Head of Landscapes at Rewilding Europe, Deli Saavedra has the important task of monitoring the progress of rewilding efforts in different areas currently underway across Europe. In an interview, he talks to us about the biggest challenges of his job, the future of this collective and unified project and his plans for the future.
At the beginning of November, the second meeting of the Communication team of the various European rewilding areas, for which Rewilding Europe is responsible, took place. One of the goals of this team is to spread this conservation approach, thereby generating pride and public support for the amplification of rewilding efforts across Europe. After a first meeting in the Netherlands, even before the pandemic, the second meeting was held in Portugal, organized by Rewilding Portugal, and served to create bridges, strengthen ties and work on joint strategies for the future.
The symposium, which helped promote rewilding in both a European and Portuguese context, featured a range of presentations from rewilding thought leaders. It has so far attracted over 2000 online views.
Aukje van Gerven is responsible for organising and the co-creator and of Rewilding Europe’s rewilding tourism trainings. Here, she talks about the Greater Côa Valley, the initiatives developed so far and the potential of this territory.
Raquel Filgueiras is Portuguese and has been a member of the Rewilding Europe team since 2019. In this interview, we get to know better her journey in the rewilding movement and her vision of rewilding in Portugal and in the Greater Côa Valley, as well as European strategies for the future.
The LIFE WolFlux project, in an action coordinated by Rewilding Portugal and Rewilding Europe, developed, this November, the first training of nature guides, with the objective of betting on local entrepreneurship in the Greater Côa Valley and promote the operationalization of this activity in a more sustainable way and that respects and values the surrounding natural heritage.
Quinta de Santa Margarida, between Sabugal and Almeida, is on its way to becoming a new wildlife reserve. While the initial fauna and flora monitoring actions are taking place, as well as the first preparatory actions in the space, the Symington Family Estates team joined Rewilding Portugal in an intensive action to clean the property, removing large volumes of garbage and residues.
Rewilding Portugal inaugurated, on October 30th, its Rewilding Center in Vale de Madeira, in the municipality of Pinhel. A space dedicated to nature conservation and direct contact with the local community. This new center is critical for the organization to embark on a new approach to conservation that aims to involve those around it.
There is now a new business benefiting from the Rewilding Europe Capital (REC) funding facility, Flor Alta. This is a company based in Almendra, near Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo and offers a wide range of handcrafted and natural products, an alternative to the synthetic substances found in more conventional beauty products.
In the week of 12th to 15th of July, took place the first meeting of the Enterprise team from the various European rewilding areas. One of the goals of this team is to develop the economic argument for nature conservation and restoration. The meeting was held in Portugal and served to build bridges and strengthen ties.