repeatedly show that information and education lead to understanding and respect, and hopefully ultimately result in less polarisation surrounding the wolf.

Join a Wolf Excursion 

Special thanks to Steffen Heiber.
Wolf excursions in Easter Germany: https://www.wolflandtours.de

Wolventoerisme: Een Kans voor Co-existentie en Economische Groei

De wolf polariseert, maar dit dier weet ons allemaal te boeien. Het is begrijpelijk dat slimme ondernemers willen profiteren van deze interesse. De verkoop van wolf-gerelateerde producten en merchandise onderstreept de fascinatie voor dit wezen, en de groeiende belangstelling vertaalt zich in een toenemend wolventoerisme.

Excursies geleid door ervaren en respectvolle gidsen bieden niet alleen een unieke kans om sporen van de wolf te ontdekken en meer te leren over hun gedrag, maar helpen ook om begrip te creëren voor de natuur en de rol van de wolf daarin.

Net zoals in andere regio’s waar wildlifetoerisme belangrijk is, zoals Zuid- en Oost-Europa en Afrika, kan wolventoerisme een waardevolle bijdrage leveren aan de lokale economie en werkgelegenheid. Bovendien bevordert het een betere acceptatie van de wolf en co-existentie met de mens.

Verantwoord Wildlife Toerisme

Het respecteren van de natuur staat voorop. Het is cruciaal dat excursies in kleine groepen plaatsvinden, waarbij het wild niet verstoord wordt en bezoekers leren dat het spotten van een wolf een zeldzaam voorrecht is. De wolf moet schuw blijven, en mensen moeten niet actief naar de dieren gaan zoeken. Voorzichtigheid is vooral nodig tijdens het opvoeden van de welpen, omdat jonge pups nieuwsgierig zijn. Onbedoelde benaderingen kunnen gevaarlijk zijn, niet alleen voor mensen, maar ook voor de wolven zelf, omdat gewenning aan mensen kan leiden tot meer conflicten.

Positieve voorbeelden uit het buitenland tonen de voordelen van goed georganiseerd wildlife toerisme aan.

Yellowstone National Park

In Yellowstone, Verenigde Staten, genereert wolventoerisme jaarlijks miljoenen, wat niet alleen de economie stimuleert, maar ook bijdraagt aan de bescherming van wolven en de natuur. In 2023 gaven 4,5 miljoen wildlife-toeristen in Yellowstone National Park $623 miljoen uit in en rond het park. Deze uitgaven ondersteunden 8.560 banen in de lokale omgeving en leverden een cumulatief voordeel van $828 miljoen op voor de lokale economie. Dit cijfer komt voort uit uitgaven aan accommodaties, restaurants, gidsen en andere diensten voor toeristen die specifiek komen om de wolven te zien. Sinds de herintroductie van de wolf in 1995 reizen toeristen van over de hele wereld naar Yellowstone om een glimp op te vangen van deze iconische dieren, wat de jaarlijkse inkomsten verder verhoogt.

Białowieża, Polen

Hetzelfde geldt in Białowieża voor de Europese bison of wisent, waar toerisme zorgt voor een waardevolle co-existentie. De Europese bison is het symbool van het Nationaal Park. Momenteel herbergt het Poolse deel van het Białowieża-bos de grootste vrijlevende populatie van Europese bison ter wereld, geschat op ongeveer 800 dieren. Er wordt geschat dat toerisme in het Nationaal Park Białowieża en de omliggende gebieden tussen de €6 en €10 miljoen bijdraagt aan de lokale economie. Dit bedrag komt voornamelijk uit uitgaven aan accommodaties, gidsdiensten en lokale winkels en restaurants.

