Overview
Rewilding Europe is a non-profit foundation founded in 2011 with a simple goal: to make Europe a wilder place, for the benefit of nature and people. Where much European conservation focused on defending what remained, Rewilding Europe set out to scale recovery up, restoring natural processes across entire landscapes.
In 2026 the organisation celebrated its 15th anniversary, describing its journey as taking rewilding 'from margins to mainstream'. Its annual reviews document rivers being freed by dam removals, forests regenerating, vultures returning to the skies and wild grazers reshaping the land.
Rewilding Landscapes
The heart of Rewilding Europe's work is its portfolio of 11 large rewilding landscapes, each a long-term partnership with local teams. They range from the Greater Coa Valley in Portugal and the Central Apennines in Italy to the Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria, the Danube Delta in Romania, the Velebit Mountains in Croatia and the Affric Highlands in Scotland.
Alongside the landscapes, the organisation created Rewilding Europe Capital, the continent's first loan fund for rewilding enterprises, helping nature-based businesses grow around recovering ecosystems. Its European Rewilding Network connects 114 initiatives in 32 countries so they can learn from each other.
Wildlife Comeback
Species recovery is central to the model. The European Wildlife Comeback Fund supports reintroductions and population reinforcements following IUCN guidelines, with 2025 highlights including support for European bison reinforcement in Azerbaijan's Shahdag National Park among many other initiatives.
Rewilding Europe's earlier Wildlife Comeback Report helped document the remarkable recovery of European species such as bison, beavers, vultures and white-tailed eagles, evidence that shapes rewilding ambitions across the continent, including in the UK.
Relevance to the UK
Rewilding Europe works in Britain directly. Affric Highlands, its ninth landscape, spans around 200,000 hectares of the Scottish Highlands and is led on the ground by Trees for Life. Its science and species work also underpins other UK projects: the bison released into Kentish woodland descend from European recovery herds, and Britain's returning white storks are part of a continental comeback story the organisation has championed.
UK rewilding projects can also join the European Rewilding Network, and Rewilding Europe works closely with national umbrella bodies such as Rewilding Britain.
How to Support
Donations fund landscape partnerships and the Wildlife Comeback Fund. Travellers can also support rewilding directly by visiting landscape partners through the organisation's nature-based tourism network.
Visit rewildingeurope.com to donate, explore the landscapes or read the latest annual review.
Further Resources
Watch
Rewilding Europe | Making Europe a Wilder Place
Rewilding Europe explains its mission, vision and the landscapes it works across.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rewilding Europe?
Rewilding Europe is a non-profit foundation founded in 2011 that works to make Europe a wilder place. It operates in a portfolio of rewilding landscapes across the continent, supports wildlife comeback and helps build nature-based economies. It marked its 15th anniversary in 2026.
Is Rewilding Europe active in the UK?
Yes. Affric Highlands in the Scottish Highlands became Rewilding Europe's ninth rewilding landscape in 2021 and remains one of its 11 landscapes, covering around 200,000 hectares from Loch Ness to Loch Alsh and delivered on the ground with Trees for Life. Its European Rewilding Network also connects 114 rewilding initiatives in 32 countries, including UK projects, and its species work on bison and white storks directly influences British rewilding.
What is the European Wildlife Comeback Fund?
The European Wildlife Comeback Fund is a Rewilding Europe fund that supports the reintroduction and reinforcement of wildlife populations across Europe, following IUCN guidelines. It has funded work on species including European bison, griffon vultures and large herbivores.
How many rewilding landscapes does Rewilding Europe work in?
Rewilding Europe works in 11 large rewilding landscapes across the continent, from the Greater Côa Valley in Portugal to the Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria and the Danube Delta. Each landscape is a long-term partnership with local teams, communities and businesses.
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