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.

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A Legacy in Meteorology and Environmental Advocacy

Reinier’s fascination with weather began at a young age, leading him to pursue studies in environmental sciences at Wageningen University. In 1989, he became a familiar face on Dutch television as a weather presenter for RTL4, a role he fulfilled for over three decades. Beyond forecasting, Reinier has been a vocal advocate for climate awareness and sustainable practices. He has participated in tornado research in the United States, organised expeditions to climate change hotspots like Greenland, and explored deforestation issues in the Amazon. Reinier is also managing SpeakOut, a speaker bureau specializing in inspiring talks on climate, sustainability, and innovation. His dedication extends to personal initiatives, such as constructing a climate-neutral, biobased home in 2020, exemplifying his commitment to sustainable living.  

Passion for Nature and Rewilding

Reinier van den Berg’s deep-seated love for nature is evident in his endeavors. He has authored “Bladgoud,” a book highlighting the invaluable role of trees in combating climate change and promoting biodiversity. In his view, rewilding transcends ecosystem restoration; it serves as a potent, nature-based solution to climate challenges. By allowing nature to recover, we bolster resilience against climate impacts, paving the way for a sustainable future for both people and the planet. 

A Shared Vision for a Sustainable Future

Reinier’s alignment with Rewilding Academy stems from a shared vision of harmonizing human existence with the natural world. He emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate change and sees rewilding as a pathway to restoring ecological balance. His advocacy for positive environmental action resonates with our goals of fostering awareness, understanding, and coexistence.  

Looking Ahead: Collaborative Initiatives

As our ambassador, Reinier will collaborate with Rewilding Academy on various initiatives aimed at raising awareness and inspiring action. His extensive experience in communication and education will be instrumental in developing programs that engage communities, policymakers, and businesses in rewilding efforts. Together, we aim to showcase rewilding as a viable strategy for climate mitigation and biodiversity enhancement, ultimately contributing to a healthier planet.

We are honoured to welcome Reinier van den Berg to the Rewilding Academy family and look forward to the impactful work we will accomplish together.

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In a new article, a scientists warn about the ongoing collapse of global insect populations.

Published in Ecological Monographs, the article delves into potential explanations for the decline of insects, including as habitat loss and fragmentation, lethal new pesticides, climate change and extreme weather events, destructive wildfires, among others. 

The article also assesses the ecological impacts of insect declines – for instance, on the many species of plants that require insects for pollination, or the diversity of animals that feeds on insects.  

Climate change is one of the most important anthropogenic pressures on the environment. The accompanying effects could be very negative, especially in terms of threats to the survival of species and a variety of ecological services that biodiversity provides.

Insects, which are essential parts of many ecosystems, are a group of species most impacted by climate change, with effects ranging from individuals, populations and species to entire insect communities. The researchers discuss the impact of the progressive rise in global surface temperature on insects in terms of physiology, behavior, phenology, distribution, and species relationships in a special scientists’ warning series.

The scientists caution that if steps are not taken to better understand and mitigate the impact of climate change on insects, we will significantly diminish our capacity to create a sustainable future based on healthy, functional ecosystems.

The article examines viewpoints on pertinent approaches to protecting insects from climate change and provide various important recommendations on management practices that might be applied, regulations that should be pursued, and the involvement of the public and restoration and conservation efforts.

Source: Ecological Monographs

Photo credits: Kiran Rawal, Luciano Andres Richino

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The world’s dire ecological situation, and the challenges faced by present and future generations, are increasingly clear. Youth are protesting in the streets and in the courts, as calls for deep transformation and renewal are heard from all segments of society. On October 8, 2021, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) recognized the “right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment”.

For this right to be implemented, structural changes to the legal, economic, social, political, and technological spheres will be required to restore a stable and well-functioning Earth System. A shared consciousness of our global interdependence must give rise to a new common logic, to define and recognize the global commons that support life on Earth — the planetary system that connects us all and on which we all depend. This is a foundational step toward the establishment of a governance system to effectively manage human interactions with the Earth System¹.

Fifty years after the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, the signatories of this civil society Declaration call upon the United Nations, its agencies, and all Member States to act upon a four-step pathway towards the critical paradigm shift we all need – the Stockholm+50 Declaration:

1 – IMPLEMENT THE RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. 

Member States should implement UNHRC Resolution 48/13 recognizing this right. This requires acknowledging and acting upon intra- and intergenerational equity which, in turn, requires that principles are progressive and include obligations of non-regression – e.g., enshrining a “regeneration” agenda – in all spheres of environmental law. Non-regression must prevent erosion of protection, while principles of regeneration and progression will ensure that environmental laws and regulations consistently advance in both ambition and effectiveness. It entails ensuring procedural environmental rights, including access to information, public participation, and access to justice. The right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment (itself a core global public good) can only be achieved if our shared life support system – the Earth System – is protected as a single, indivisible whole.

2 – RECOGNIZE, RESTORE AND SAFEGUARD THE GLOBAL COMMONS.