Spanje

In regio’s zoals Noord-Spanje groeit het wildlifetoerisme terwijl landelijke gebieden te maken hebben met ontvolking, waarbij jongere generaties naar stedelijke centra verhuizen voor betere baan- en onderwijsvooruitzichten. Deze demografische trend, gekenmerkt door een verouderende plattelandsbevolking en een afnemende aanwezigheid van jongeren, heeft geleid tot economische uitdagingen bij het behouden van traditionele industrieën zoals landbouw en veeteelt. Het opkomende wildlifetoerisme biedt echter een alternatieve economische levensader, die bezoekers aantrekt die geïnteresseerd zijn in natuurlijke ervaringen en wildlife-observatie, met name rond wolven en beren. Deze verschuiving biedt een duurzame weg voor plattelandsvernieuwing, creëert banen en stimuleert inspanningen voor natuurbescherming, wat helpt om de negatieve effecten van ontvolking te compenseren door nieuwe economische vitaliteit in deze afgelegen gebieden te injecteren.

Asturias

Asturias is een stronghold voor Iberische wolven en de regio heeft een reputatie opgebouwd voor wolventoerisme, dat naast andere ecotoeristische activiteiten aanzienlijke aantallen bezoekers aantrekt. Wildlifetoerisme in Asturias, dat zowel wolven- als berenobservatie omvat, draagt bij aan de lokale economieën via uitgaven aan accommodaties, rondleidingen, restaurants en lokale producten.

Wolf- en wildlifetoerisme ondersteunt lokale banen in de horeca, gidsdiensten, transport en ambachten. Kleine bedrijven, zoals familiebedrijven en restaurants, profiteren van de toestroom van toeristen, en gidsen die gespecialiseerd zijn in wildlife spelen een cruciale rol in de lokale economie.

Castilië en León

Castilië en León hebben uitgestrekte plattelandslandschappen waar wolvenpopulaties al eeuwen zijn gevestigd. Wolventoerisme is hier gegroeid, en trekt zowel nationale als internationale bezoekers aan. De daaruit voortvloeiende inkomsten uit ecotoerisme ondersteunen zowel lokale infrastructuur als gemeenschapsdiensten.

De regio heeft opleidingsprogramma’s bevorderd om geschoolde natuurgidsen te ontwikkelen, die toeristen helpen meer te leren over het gedrag en het leefgebied van wolven. Daarnaast profiteren lokale restaurants, accommodaties en kleine bedrijven van seizoensgebonden toestroom, en natuurreservaten creëren ook banen voor natuurbescherming en tourbeheer.

Catalonië

In Catalonië ontwikkelt zich wildlifetoerisme rond verschillende soorten, waaronder wolven, die terugkeren naar de Pyreneeën. Wildlifetoerisme verhoogt hier de aantrekkelijkheid van plattelandsgebieden en ondersteunt lokale economieën door natuurliefhebbers aan te trekken.

Hoewel wolventoerisme nog in opkomst is, heeft ander wildlifetoerisme al een basis gelegd voor plattelandswerkgelegenheid in Catalonië. Toerisme heeft banen ondersteund voor lokale gidsen, natuurbeschermingspersoneel en bedrijven die deze toeristen bedienen, van horeca tot ambachtelijke producten. Naarmate de wolvenpopulaties groeien, neemt ook de potentie voor gerichte toerisme en het creëren van banen rondom deze niche toe.

India

Educatie en real-life ervaringen spelen een cruciale rol in natuurbescherming, zoals geïllustreerd door het werk van Purnima Devi Barman, ook wel bekend als de “Stork Sister.” Haar initiatieven hebben betrokkenheid en bewustwording benadrukt in de bescherming van bedreigde diersoorten, met name de grote adjutant ooievaar in Assam, India.

