Latest news with #RewildingEurope
Miami Herald
13-06-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
‘Shadow caught on camera' ends creature's 500-year-long absence from Portugal
As night settled across Portugal, a small furry creature swam along a river, dragging around branches and leaves. Unbeknownst to it, its appearance was captured by nearby trail cameras — and ended a 500-year-long absence. 'Five centuries gone, and then: gnawed trunks, reshaped water, a shadow caught on camera! The beaver is back in Portugal,' the conservation group Rewilding Europe said in a June 13 Facebook post. 'The last known record of beavers in Portugal probably dates back to the end of the 15th century,' Rewilding Portugal said in a June 12 news release. 'Intensive hunting and habitat destruction' wiped out the country's beavers, and the animal had been considered locally extinct ever since. But conservationists didn't give up. For the past 20 years, conservationists in Spain worked to rehabilitate their European beaver populations and eventually noticed beavers living closer and closer to the border with Portugal, the organization said. By 2023, a beaver was seen about 500 feet from the Portuguese border and was expected to eventually cross the border. Conservationists in Portugal recently saw 'unequivocal signs' of beavers, such as 'gnawing marks' on trees and structures that changed the water flow. In late May, trail cameras filmed a young beaver within the country. 'We've been on the lookout for this breakthrough for a few years now, and now we're thrilled to confirm its return,' Pedro Prata, a conservationist with Rewilding Portugal, said in the release. Video footage from May 20 to 25 shows a beaver swimming at night and moving sticks around. Other photos shared by Rewilding Portugal in a June 13 Facebook post show the beaver sitting, holding something and climbing along the river bank. Conservationists described the beaver sighting as 'one of the most significant steps in the aquatic rewilding of our rivers in Portugal.' 'The beaver is a natural ally in restoring the health of our rivers and wetlands and has a fundamental role to play in our river ecosystems,' Prata said in the release. 'The beaver improves water quality, creates refuges for other species and helps us fight phenomena such as drought and fires.' 'The return of the beaver to Portugal is a symbol of hope and change,' Prata said. 'It shows that if we give nature space and time, it will respond. It's now up to us to ensure that this return is well received and protected.' Rewilding Portugal said it plans to continue monitoring the beaver and help mitigate any human-animal conflicts that may arise. Conservationists did not say where in Portugal the beaver was but said they'd previously monitored beavers in Arribes del Duero Natural Park, Spain. The park is near Freixo de Espada à Cinta in northern Portugal and a roughly 275-mile drive northeast from Lisbon. Google Translate was used to translate the Facebook post from Rewilding Portugal.
Agriland
11-06-2025
- General
- Agriland
Review: Rewilding leading to a ‘hopeful shift' across Europe
Rewilding Europe's 2024 annual review has revealed that nature is driving a 'hopeful shift' across European landscapes. It claims that rewilding across Europe is gaining momentum with a return of iconic species, and the restoration of dynamic, self sustaining ecosystems. Rewilding Europe's latest annual review has showcased a year of 'meaningful progress' that illustrates how 'natural intelligence' is being harnessed to reshape landscapes, inspire communities, and address pressing ecological and societal challenges. According to Rewilding Europe, natural processes are being given space to thrive across Europe. The report has highlighted the resurgence, showing how rewilding is moving from the margins to the mainstream, delivering tangible outcomes for nature, climate, and people. Rewilding Europe The executive director of Rewilding Europe, Frans Schepers outlined how natural process have shaped and sustained life on Earth 'for millions of years'. 'Just as artificial intelligence is being employed to make everything work smarter, faster, and more intuitively, rewilding puts natural intelligence to work, making large-scale nature recovery feasible and sustainable,' Schepers said. The group has said that it's report 'is filled' with examples of what happens when human beings trust in nature's resilience. It highlights milestones across ten European landscapes, from restoring free flowing rivers that reduce floods and droughts, to the return of European bison, wild horses, and vultures that help restore essential natural processes. The report also takes a closer look at how rewilding is unlocking land for nature, harnessing new legislation, restoring ecological abundance, and advancing wildlife-smart communities that are pioneering new ways of living with nature, economically, culturally, and socially. Rewilding Europe has said that it's aim is to make Europe a 'wilder place', with more space for wildlife and natural processes. It believes that wild nature should be valued and treated as an essential element of a prosperous and healthy society.
