News from the rewilding areas

This third Rewilding Europe newsletter is focused on the five rewilding areas that have all started working.

On each of them, you will read about progress they have made during the first months of work. During the initial stage of the projects a lot of planning, partnership development and basic information collection is needed, to prepare well and to create ground for rewilding activities.  Apart from this, more practical work is being done as well. Please read about preparing the re-introduction or restocking of chamois into Velebit, bison into the Southern Carpathians, beaver into the Danube Delta, and the planned releases of local breeds of horses and cattle into Western Iberia.

Also at the central level in Rewilding Europe, there has been a lot of progress on rewilding work over the last few months, e.g. setting up a European Wildlife Bank and starting to develop the Rewilding Europe Bison Action Plan.

Enjoy reading.

Since the beginning of our work in Western Iberia last year, a lot of attention has been given to bringing back wildlife, including rewilding horses and bovines. A 25,000 ha area along the Côa River has been selected for the return of Iberian ibex, red deer and roe deer. »

A local opinion poll in both Poland and Slovakia demonstrated strong local support for rewilding as an opportunity for economic development and recognition of wilderness as an important local quality. Most people welcomed the idea of reintroducing missing species, such as free-living horses. »

After more than 190 years the beaver is back in the Danube Delta. Rangers found the first beaver lodge in January 2012. Rewilding Europe will now boost this natural recolonization by bringing in more animals. A night camera will allow people to follow the life of the beavers online. »

Rewilding prospects in Southern Carpathians were analysed in January and February by a team of experts, including representatives from all protected areas that will be affected. Work will continue by finding suitable locations for beaver and bison. And conservation-oriented enterprises may arise already this year. »

Velebit rewilding area is seeking opportunities to significantly enhance the local chamois population, and suitable source populations for restocking exist in various parts of the Balkans. Wildlife watching in a fomer hunting area with good numbers of brown bear, red deer, and wolf will also begin. »

The comeback of European Bison in at least five areas is one of the targets of Rewilding Europe for the coming ten years. Rewilding Europe will offer the bison its unique and natural role in European wildlands and will stimulate the long-term survival of the species, all in cooperation with the bison specialist groups in Europe. »