Pro Silva Italy recently visited the Wildcard case study sites in Lom and Perućica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to explore old-growth forests (OGFs) and their value for biodiversity, carbon storage, and sustainable forest management.
The field trip introduced participants to the Wildcard project’s objectives and methodologies for forest sampling and data analysis. Discussions and field observations focused on differences in forest structure and species composition between managed forests and old-growth forests, natural regeneration processes, and the quantity and quality of deadwood and its contribution to biodiversity and carbon stocks.
Participants also examined carbon accumulation across different forest compartments, compared carbon stocks in old-growth and managed forests, and discussed the limitations of current carbon estimation methods and emerging approaches to improve them.
The visit highlighted the value of old-growth forests as reference systems for understanding natural forest dynamics and informing close-to-nature silviculture. Lessons from the Wildcard case study sites can help strengthen the evidence base for the Pro Silva approach and support forest management that better integrates biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation, and natural forest processes.
What happens when forests are left to develop naturally? How does wildlife influence forest regeneration? And what do we gain and lose when forests reclaim land that was once managed by people?
As part of the Wildcard project, in collaboration with the University of Udine, we went on a two-day study trip to explore these questions across two fascinating – and very different – Wildcard case study sites in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Northeastern Italy.
On the first day, joined by more than 20 forest managers, researchers, forestry experts and representatives of different associations, we explored how ecological processes, historical land use and local traditions continue to shape the region’s forests and landscapes.
Old forests, new insights
Our first stop was the Cansiglio Forest, where we visited stands displaying impressive old-growth characteristics. Researcher Antonio Tomao introduced us to the ecological processes unfolding in forests that have been left to develop with minimal human intervention. The Pian delle Stele reserve has been established in the early 1970s, with the last management intervention taking place more than 60 years ago, allowing natural processes to shape the forest over several decades.
The landscape offered plenty to discover: abundant deadwood, fascinating fungi, tree cavities and a remarkable variety of microhabitats. Natural disturbances create structural diversity, providing essential habitats for species that depend on mature trees and decaying wood, including rare beetles and fungi. These features remind us that a forest’s ecological value extends far beyond the number of living trees it contains. It was beautiful to see how impressed and proud the participants were, for example when we found a Hericium erinaceus, a rare fungus that only grows on deadwood. Every 200 meters we had to make a break, both for the experts to explain the diverse forest features, as well as for the group to take several photos. From researcher Guido Marcoz we learnt that the group of scientists from University of Udine has found rare woodpeckers and a small owl, that only nests in holes that were formerly occupied by woodpeckers. What an excitement the researchers must have felt identifying these species with on-the-ground data collection techniques like sound recording – it was still visible when listening to Guido. “These species need a lot of deadwood”, Guido stated, and we learned that “by leaving standing and laying deadwood to decay also in forests managed for wood production, it is possible to promote these habitats as well”.
Cansiglio forest with a lot of deadwood Impressive Fungi, habitat to several small animals and organismsResearchers Antonio Tomao, Guido Marcoz and Alessandro Foscari (University of Udine)
While hiking through the wild and steep forest, we also explored how old-growth forests contribute to carbon storage and sequestration, and how biodiversity develops as forests mature. One particularly interesting question was how these forests respond to climate change. While their structural complexity and natural processes offer valuable insights into forest resilience, understanding their long-term responses remains an important research challenge.
“We need to make the people aware of the different forest functions, and that there can be conflicts of interests depending on which function is prioritized”, said forestry advisor Fabio Cogo. He also mentioned that – apart from carbon credits – there are very few options to get funding for setting forests aside for conservation purposes, and that this funding is usually only beneficial for a small group of stakeholders.
How forest development is shaped by wild animals
Yet natural forest development does not happen without pressures. Deer browsing, for example, can significantly limit natural regeneration and reduce the diversity of tree species. At our second stop, we saw a striking illustration of this challenge, presented to us by forest manager Roberto Luise, the local forest manager. An area protected by fencing for 15–20 years showed a remarkable difference in regeneration compared with the unfenced forest across the road, where young trees were scarce and shrubs dominated. We also discussed the potential of hunting – which we learnt is not allowed in the area – and the option of re-introducing the wolf. Roberto stated that the wolf plays an important role in addressing the game situation, “but it cannot be the only solution”, added Roberto. Seeing the effects of browsing on forest regeneration was a powerful reminder that natural processes are shaped not only by the management – or the absence of it – but also by the presence of wildlife and the conditions surrounding the forest.