Purnima’s benadering richt zich op het onderwijzen van lokale gemeenschappen over de ecologische waarde van de ooievaar en zijn leefgebied. Ze benadrukt het belang van het begrijpen van de rol van de ooievaar in het ecosysteem, wat heeft geholpen om lokale percepties te verschuiven van het zien van de ooievaar als een overlast naar het erkennen ervan als een waardevol deel van hun omgeving. Door middel van praktische workshops, gemeenschapsbetrokkenheid en de oprichting van het “Hargila Army,” bestaande uit lokale vrouwen, heeft Barman een gevoel van zorg voor het milieu bevorderd, waardoor zij actief kunnen deelnemen aan natuurbeschermingsinspanningen. Het “Hargila army” biedt nu 30.000 extra ogen in het veld.

Deze onderwijsbenadering laat zien dat het combineren van kennis met praktische ervaring kan leiden tot significante veranderingen in gedrag en houdingen ten opzichte van wilde dieren. Naarmate mensen beter geïnformeerd raken over de voordelen van biodiversiteit en de ecologische functies van soorten zoals de grote adjutant ooievaar, zijn ze geneigd om zich in te zetten voor natuurbeschermingsmaatregelen. Het succes van Barman illustreert dat gemeenschappen die goed zijn geïnformeerd en betrokken, krachtige bondgenoten kunnen zijn in de strijd tegen biodiversiteitsverlies.

Voor meer details over het werk van Purnima Devi Barman en de impact van gemeenschapseducatie in natuurbescherming, kunt u de project pagina van de bezoeken: Hargila Army.

Nederland

Ecotoerisme is een van de snelst groeiende segmenten op de toerismemarkt en is essentieel voor het ondersteunen van natuurbeschermingsinspanningen. De economische bijdrage van natuurrecreatie en natuurtourisme is berekend op basis van de bedragen die mensen uitgeven aan deze activiteiten, zoals reis- en verblijfskosten. De uitgaven zijn voornamelijk gericht op recreatieve activiteiten in bossen (4,3 miljard euro), duinen en stranden (2,8 miljard euro) en open natuurgebieden zoals heidevelden en (semi-)natuurlijke graslanden (1,9 miljard euro). Uitgaven voor natuurrecreatie en toerisme maken 9 procent uit van de totale uitgaven voor recreatie en toerisme in de Nederlandse economie.

In gebieden zoals de Veluwe trekt de aanwezigheid van grootwild, waaronder wolven, bezoekers aan, wat bijdraagt aan de lokale economie door middel van parkentreegelden, rondleidingen en accommodatieboekingen. De Veluwe trekt jaarlijks ongeveer 12 miljoen bezoekers. Dit aantal benadrukt de populariteit van de regio als bestemming voor natuurliefhebbers, die een verscheidenheid aan buitenactiviteiten en attracties biedt in de uitgestrekte bossen, heidevelden en recreatiegebieden.

Naarmate traditionele sectoren zoals de landbouw en de veeteelt voor uitdagingen staan, biedt het wildtoerisme een alternatieve bron van inkomsten. Deze diversificatie is van vitaal belang voor plattelandsgemeenschappen die worstelen met ontvolking en economische stagnatie.

Onze ervaringen tijdens excursies tonen keer op keer aan dat informatie en educatie leiden tot begrip en respect, en hopelijk uiteindelijk resulteren in minder polarisatie rondom de wolf.

Ga mee op Wolfsexcursie!

Met dank aan Steffen Heiber.
Wolven excursies in Oost Duitsland: https://www.wolflandtours.de

Wolfstourismus: Eine Chance für Koexistenz und wirtschaftliches Wachstum

Der Wolf polarisiert die Meinungen, aber dieses Tier fasziniert uns alle. Es ist verständlich, dass clevere Unternehmer von diesem Interesse profitieren möchten. Der Verkauf von wolfbezogenen Produkten und Merchandise unterstreicht die Faszination für dieses Geschöpf, und das wachsende Interesse übersetzt sich in einen Anstieg des Wolfstourismus.

Exkursionen unter der Leitung erfahrener und respektvoller Führer bieten nicht nur eine einzigartige Gelegenheit, Wolfsfährten zu entdecken und mehr über ihr Verhalten zu erfahren, sondern helfen auch, ein Verständnis für die Natur und die Rolle des Wolfes darin zu fördern.