Agriland
23-05-2025
- Science
- Agriland
Free rewilding course aimed at farmers and policymakers
Rewilding Europe has announced the launch of a new, free, online rewilding course, designed to make rewilding accessible and actionable for everyone. The course – 'Introduction to rewilding in Europe' – brings together insights from leading experts and practitioners across more than 20 European countries. Aimed at students, policymakers, farmers, artists, or those curious about nature recovery, the Massive Open Online Course – which is hosted by the Open University in the UK – is meant as a gateway to understanding rewilding and playing an active part in it. Rewilding Europe has said that those who complete the course won't just understand rewilding – they will be ready to make it happen. Rewilding Europe's head of upscaling, Amy Duthie said: 'Rewilding is growing at a phenomenal rate across Europe. 'Every day we're asked 'how can I start rewilding?' The truth is, everyone can. 'We've created this course to share our experience and showcase the best rewilding efforts across Europe, so that everyone has the information and inspiration to start rewilding.' Sharing lessons learned The eight-module course is said to be suitable for all learners and no prior knowledge required. It features real-life stories, the latest thinking in rewilding science, and practical tools to kickstart individual or community action. Each module explores rewilding in diverse landscapes – on land, in rivers, and at sea – and culminates in a personal rewilding action plan to turn new knowledge into practice. Rewilding Europe Rewilding Europe said that rewilding offers hope at a time of multiple global crises – biodiversity loss, climate change, and disconnection from the natural world. This course is an invitation to explore how rewilding can contribute to healthier ecosystems, stronger communities, and a more resilient future for all. 'Rewilding gives us a unique and exciting opportunity to ensure nature recovery delivers game-changing impact,' the group said. 'An opportunity to rediscover and reconnect with wild nature to improve our own health and well-being. This course is an invitation to be part of that change.'
The National
08-05-2025
- General
- The National
Scottish rewilding initiative launches as new independent charity
Affric Highlands has committed to restoring 20,000 hectares of land for nature, people and the climate over the next 30 years. The charity, which includes local people and landowners, aims to protect and recover peatlands, rivers and forests. It has operated as a joint venture led by Trees for Life with support and advice from Rewilding Europe. Its efforts will also focus on sustainable fishing, farming, timber and wildlife tourism to create a network of businesses supported by rewilding and supporting the environment further. READ MORE: Pro-republic rally returns to Edinburgh this weekend Affric Highland looks to cover more than 700 square miles of connected landholdings from Loch Ness to Kintail on the west coast, with the charity's area is centred on Glen Affric in Beauly. Stephanie Kiel, Affric Highlands's executive director, said: 'Affric Highlands is a community focused vision of hope. 'It's hugely inspiring to be setting out as a new charity on this ambitious 30-year journey to take large-scale nature recovery to a new level. 'We want to create new opportunities and real benefits for local landowners, communities and rural economies, so nature, people and livelihoods can all thrive together.' A statesman from the charity added: "The region is stunningly beautiful but largely ecologically damaged, with much land degraded following centuries of deforestation and overgrazing. "The globally unique Caledonian forest has been reduced to isolated fragments. Damage to peatlands means they are emitting rather than absorbing carbon. Lochs and rivers are depleted of salmon. "This damage to the natural world means the region now supports fewer people than it could – limiting people's opportunities for sustainable land-based jobs, and undermining sustainable agriculture which depends on functioning natural processes." The charity's partnerships cover 58,000 hectares of land curated by 19 local landowners. The individual landholdings are free to decide what benefits their land so solutions can be tailored to the landscape's specific needs. Trees For Life has been aiding Affric Highlands since the 1990s. The charity's chief executive, Steve Micklewright (above), said: 'Affric Highlands's success so far has brought us to the point where it can now begin a new era as an independent charity. 'This is fantastic news for breathing new life into the Highlands through rewilding.' Trees For Life cares for a 10,000-acre estate in Dundreggan, Glenmoriston which is where the world's first rewilding centre was founded – Dundreggan Rewilding Centre. They have pushed for planting native tree species like the Scots pine in Glen Affric which has brought wildlife back to its former home Affric Highlands became the ninth member of Rewilding Europe's coalition of rewilding sites in September 2021. Frans Schepers, Rewilding Europe's executive director, said Affric Highlands will 'enrich the social fabric and wildlife of these glens and hills, while inspiring the growth of landscape-scale rewilding across Europe too'. Rewilding Europe covers ecologically precious areas such as the Danube Delta, Romania's Southern Carpathians and the Iberian Highlands in Spain.