Group of experts visiting the fenced areaFenced regeneration with diverse tree speciesDifference between natural regeneration in fenced area and the surrounding landscape
Local communities as a key to success?
From Federica Biondo we learnt that there is still a lot to do in terms of taking local communities onboard, raising both their awareness and support for the local forests and their benefits. This is why her organization Legno Servizi, supporting the forest-wood sector in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, has recently established forest education centers in both Udine and Triest. These were founded to contribute to their main objective, promoting sustainable forest management and the use of local wood through a range of dissemination, research, communication and project development activities.
Finally, in the evening, after most of the participants went home, we met Giulia Zanuttigh in Udine, about 2 hours away from Cansiglio forest. Giulia is a member of the Italian Alpine Club and works at the Municipality of Udine. She emphasized that local people should have an influence on what is happening with the forests near their homes. This could involve being allowed to cut forests to use the land as a meadow, as was done in the past. She also sees potential for more tourism, but less related to forests and their biodiversity but more related to the cultural use of forests and land.
When the forest returns: a visit to Soffumbergo
On the second day, we turned our attention to Soffumbergo, a landscape that tells a different story of forest change. Around 80 years ago, much of this area consisted of open meadows and pastures. Following the devastating earthquake of 1976, many residents left their villages, and agricultural land was gradually abandoned. Forests subsequently reclaimed these open spaces, with species such as maple, ash and hornbeam establishing themselves under the region’s favourable growing conditions.
Today, tall trees, woodland habitats and signs of wildlife reveal the ecological opportunities created by this transformation. At the same time, the expanding forest tells a story of disappearing cultural landscapes. Traditional agroforestry systems, including meadows dotted with chestnut trees, once supported local livelihoods and shaped the identity of the villages. Their decline means losing not only familiar landscapes, but also traditional knowledge, land-use practices and elements of local cultural heritage.
Microhabitats, providing nests to birds and other small animalsFormer meadows overgrown with forest
Between rewilding and cultural landscapes
Managing these changing landscapes is further complicated by fragmented land ownership. Some parcels are extremely small, ownership records are outdated, and identifying the people responsible for abandoned land can be difficult. Local initiatives like “Pro Loco” are therefore exploring ways to coordinate land management, maintain open areas near villages and restore selected meadows where this can support cultural values, tourism and landscape resilience. One engaging example we learned about was the “Chestnut Festival”. This event is organized by Pro Loco in the small village Valle di Soffumbergo, which has around 10 inhabitants, but several hundred visitors for the Festival. At the heart of the village, we met Giorgio Dri, who told us about the history of the area, and about the impacts of the land abandonment. He emphasized that the impressive nature is attractive for ecotourism, and proudly shared that they organize different activities with tourists throughout the year. These include for example forest bathing and an excursion to the forest in the night of San Lorenzo on 10th August, where visitors can see the shooting stars at night, and are welcomed back to Soffumbergo with a “Pasta asciutta” at midnight. However, with wildlife being so close to their houses, he also expressed his concern regarding wild boars, destroying the local gardens.
Our final stop, at the aptly named “Meadows of the Church”, offered another striking perspective: a place where open land is increasingly being taken over by forest. We realized that the only meadow left there – most likely the place where visitors watch the shooting starts – might also been taken over by forests in the next years.
Meadows of the ChurchWildcard project team, organizers of the study trip
Across both days, one message became clear: forest change is never just an ecological story. It is also a story about history, livelihoods, biodiversity, climate, ownership and the relationship between people and their landscapes. And Rewilding does not represent a universal solution, but rather a set of context-specific strategies whose success depends on the ability to manage ecological, economic and social conflicts at local scale, integrating restoration interventions and natural dynamics with the needs of local landscapes and communities.
The Wildcard study trip provided a valuable opportunity to exchange perspectives, learn from local experience and reflect on the choices facing forest managers today. Rather than asking whether intervention or non-intervention is always the right answer, these landscapes invite us to consider a more nuanced question: what kind of forest and landscape do we want to sustain, and for whom?
The EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) offers a unique opportunity to scale up ecosystem restoration across Europe. As Member States develop their National Restoration Plans, the challenge is to identify approaches that deliver measurable ecological benefits while remaining economically feasible and socially acceptable.
Organised by the sister projects WILD-E, REWRITE, and us, Wildcard, in collaboration with the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), this Rewilding Knowledge science–policy event will bring together leading European experts to explore the latest evidence, innovative solutions and practical opportunities for restoring nature at scale.
Across four sessions, participants will examine progress in implementing the NRR, explore the broader evidence base for effective restoration, discuss practical approaches and local experiences, and identify research and innovation needs to accelerate implementation.
The event will cover four key themes:
Session I: Overview and update on NRR implementation Session II: Evidence-based nature restoration: The big picture Session III: Evidence-based restoration: Going local and digging deeper Session IV: Research and innovation needs for effectively implementing the Nature Restoration Regulation
Join us to discover how science and policy can work hand in hand to overcome barriers, unlock opportunities and turn Europe’s restoration ambitions into lasting change for nature and society.
A new European hub, Rewilding Knowledge, is bringing together rewilding research and knowledge to bridge the gap between academia, policy and rewilding action.
Rewilding Knowledge has been developed through a collaboration between three EU Horizon projects, wildE, REWRITE, and us, WILDCARD. While Horizon projects are time-bound, the platform Rewilding Knowledge will ensure that our findings remain accessible to policymakers, land managers, and researchers long after the projects conclude.
Across Europe, a range of different management approaches and tools are enabling nature to adapt to a changing world and drive the restoration of habitats and ecosystems on land and at sea. Rewilding approaches are bringing benefits to climate and biodiversity while addressing the needs of local communities.
Rewilding Knowledge aims to advance both academic and practical understanding of how rewilding science can address the climate and biodiversity crises and support nature restoration across Europe. This research and knowledge has been developed through three rigorous Horizon Europe-funded projects, with high-quality outputs aiming to build a future where rewilding plays a key role in supporting nature restoration and climate adaptation.
By bringing together the latest curated, robust scientific evidence from trusted and reputable sources in Europe, Rewilding Knowledge ensures users can rely on the quality and credibility of the information provided.
Key features include news, blogs, a searchable resource repository featuring reports and policy guidance, videos and podcasts. More content will continue to be added as the site expands and new knowledge and research becomes available.
Built on a foundation of collaboration and connection, Rewilding Knowledge welcomes projects and initiatives from the European rewilding science community to explore opportunities for knowledge sharing and partnership.
Powered by Oppla, Rewilding Knowledge is part of a wider global knowledge network bringing together the latest research on natural capital, ecosystem services and nature-based solutions.
What happens when people leave the land, when forests return on their own, or when nature refuses to follow our expectations? Our four new episodes of WILDCARD: The Forest Game take listeners on a journey through some of Europe’s most fascinating ecological transformations, revealing how landscapes, wildlife, and even microscopic organisms are reshaping the continent’s future.
In Episode 5, Natural Reforestation in Portugal, we travel to the remote Trás-os-Montes region, where abandoned farmland is gradually becoming forest. This largely unplanned process, driven by demographic and economic change, represents one of Europe’s largest reforestation phenomena. Yet the story is far more complex than a simple return of trees. Through local voices and scientific insights, the episode explores how people, forests, and changing rural landscapes continue to interact.
Episode 6, When Nature Surprises Us: The Steppe That Refused to Become Forest, challenges one of the most common assumptions about ecological succession. After fifty years of observation, ecologist Karel Prach discovered that an abandoned field in the Czech Republic did not become forest as expected. Instead, it developed into a valuable grassland ecosystem supporting rare steppe species. The episode highlights the importance of adaptation, long-term observation, and humility when working with nature.
In Episode 7,The Invisible Architects, the focus shifts beneath our feet. Following devastating wildfires on Mount Vesuvius, researchers uncovered a hidden world of bacteria, fungi, and soil organisms that drive ecosystem recovery. These microscopic communities rebuild soil health, recycle nutrients, and create the foundations without which forests regeneration could not take place. Their work may be invisible to our eyes, but it is essential for successful rewilding.