The foundational step for successfully managing a common good is to recognize and define it. This will facilitate the establishment of a genuinely effective global environmental governance framework, consistent with the indivisibility of the natural system that supports life on this planet. A well-functioning Earth System, keeping humanity in a “safe operating space” within all vital and interdependent Planetary Boundaries, must be recognized as a fundamental global common in need of urgent stewardship. It thus should be legally recognized as the “Common Heritage” of humankind. A stable climate is a manifestation of the Earth System functioning and represents more than an issue of “Common Concern,” as expressed in the Paris Agreement. Due to the urgency of the climate crisis, the recognition of a stable climate as Common Heritage, to allow for its restoration and safeguard, must become an immediate flagship issue and central priority in the “Our Common Agenda” process.

3 – ESTABLISH A REGENERATIVE ECONOMY. 

Our current economic system treats the consumption of physical natural resources as “wealth creation,” despite the resulting destruction of natural infrastructure. A prosperous future requires an economy in which the natural processes that support all life on Earth and maintain a stable climate become economically visible. Recognizing the Earth System and a stable climate as a “Common Heritage” will enable the proper valuation of these benefits for human societies, which today are considered mere “externalities”. This will provide the legal basis and catalyst to build a regenerative economy and a system of governance that restores and maintains a stable climate and other vital Planetary Boundaries.

4 – PRIORITIZE GOVERNANCE AND INSTITUTIONAL SOLUTIONS. 

The long-term governance of the global commons, the delivery of global public goods, and management of global public risks all require a permanent system of effective governance to reliably manage our interactions with the Earth System as a whole. For example, a proposal to repurpose the inactive United Nations Trusteeship Council has been widely discussed, including most recently in the UN Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda (OCA) report. The OCA report calls for a Declaration for Future Generations and highlights the desirability of transforming the Council into a multilateral space for the governance of the commons and to give voice to the interests of succeeding generations. Ensuring adequate global ecological governance and strengthening today’s fragmented institutional frameworks, and making them inclusive, representative, and accountable to global citizens, must be made a central priority for the international community.

Source: Stockholmdeclaration
Photo: Unsplash/Alessandro Erbetta

You can help!

We urge you to support this effort by signing the Declaration for Stockholm+50, setting forth a four-step pathway towards the critical paradigm shift we need to ensure effective planetary governance.

SIGN THE DECLARATION

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Transient communities

Species are responding differently to climate change and form so-called ‘transient communities’, with constantly changing species composition due to colonisation and extinction events. Such changes in community structure can be abrupt when environmental variables pass certain tipping points and ecosystems flip to alternative states. In contrast to non-transient communities, transient communities have a high extinction and colonization rate.

Researchers of the University of Wageningen and Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences tried to unravel the mechanisms of response to climate change for terrestrial species in these transient communities and explore the consequences for biodiversity conservation. Their research reviewed spatial escape and local adaptation of species dealing with climate change from evolutionary and ecological perspectives, with the goal to derive species vulnerability and conservation management options to mitigate effects of climate change.

Ecosystem restoration and conservation

From the perspective of the dynamic, shifting equilibriums in transient communities, this may affect the success of conservation approaches that focus on single species in specific locations. Conservation management should therefore move away from static single species conservation approaches and focus on community dynamics and species interdependency, while addressing species vulnerability considering their importance for the community.

Frequent spatial data collection is vital for monitoring the change in communities and distribution of species. Conservation management and rewilding options supporting the development, dynamic stability and evolution of ecological communities include active approaches such as increasing connectivity and landscape resilience through the development of corridors, assisted colonisation through reintroduction, and prioritisation of species protection in the context of transient communities.

Recommended conservation measures:

1. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
2. Reduce other human pressures
3. Increasing monitoring effort
4. Assess species vulnerability
5. Study species interactions
6. Protect species globally not locally
7. Facilitate species to rearrange in space
8. Increase ecosystem resilience

Learn more:
Biodiversity conservation in climate change driven transient communities

Schippers, P., Abarca, E.L., Verboom, J. et al. Biodiversity conservation in climate change driven transient communities. Biodivers Conserv (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02241-4

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Where is the Anthropocene headed? The current trajectory of the Earth System is a rapid exit from the Holocene, accelerating towards a much hotter climate system and a degraded, ill-functioning biosphere. Perhaps most concerning is a possible ‘fork in the road’ beyond which lies ‘Hothouse Earth’. The key element of this trajectory is a ‘tipping cascade’, in which a series of interlinked tipping points – the melting of polar ice, the conversion of forest biomes to grasslands or savannas, changes in ocean and atmospheric circulation – take control of the trajectory of the Earth System and move it to a much hotter, biodiversity-impoverished, but stable state.

Professor Will Steffen (Climate Council of Australia, Australian National University) argues that avoiding this possible tipping cascade requires fundamental changes to human societies. These changes include not only advances in technologies but also more fundamental changes in societal structures and core values.

Source: The Royal Society of Victoria

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