Brussels – 31 May 2016

Ilko Bosman – Enterprise Director

Rewilding EuropeA new vision for an old continent

Europe is changing

Young generations leaving

Biodiversity loss

> 50% of European flora and fauna

How can we turn these problemsinto opportunities ?

Natura2000

IEEP (2011):

- Only 9-19 % of the estimated financingneeds of 5.8 billion Euro/year is covered- ‘Business as usual approach puts the network at risk’

Are there other ways to financenature or lowering the costs?(and even improve the quality of nature?)18%

Nature experienceContramal of urbanisation

Wildlife watchingIncreasing demand

Urbanized societies more relaxed towards wildlife and open for wild nature

Our vision:Making Europe a Wilder Place

With much more space for wildlife, and natural processes

Bringing back the variety of life for us all to enjoy.

Exploring new ways for people to earn a fair living from the wild.

Three key components:Rewilding – Communication - Enterprise

1. RewildingRestoring natural processes

Rewild at least 1 million ha of land by 2022

Supporting the wildlife comeback ‘the soul of European Nature’

2. Business developmentBuilding rewilding economies

Innovative business mechanisms• Rewilding Europe Capital

Innovative business mechanisms:European Wildlife Bank

Supporting rewilding enterprises16 enterprises in 5 countries

3. Communicationsto a European audience

Large outdoor exhibitions500.000 - 2 million visitors, each

Huge media coverage

Western Iberia (Portugal, Spain)‘Ancient dehesa, Sierra and Montado landscapes’

Velebit Mountains (Croatia)‘The Wild West of the Adriatic Coast’

Central Apennines (Italy)‘The Wild Heart of Italy’

Danube Delta (Romania)‘Europe’s Unrivalled Wetland’

Southern Carpathians (Romania)‘Wilderness Arc in the Heart of Europe’

Eastern Carpathians (Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine)‘One of Europe’s Best Wilderness Areas’

Rhodope Mountains (Bulgaria, Greece)‘Raptor Paradise in Wild Borderland’

Oder Delta (Germany, Poland)‘Baltic Estuary with the Big Seven’

Lapland (Sweden, Norway)‘Europe’s Alaska’

Europe’s biggest wildernessOr a modern cultural landscape?

A wilder cultural landscape!Inspiring a modern (urban) society

Hunting /gathering in a new contexthunting pictures/gathering experiences

Reconnecting with wild nature

They see the opportunity…

And we…

Making Europe a wilder place