Our mission

We want to make Europe a wilder place, with more space for wild nature, wildlife and natural processes. In bringing back the variety of life, we will continue to explore new ways for people to enjoy and earn a fair living from the wild.

Our vision

Wild nature is recognised as a fundamental part of Europe’s heritage and an essential element in a modern, prosperous and healthy society.

Our aim

To create large, rewilded landscapes in at least 15 different regions across Europe. These will demonstrate how Rewilding Europe’s vision can be put into practice on a far larger scale.

What we're doing

Rewilding Europe operates a number of interconnected initiatives to help make Europe a wilder place:

• Rewilding landscapes - Our diverse selection of pan-European rewilding landschapes showcase rewilding in action, building momentum and helping to reconnect people with wild nature.
• European Rewilding Network - A platform which allows rewilding initiatives across Europe to exchange insight and information, and share practical experiences in rewilding.
• Rewilding Europe Capital - Europe’s first rewilding enterprise funding facility provides financial loans to businesses which support rewilding in Europe and generate income and jobs based on wild values.
• European Wildlife Comeback Fund - A pioneering tool to help restore wildlife populations in rewilding landscapes all across Europe through providing immediate funding for conservation translocations that are ready to be executed.
• Rewilding Europe Travel - We are promoting the many benefits of rewilding, raise awareness of European wild nature, and develop nature-based tourism such as wildlife watching and safari-style experiences.
• Creating a policy environment - Together with a range of policy and scientific experts, we are working to promote a positive policy environment for rewilding, both at EU and national level.

History

Rewilding Europe was formally established on 28 June 2011 as an independent, non-for-profit foundation (ANBI status) registered in the Netherlands. The four co-founders of Rewilding Europe are Frans Schepers, Staffan Widstrand, Neil Birnie and Wouter Helmer. Rewilding Europe currently incorporates two limited liability companies, the Rewilding European Capital B.V. and the Rewilding Europe B.V..

As an independent organisation, Rewilding Europe has established itself as a pan-European initiative, operating at the frontline of rewilding at a European scale. We work together with numerous partners, both at a European, national and local level. A Supervisory Board, with now five members from five different countries, was established in September 2012. The Rewilding Europe Circle, an assembly of ambassadors and advisors, was established in 2015.

After more than 12 years of committed work, Rewilding Europe is now well underway and has made considerable progress, as can be seen in our Annual Reviews and regular reports. The rewilding process in Europe has achieved significant momentum. As it takes this new conservation movement forward across the continent, Rewilding Europe will continue to act as a pioneer and frontrunner.

By mid 2023, Rewilding Europe is working in ten large rewilding areas across Europe, with staff- and board members, ambassadors and volunteers from more than 18 different countries. Our lean-and-mean central team currently represents 8 lead positions with some 23 staff in total. Rewilding Europe is based in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Read more about Rewilding Europe in the public disclosures on our website.