Finally, Episode 8, Where Wolves Walk: Natural Reforestation and the Return of Wildlife, explores the dynamic relationship between regenerating forests and wildlife. As forests reconnect fragmented landscapes, animals expand into new territories, creating ecological corridors across Europe. Yet wildlife are not merely beneficiaries of restoration; they actively shape the forests themselves through browsing, seed dispersal, and predator-prey interactions. Rewilding emerges as a continuous dialogue between animals and landscapes.
Together, these four episodes reveal that rewilding is neither simple nor predictable. Forests, grasslands, wildlife, and soil organisms all play interconnected roles in shaping Europe’s future landscapes. Through compelling stories and cutting-edge science, WILDCARD: The Forest Game invites listeners to discover how nature recovers when humans step back and observe.
Produced within the WILDCARD project, the podcast combines scientific expertise with engaging storytelling to bring Europe’s rewilding revolution to life. Whether you are interested in ecology, restoration, conservation, or the future of European landscapes, these episodes offer fresh perspectives on the surprising ways nature responds to change.
The first time I walked through a primary forest in the Low Tatras in Slovakia, I was struck by how different it looked and felt from the forests I had known before. Woody fungi called Polypores, larger than both of my hands emerged from the deadwood littered across the forest floor. Spruce trees bore horizontal scars left by three toed woodpeckers searching for insects beneath the bark. Beneath a tree more than 200 years old, a patch of cleared earth marked the resting place of a brown bear. At every step, the forest revealed something new and unexpected.
These remaining primary and old-growth forests offer a rare glimpse into ecosystems that existed before centuries of intensive land use and forest management reshaped much of Europe. Today, however, they survive only in small, isolated fragments and continue to decline rapidly due to logging. Their loss is of particular concern because these forests support exceptionally high levels of biodiversity and provide important ecosystem services like carbon storage and water regulation.
Ecosystem services: old growth forest in Slovakia (photo: Lyla O’Brien)Biodiversity: old growth forest in Slovakia (photo: Lyla O’Brien)
Together with other researchers, I published a perspective article in Conservation Letters, titled Priority actions for the conservation of primary and old-growth forests in Europe. In the article, we examine how the recently adopted Nature Restoration Regulation could strengthen the long-term conservation of Europe’s remaining primary and old-growth forests. Although the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 calls for their strict protection, the target is not legally binding and implementation has progressed slowly. We argue that, despite not explicitly referring to primary and old-growth forests, the Regulation nonetheless presents an exceptional opportunity to advance their conservation.
We therefore identify four key problems for the conservation of these forests and propose four accompanying actions that we consider most urgent, while exploring how the Regulation could support their implementation (Table 1).
First, incomplete mapping and weak protection should be addressed by identifying barriers and introducing a logging moratorium for unprotected forests, including those that are unmapped.
Second, human pressures should be reduced in and around primary and old-growth forests by banning logging, avoiding new roads, limiting infrastructure and recreation, and regulating hunting practices.
Third, because many forests are too small and fragmented, strict protection should be expanded and buffer zones established to maintain ecological processes and reduce external anthropogenic disturbances.
Fourth, connectivity between isolated forest patches should be improved and new old-growth forests should be developed through active restoration or by letting nature recover on its own passively.
The paper shows that conserving Europe’s primary and old-growth forests requires more than formal protection goals; it needs targeted, complementary action, which can be implemented under the Nature Restoration Regulation.