Ähnlich wie in anderen Regionen, in denen der Wildtiertourismus wichtig ist, wie in Südeuropa, Osteuropa und Afrika, kann der Wolfstourismus einen wertvollen Beitrag zur lokalen Wirtschaft und zur Beschäftigung leisten. Darüber hinaus fördert er eine bessere Akzeptanz des Wolfes und die Koexistenz mit Menschen.

Verantwortungsvoller Wildtiertourismus

Der Respekt vor der Natur ist von größter Bedeutung. Es ist entscheidend, dass Exkursionen in kleinen Gruppen stattfinden, in denen die Wildtiere nicht gestört werden, und die Besucher lernen, dass es ein seltenes Privileg ist, einen Wolf zu sichten. Der Wolf muss ungreifbar bleiben, und die Menschen sollten die Tiere nicht aktiv suchen. Vorsicht ist insbesondere während der Aufzuchtzeit der Welpen geboten, da junge Welpen neugierig sind. Unabsichtliche Annäherungen können gefährlich sein, nicht nur für Menschen, sondern auch für die Wölfe selbst, da eine Gewöhnung an Menschen zu mehr Konflikten führen kann.

Positive Beispiele aus dem Ausland veranschaulichen die Vorteile von gut organisiertem Wildtiertourismus.

Yellowstone Nationalpark

Im Yellowstone Nationalpark generiert der Wolfstourismus jährlich Millionen, was nicht nur die Wirtschaft ankurbelt, sondern auch zum Schutz der Wölfe und der Natur beiträgt. Im Jahr 2023 gaben 4,5 Millionen Wildtiertouristen im Yellowstone Nationalpark 623 Millionen US-Dollar in und um den Park aus. Diese Ausgaben unterstützten 8.560 Arbeitsplätze in der Region und brachten einen kumulierten Vorteil von 828 Millionen US-Dollar für die lokale Wirtschaft. Diese Zahl ergibt sich aus den Ausgaben für Unterkünfte, Restaurants, Führungen und andere Dienstleistungen für Touristen, die speziell kommen, um die Wölfe zu sehen. Seit der Wiederansiedlung von Wölfen im Jahr 1995 reisen Touristen aus der ganzen Welt nach Yellowstone, um einen Blick auf diese ikonischen Tiere zu erhaschen, was die jährlichen Einnahmen weiter steigert.

Białowieża, Polen

Das Gleiche gilt für Białowieża in Bezug auf den europäischen Bison oder Wisent, wo der Tourismus wertvolle Koexistenz fördert. Der europäische Bison dient als Emblem des Nationalparks. Gegenwärtig beherbergt der polnische Teil des Białowieża-Waldes die größte frei herumlaufende Population europäischer Bisons in der Welt, die auf etwa 800 Individuen geschätzt wird. Es wird geschätzt, dass der Tourismus im Nationalpark Białowieża und in den umliegenden Gebieten zwischen 6 und 10 Millionen Euro zur lokalen Wirtschaft beiträgt. Dieser Betrag stammt hauptsächlich aus Ausgaben für Unterkünfte, Führungsdienste und lokale Geschäfte und Restaurants.

Spanien

In Regionen wie Nordspanien wächst der Wildtiertourismus, da ländliche Gebiete mit Abwanderung konfrontiert sind, während jüngere Generationen in städtische Zentren ziehen, um bessere Beschäftigungsmöglichkeiten und Bildungschancen zu suchen. Dieser demografische Trend, gekennzeichnet durch eine alternde ländliche Bevölkerung und eine abnehmende Präsenz von Jugendlichen, hat zu wirtschaftlichen Herausforderungen geführt, die traditionellen Industrien wie Landwirtschaft und Viehzucht aufrechtzuerhalten. Das Aufkommen des Wildtiertourismus hat jedoch eine alternative wirtschaftliche Lebensader geboten, die Besucher anzieht, die an natürlichen Erfahrungen und Wildtierbeobachtungen interessiert sind, insbesondere an Wölfen und Bären. Diese Veränderung bietet einen nachhaltigen Weg zur ländlichen Revitalisierung, schafft Arbeitsplätze und fördert Naturschutzmaßnahmen, die dazu beitragen, die negativen Auswirkungen der Abwanderung auszugleichen, indem frische wirtschaftliche Vitalität in diese abgelegenen Gebiete gebracht wird.