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Scotland's endangered wildcats could be saved in massive 800 sq mile Highland rewilding plan
The new Affric Highlands charity has set out ambitious plans to restore nature and wildlife over a sweeping area from Loch Ness to the west coast. Scotland's endangered wildcats could be saved as part of a massive 800-square-mile rewilding plan across the Highlands. The new Affric Highlands charity has set out ambitious plans to regenerate native woodland, peatland and riverside habitats and boost endangered species like wildcats, covering a sweeping stretch of the country from Loch Ness to the west coast. The group said it will work with local landowners to boost the local economy and make the region a hub for sustainable timber, fishing, farming, venison and wildlife tourism. Affric Highlands - whose emblem is a wildcat, also known as the 'Highland Tiger' - vowed to see the iconic animal flourish as it takes on the huge 30-year project. The beautiful and rare wildcat - once widespread across the UK - is now only found in northern Scotland. With fewer than 300 left, the mammal is considered critically at risk of extinction. In a statement, Affric Highlands said: 'It is hoped that habitat restoration will support efforts to help this much-loved species thrive again.' It also promised action to aid conservation efforts for other struggling species like red squirrels, mountain hares and Atlantic salmon. The rewilding plan will cover a linked network of landholdings stretching from Loch Ness to Kintail in the west, and encompassing Glens Cannich, Urquhart, Affric, Moriston and Shiel. Despite the region's world-famous beauty, it is largely ecologically damaged, with much land degraded following centuries of deforestation and overgrazing. That includes the globally unique Caledonian forest which has been reduced to isolated fragments, while damage to peatlands means they are emitting rather than absorbing carbon. The charity said this was limiting people's opportunities for sustainable land-based jobs and undermining sustainable farming which depends on functioning natural processes. Affric Highlands executive director Stephanie Kiel said: 'Affric Highlands is a community focused vision of hope. 'It's hugely inspiring to be setting out as a new charity on this ambitious 30-year journey to take large-scale nature recovery to a new level. 'We want to create new opportunities and real benefits for local landowners, communities and rural economies, so nature, people and livelihoods can all thrive together.' Restoring habitats will boost biodiversity and benefit wildlife including golden eagles, red squirrels, black grouse, mountain hares, salmon, trout, ospreys and otters. Despite Scotland's renowned landscapes, data shows the country is one of the most nature-depleted in the world. Rewilding means the restoration of nature on a large enough scale that it can then take care of itself. Affric Highlands began work in September 2021, operating as a joint venture led by Trees for Life with support and advice from the Rewilding Europe network - before now launching as an independent charity. It has already built a broad coalition of 19 landowners backing the project, covering an area of around 225 square miles within the vast landscape. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Local rewilding schemes so far include restoring native woodlands and peatlands - and creating new woodland on riverbanks to provide shade, nutrients and shelter to Scotland's threatened wild salmon population. Steve Micklewright, Trees for Life's chief executive, said: 'Affric Highlands' success so far – coupled with the opportunities for people offered by its bold vision of landscape-scale nature recovery – has brought us to the point where it can now begin a new era as an independent charity. 'This is fantastic news for breathing new life into the Highlands through rewilding.' Frans Schepers of Rewilding Europe said: 'Affric Highlands will enrich the social fabric and wildlife of these glens and hills.'