Table 1: Priority actions for improving the conservation of primary and old-growth forests in the EU and relevant articles for achieving them embedded in the National Restoration Regulation
Problem
Priority action
Key elements
Link to NRR
Significant gaps in mapping and protection
1. Assess progress and address barriers to identification, mapping, and protection; implement a logging moratorium
Identify implementation barriers to mapping and protection; integrate findings into EU progress assessments; impose a moratorium on mapped but unprotected and potential primary and old-growth forests
Article 4(12) non-deterioration clause
Anthropogenic impacts, also in protected forests
2. Prevent degradation from anthropogenic pressures and protect natural processes
No new forest roads; no logging; limited infrastructure and recreation; relocation of ungulate hunting; ban on supplementary feeding
Small, fragmented patches, limiting natural disturbance dynamics and increasing vulnerability
3. Expand strict protection and establish buffer zones around primary and old-growth forests
Expand strictly protected area to meet minimum dynamic area; Establish protection and conservation buffer zones
Article 4(1) restoration of degraded habitat types listed in Annex 1 to good condition; Article 12(1) enhancement of forest; Article 12(3) increase in the national trend for at least six of the following seven indicators for forest biodiversity: standing deadwood, lying deadwood, share of forests with uneven-aged structure, forest connectivity, stock of organic carbon, and share of forests dominated by native tree species and tree species diversity
Fragmentation and isolation, which threatens persistence of associated species, lack of representative network of primary and old-growth forests
4. Improve connectivity between primary and old-growth forests and create secondary old-growth forests through restoration
Restore patches of land to reconnect forests and promote secondary old-growth forests through passive and active restoration
With this article, we urge EU Member States to incorporate these priority actions into their national restoration plans before the end of 2026, providing an opportunity for the EU to move beyond broad political commitments toward concrete conservation outcomes for some of Europe’s most valuable and threatened forests.
Reference: O’Brien, L., Castelli, F., Felton, A., Kuemmerle, T., Mikoláš, M., Munteanu, C., Sabatini, F. M., Svensson, J., Svoboda, M., Vandekerkhove, K., Winkel, G., & Lindner, M. (2026). Priority actions for the conservation of primary and old-growth forests in Europe. Conservation Letters. https://doi.org/10.1111/con4.70054
Our innovative new online exhibition is inviting audiences to experience rewilding through a different lens – one shaped not by data alone, but by creativity, emotion, and shared reflection. Launched in collaboration with the Meander Magazine and the REWRITE project, the “Rewilding through Art” initiative brings together science, culture, and artistic expression in a unique virtual gallery hosted by Meander magazine: www.meandermagazine.earth/rewildingthroughart
The exhibition stems from a simple yet powerful set of questions: what does rewilding mean to individuals and communities, and how can it reshape both landscapes and mindsets? The response was striking. More than 80 submissions from artists, researchers, and citizens across 19 countries offered diverse interpretations – from ocean installations and satellite imagery to sculptures made of forest materials. A jury combining expertise from art, ecology, and environmental practice selected 12 standout works, reflecting a wide range of perspectives. While the exhibition originated as a physical installation in a forest setting in Freising, Germany, in February 2026, it now lives on through its online format, making these reflections accessible to a broader audience.
The virtual gallery highlights how art can deepen engagement with environmental issues, creating space for dialogue and new ways of seeing. Complementary to presenting rewilding as a purely scientific concept, the exhibition reveals it as a cultural and emotional process – one that reconnects people with nature and with each other.
How does rewilding speak to you? Why does it matter to you or your community? How can rewilding transform both landscapes and mindsets?
These were the questions we asked ourselves as we started our collaborative “Rewilding through Art” initiative between the WILDCARD and the REWRITE projects. These were also the questions we put forward, to invite anyone with a story, image, or idea about rewilding to share their vision with us. Our goal? An immersive exhibition in the forest with the vision to bridge art, science, and culture. And a virtual gallery with Meander, a new magazine for bioregional culture, slow living, and regenerative futures, who became a collaborating partner along the way.
An invitation that resonated
First of all, it was beautiful to see so many people – artists, citizens, NGOs, researchers – excited about the initiative and sharing the Open Call via their social media channels. Within a few weeks, our LinkedIn account had >200 more followers from several disciplines and fields of work – from rewilding practice to the creative sector. As submissions started coming in, we were even more astonished – there are so many ways to interpret and reflect upon “rewilding”: statues that are being sunk into the ocean, beautiful satellite images of rewilded areas, animal sculptures in real-life sizes created out of forest-based materials, installations in rivers, just to mention a few. While we were hoping to receive between 20 and 30 submissions, we ended up with more than 80 artwork submissions, coming from creatives from 19 countries.