Asturien

Asturien ist eine Hochburg für iberische Wölfe, und die Region hat sich einen Ruf für Wolfstourismus erarbeitet, der neben anderen Ökotourismusaktivitäten beträchtliche Besucherzahlen anzieht. Der Wildtiertourismus in Asturien, der sowohl das Beobachten von Wölfen als auch von Bären umfasst, trägt durch Ausgaben für Unterkünfte, geführte Touren, Restaurants und lokale Produkte zur lokalen Wirtschaft bei.

Wolf- und Wildtiertourismus unterstützen lokale Arbeitsplätze im Gastgewerbe, Führungsdiensten, Transport und Handwerk. Kleine Unternehmen, wie familiengeführte Pensionen und Restaurants, profitieren von der Ankunft von Touristen, und Führer, die auf Wild spezialisiert sind, spielen eine entscheidende Rolle in der lokalen Wirtschaft.

Kastilien und León

Kastilien und León haben ausgedehnte ländliche Landschaften, in denen Wolfspopulationen seit Jahrhunderten etabliert sind. Der Wolfstourismus ist hier gewachsen und zieht sowohl nationale als auch internationale Besucher an. Die daraus resultierenden Einnahmen aus dem Ökotourismus unterstützen sowohl die lokale Infrastruktur als auch Gemeinschaftsdienste.

Die Region hat Ausbildungsprogramme gefördert, um qualifizierte Naturführer zu entwickeln, die den Touristen helfen, mehr über das Verhalten und den Lebensraum von Wölfen zu lernen. Darüber hinaus profitieren lokale Restaurants, Unterkünfte und kleine Unternehmen von saisonalen Anströmen, und Wildreservate schaffen ebenfalls Arbeitsplätze für Naturschutz und Tourismusmanagement.

Katalonien

In Katalonien entwickelt sich der Wildtiertourismus um verschiedene Arten, einschließlich Wölfen, die in die Pyrenäen zurückkehren. Der Wildtiertourismus hier erhöht die Attraktivität ländlicher Gebiete und unterstützt die lokalen Volkswirtschaften, indem er Naturfreunde anzieht.

Obwohl der Wolfstourismus noch in der Entwicklung ist, hat anderer Wildtiertourismus bereits eine Basis für ländliche Beschäftigung in Katalonien geschaffen. Der Tourismus hat Arbeitsplätze für lokale Führer, Naturschützer und Unternehmen geschaffen, die diese Touristen bedienen, von der Gastronomie bis zu handwerklichen Produkten. Mit dem Wachstum der Wolfspopulationen wächst auch das Potenzial für gezielten Tourismus und die Schaffung von Arbeitsplätzen in diesem Nischenmarkt.

Indien

Bildung und praktische Erfahrungen spielen eine entscheidende Rolle bei den Naturschutzbemühungen, wie die Arbeit von Purnima Devi Barman, auch bekannt als die „Storchenschwester“, veranschaulicht. Ihre Initiativen haben die Bedeutung der Einbeziehung der Gemeinschaft und des Bewusstseins für den Schutz gefährdeter Arten, insbesondere des großen Adjutantenstorches in Assam, Indien, hervorgehoben.

