Daniel Allen
Lead Writer & Editor, Rewilding Europe
Through rewilding, we can shape a tomorrow where both Europeans and European wildlife flourish.
European wildlife is amazing. From bison and beavers to wolves and white-tailed eagles, our continent is home to an array of iconic animals that evoke joy and excitement. Safeguarding Europe’s wildlife populations is essential — not just because all wildlife species deserve to exist in their own right but because they are vital to our wellbeing.
Reasons to be hopeful
The benefits that people derive from wildlife are of almost inestimable value, whether it be soil fertilisation, climate control, clean water or enhanced human health. Yet, protecting wildlife in Europe in its current condition is not enough. Centuries of urbanisation, industrialisation and intensive agriculture — now coupled with climate change pressures — mean most European wildlife populations are fragmented and far less abundant than they should be. This is bad news for us because degraded wildlife populations are unable to deliver the benefits that we rely on.
Nevertheless, there are reasons to feel hopeful. Wildlife is resilient and will bounce back if we allow it to recover and strive to live alongside it. Over the last 50 years, many European wildlife species have made a remarkable return, supported by a wide range of measures.
Rewilding is a progressive
approach to conservation.
Rewilding goes beyond protection
Rewilding is a progressive approach to conservation. It’s about letting nature take care of itself, enabling natural processes to restore degraded ecosystems. Rewilding goes beyond protection to support the comeback of wildlife by giving it the space and freedom to recover on its own. Targeted reintroductions may sometimes be necessary to kick-start the recovery process, but the objective is to work towards a situation where nature leads.
Rewilding inspires and encourages people to live alongside recovering wildlife by fostering meaningful connections with the natural world, providing communities with the capacity to co-exist with the animals around them, and enabling people and businesses to generate long-term income from nature. Through rewilding, we can go beyond protection to realise a continent where both European people and wildlife flourish. By joining the rewilding movement today, everyone can play a role in shaping tomorrow’s wild.