Perspectives in dialogue: the jury
Our jury brought together a remarkable mix of perspectives from art, science, and environmental practice. Evgenia Emets is an artist, poet, and filmmaker whose work explores forests, biodiversity, and community engagement through installations, visual storytelling, and ecological performances. Tom Greenwood, founder and editor of Meander, draws on a background in marine biology and strategic design to connect ecological thinking, regenerative culture, and systems change through his magazine. Giorgio Alberti, Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of Udine and coordinator of the Wildcard project, focuses on forest resilience, carbon dynamics, and climate mitigation. Cintia Organo Quintana, Associate Professor at the University of Southern Denmark and contributor to the REWRITE project, bridges research, teaching, and conservation with her work on plant ecology, biodiversity, and ecosystem restoration. Sara Chiba, consultant and EU project coordinator at Prospex Institute, specializes in stakeholder engagement and bringing diverse perspectives into environmental solutions.
Deciding on the final selection proved extraordinarily challenging. In the end, rather than the planned ten, the jury chose twelve artworks. This decision was not only linked to the exceptional quality of the submissions but also the need to honor the diversity in perspectives and expertise within our jury, ensuring that every voice was able to contribute to the conversation.
From concept to forest floor
However, if we thought selecting was a tough call, we were surprised how much effort it took to actually plan an exhibition in the forest, that was supposed to be part of the “Rewilding Forum” organized by WILDCARD. Permissions from the local forest service had to be granted, proper material needed to be selected, a local printing service had to be found, and a van was rented to bring the artworks to the forest. And easels. Most of us didn’t even know that word in English, but without easels, there would be no outdoors exhibition.
When we – colleagues from Prospex Institute, artist Evgenia Emets, and I – finally stood in the Freising forest on 25th February, it was a moment of pride and excitement. We didn’t notice it was freezing cold (-2 degrees), but we enjoyed the mystical dust in the woods. We didn’t mind carrying the heavy artwork (and the easels) several hundred meters, but we were on a mission to make the careful selection visible – and we expected a big group of around 60 visitors, consisting of rewilding practitioners and scientists, stakeholders from policy, nature conservation, and the creative sector. Setting up the artwork was a muddy experience, but the work looked beautiful in the forest. With us were also three of the twelve artists, that were selected to present their work on the spot, while we had nice introductions prepared for the other artworks and their creators. And then the Rewilding Forum participants came and split into smaller groups to enable a more in-depth exchange.
Everyone started with visiting the three artists who joined the exhibition to introduce their work: Angelina Kumar, Diana Takacsova, and Inna Zrajaeva, who was representing Feral Malmö, a studio dedicated to reimagining relationships between people and nonhuman nature.
Angelina Kumar was the first to present. She is an artist, researcher and educator whose interdisciplinary practice connects ecology, community, and care. Her participatory sculpture “Hyphae of Kindness,” made from mycelium and fabric, draws on fungal networks to explore reciprocity, kindness and interdependence. When she told us how difficult it was for participants in her work to identify “acts of kindness” for themselves, it was obvious that the forest exhibition group was touched and reflecting about what kindness meant to them. Questions evolved around the contributors to the installation – it was open to the public – and to the knowledge these contributors gathered both about fungal networks and artistic practice. The stakeholder group was impressed with Angelina’s approach of expanding rewilding beyond landscapes to social and emotional renewal through a collaborative, artistic process.
Diana Takacsova was the second presenter. As aresearch-driven photographer and National Geographic Explorer, she explores environment, identity, and human relationships to place. With her project “Like a Flowing Path” she uses social documentary photography to show ecological restoration and cultural change in Slovakia’s inland Danube delta since 2022. The researchers in the group were interested in her collaboration with the scientists working in the Danube delta, and Diana shared her appreciation of their openness to “invite her into their boat”. She also emphasized how important it is for researchers to make their work visible, and documented it in a visually attractive way to highlight both biodiversity recovery and human stewardship within this transforming landscape.
The third artist was Inna Zrajaeva, representing Feral Malmö. She presented us with a photography of beautiful tiles designed in a Portuguese Art Nouveau style as part of a public workshop hosted at the Aveiro Ceramic Biennial in 2025, called “Rewilding the Salinas”. Inna Zrajaeva explained that during this workshop, participants were invited to paint species inhabiting the salinas today, focusing on four representative species and learning about their ecology through accompanying booklets and discussion with a scientist. Interestingly, we learned from the artist that people were more open to listen while they were painting – which led some Rewilding Forum participants to reflect upon their engagement strategies. We learned that sea pickles should not be harvested intensively, and that the European eel is facing extinction. Through “Rewilding the Salinas,” Feral Malmö highlighted the interplay between art, learning, and ecological awareness. In the Freising forest, Inna invited us to reflect on our role in nurturing resilient ecosystems and celebrating the species returning to these restored habitats.