Purnimas Ansatz konzentriert sich auf die Aufklärung der lokalen Gemeinschaften über den ökologischen Wert des Storches und seines Lebensraums. Sie betont die Bedeutung des Verständnisses der Rolle des Storches im Ökosystem, was geholfen hat, die lokale Wahrnehmung von der Sichtweise als Plage zu der Anerkennung als wertvollen Teil ihrer Umwelt zu verändern. Durch praktische Workshops, die Einbindung der Gemeinschaft und die Gründung der „Hargila-Armee“, die aus einheimischen Frauen besteht, hat Barman ein Verantwortungsbewusstsein unter den Anwohnern gefördert, was sie dazu ermächtigt, aktiv an den Naturschutzbemühungen teilzunehmen. Die „Hargila-Armee“ bietet nun 30.000 zusätzliche Augen im Feld.

Dieses Bildungsmodell zeigt, dass die Kombination von Wissen mit praktischen Erfahrungen zu bedeutenden Veränderungen im Verhalten und in den Einstellungen gegenüber Wildtieren führen kann. Wenn Menschen besser über die Vorteile der Biodiversität und die ökologischen Rollen von Arten wie dem großen Adjutantenstorch informiert sind, sind sie eher bereit, sich für Naturschutzmaßnahmen einzusetzen. Barmans Erfolg verdeutlicht, dass Gemeinschaften, die gebildet und einbezogen sind, mächtige Verbündete im Kampf gegen den Verlust der Biodiversität sein können.

Für weitere Informationen über die Arbeit von Purnima Devi Barman und die Auswirkungen der Gemeinschaftsbildung im Naturschutz können Sie die Seite der Rewilding Academy besuchen.

Die Niederlande

Ökotourismus ist eines der am schnellsten wachsenden Segmente im Tourismussektor und ist entscheidend für die Unterstützung von Naturschutzbemühungen. Der wirtschaftliche Beitrag der Naturrecreation und des Naturtourismus wurde basierend auf den Beträgen berechnet, die Menschen für diese Aktivitäten ausgeben, wie Reise- und Unterkunftskosten. Die Ausgaben richten sich hauptsächlich an Freizeitaktivitäten in Wäldern (4,3 Milliarden Euro), Dünen und Stränden (2,8 Milliarden Euro) sowie offenen Naturgebieten wie Heideflächen und (semi-)natürlichen Wiesen (1,9 Milliarden Euro). Ausgaben für Naturrecreation und Tourismus machen 9 Prozent der Gesamtausgaben für Freizeit und Tourismus in der niederländischen Wirtschaft aus.

In Gebieten wie der Veluwe zieht die Präsenz von Großwildarten, einschließlich Wölfen, Besucher an, die zur lokalen Wirtschaft durch Parkeintrittsgelder, geführte Touren und Unterkunftsbuchungen beitragen. Die Veluwe-Region zieht jährlich etwa 12 Millionen Besucher an. Diese Zahl hebt ihre Beliebtheit als Ziel für Naturliebhaber hervor und bietet eine Vielzahl von Outdoor-Aktivitäten und Attraktionen in ihren weitläufigen Wäldern, Heideflächen und Freizeitgebieten.

Da traditionelle Industrien wie Landwirtschaft und Viehzucht vor Herausforderungen stehen, bietet der Wildtiertourismus eine alternative Einkommensquelle. Diese Diversifizierung ist für ländliche Gemeinschaften, die mit Abwanderung und wirtschaftlicher Stagnation zu kämpfen haben, von entscheidender Bedeutung.

Unsere Erfahrungen während der Exkursionen zeigen immer wieder, dass Information und Bildung zu Verständnis und Respekt führen und hoffentlich letztendlich zu weniger Polarisierung rund um den Wolf führen.

Erleben Sie eine Wolfsexkursion

Dank an Steffen Heiber.
Wolfe-touren in Ostdeutschland: https://www.wolflandtours.de

The post Wolf Tourism: An Opportunity for Coexistence and Economic Growth appeared first on Rewilding Academy.