All other artworks were then presented by us, the people leading the smaller groups of Rewilding Forum participants. While the audience was listening to our speeches and admiring the diverse artwork, we could see that it was not the same as listening to the artists themselves, and we reflected if it would be possible to increase the budget to invite more artists to travel next time.
An immersive space for reflection
What most participants – including myself – realized, is that art has a unique way of opening a reflective space that facts alone rarely manage to do for us. In the quiet of the forest, surrounded by images, stories, and shared curiosity, something shifted: conversations deepened, perspectives widened, and connections formed – between people, disciplines, and ways of seeing the world. What began as an exhibition became a living dialogue, where science met emotion, and knowledge met imagination.
Rewilding, we realized, is not only about restoring landscapes; it is about restoring relationships – between humans and nature, but also among ourselves. Through art, complex ideas can become tangible, and learning can emerge not as instruction, but as exchange. People listened differently and found common ground in unexpected places.
In this space, art did more than communicate – it connected. It invited us to pause, to question, and to imagine other worlds together. And perhaps that is where transformation begins: not only in changing ecosystems, but in rewilding how we think, feel, and relate to one another.
Are you curious to explore rewilding and the selected artworks yourself? The Exhibition Gallery, featuring 12 compelling responses to our Open Call, just launched on Meander magazine with diverse artworks for you to see, sense, and engage with.
On Rewilding Day 2026, our attention turns to WILDCARD’s Czech case study: Šumava National Park in southwestern Czechia, a landscape where nature is taking the lead. The National Park is one of Central Europe’s largest forested areas, stretching across borders with Germany and Austria.
Our new video shares insights about the history of this forest area, political and ecological objectives, and societal expectations: While some residents embrace the vision of wild forests, others see unmanaged landscapes as damaged or neglected.
Despite differing perspectives, our Czech study shows that attitudes are slowly shifting. Dialogue, experience, and exposure to regenerating areas are helping to build understanding and trust. Šumava offers a powerful reminder: rewilding is not “just” about ecosystems – it is also about people, perceptions, and the long-term vision of living with nature rather than controlling it.
Last week, our second annual WILDCARD meeting of took place in Freising from February 25–27, 2026. The three-day event brought together consortium partners to reflect on progress and shape the next phase of research on rewilding, forest dynamics, and climate resilience across Europe.
Hosted by Technical University of Munich, our exchange opened with field visits to the Echinger Lohe experimental site and Freising Forest, where our colleagues joined experts from the Bavarian State Institute of Forestry for an exclusive tour of a strict forest reserve, exploring long-term monitoring, nitrogen deposition impacts, ash dieback, and lasting legacies of historical land use. Our group also engaged with the WILDCARD Art Exhibition – an inspiring reminder of the importance of connecting science and society.
Artwork of Diana Takacsova (photo: Evgenia Emets)Artwork of Angelina Kumar (photo: Fabio Castelli)Group entering the foest (photo: Evgenia Emets)
Back on campus, discussions focused on advances across different work streams: biodiversity and carbon monitoring, economic and policy integration, and communication and management. In dedicated modelling sessions our colleagues highlighted progress with LandClim, FlamMap, and ForClim, strengthening links between disturbance dynamics, proforestation and afforestation pathways, and large-scale scenario development. Strong emphasis was placed on harmonising dendrometric, biodiversity, soil, and remote sensing datasets, and on integrating above- and belowground processes.
The Young Researchers’ Spotlight showcased cutting-edge studies on rewilding perceptions, drought resilience in unmanaged forests, agroforestry optimisation, microbial–carbon trade-offs, LiDAR-based structural indicators, and tree-related microhabitats – demonstrating the scientific depth and interdisciplinary strength of the consortium.
The meeting concluded with strategic discussions on policy briefs, cross-WP integration, and future milestones. Together, we reaffirmed WILDCARD’s shared ambition: delivering robust, policy-relevant science to support biodiversity recovery, climate mitigation, and resilient European landscapes.
