What if rewilding Europe were a strategic board game – where every forest hides a secret, and every move helps decide the fate of our ecosystems?
Welcome to WILDCARD. The Forest Game, an exciting new podcast that turns the complex science of ecological restoration into an immersive, continent-spanning adventure. Produced by our WILDCARD project in collaboration with Starter, this innovative audio series invites listeners to journey through Europe’s diverse and often overlooked forest landscapes, exploring how damaged ecosystems can be restored and reimagined.
Each episode of The Forest Game acts as a “strategic move” on a metaphorical game board. Listeners join scientists, researchers, and forest experts in unraveling stories of nature – from identifying remnants of true wilderness to balancing human needs with ecological integrity. Along the way, they encounter powerful narratives of transformation and hope, as well as strategies to bring forests back to life in all their complexity.
By using the metaphor of a board game, the podcast breaks down complex ecological concepts into engaging, accessible narratives. Every dice roll reveals new challenges – wildfires, invasive species, fragmentation – while each game square unveils a tale of resilience, research, and renewal. The result is a unique blend of entertainment and scientific insight, making forest restoration not only understandable, but thrilling.
The series is written by Silvia Giralucci (Starter) and produced under the scientific supervision of Giorgio Alberti from the University of Udine. Editorial guidance comes from Gesche Schifferdecker of the European Forest Institute (EFI), with voice-over by Rahel Könen and post-production by Santiago Alarcón, also of EFI.
Whether you’re an environmental enthusiast, a science lover, or simply curious about the future of Europe’s landscapes, WILDCARD. The Forest Game offers a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Ready to roll the dice on the future of our forests? Tune in and play along: WILDCARD: The Forest Game Podcast – Wildcard
In the quiet forests of Northeastern Romania, near the town of Suceava, a remarkable rewilding story is unfolding.
This short film takes us into the heart of Vânători Neamț Nature Park, where the European bison, once extinct in the wild, is once again roaming free. The journey began in the 1970s, when the first bison were brought to Romania by the National Forest Administration. But it wasn’t until 2003, with support from a World Bank project, that the dream of rewilding took real shape, with infrastructure built and the first animals arriving in the park.
By 2012, the first five bison were released into the wild. Since then, more have followed, year after year, slowly rebuilding a population that had vanished. But this isn’t just about restoring a species. It’s about restoring balance between open fields and forest, between people and nature.
The European bison is more than a keystone species. It’s a national symbol, deeply woven into Romanian and Moldavian heritage. Its presence now supports local economies, from eco-tourism to traditional crafts, and fulfills important EU conservation goals.
And while the term “rewilding” may be new to some, the idea isn’t. As Laura Bouriaud from the Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava says, “we are living with nature. Even if we didn’t put this name on it, rewilding is part of our life.”
By Santiago Alarcón, Gesche Schifferdecker, Sara Cazzaniga, and Yannick de Win.
Not far from Brno, in the Czech Republic, an inspiring team of experts from various countries came together for a two-day workshop combining theory and practice on soil sampling. The workshop provided an immersive, hands-on experience focused on one of the most vital, complex, and still largely unexplored components of terrestrial ecosystems: the soil.
Organized by the WILDCARD project and involving both project researchers and external specialists, the soil sampling workshop aimed to align diverse research objectives under a shared mission: highlighting the critical role of soil in the context of rewilding. Over the two days, participants worked in two contrasting forest environments: one with soft, loamy soil that made the sampling procedure easy, and another with hard, rocky ground that challenged their adaptability and resilience. Thanks to the strong commitment of the group, once the technical training and minor hurdles were behind everyone, we group fully immersed ourselves in the environment. The workshop fostered a deep connection, not just among the participants, but also with nature and the often-overlooked world beneath our feet.
For many of us, soil might seem like little more than the “dirt stuff” we live on. But for Sara Cazzaniga from ETH Zurich, it’s a constantly shifting landscape of hidden stories. “Working with forest soil is particularly fascinating because of how much it varies”, she said. “Not only between sites, but even across different spots within the same forest.”
Sara came to Brno hoping the workshop would demystify the dense and challenging soil sampling protocol – and right from the start, she found a collaborative and supportive team. “As soon as we arrived at the first demonstration site, the outdoor setting felt just right,” she said. “Thanks to the shared insights and helpful observations, what initially felt difficult started to make sense. The hands-on practice really helped us become more comfortable and confident with applying the protocol.”
The group was a vibrant mix of backgrounds and expertise – from seasoned soil scientists to enthusiastic newcomers. That diversity quickly became a strength: beginners brought fresh questions, while more experienced participants shared field-tested tips. Everyone contributed with the shared goal of making the soil sampling protocol work – not just for science, but for nature, too.
“We had such a great mix of perspectives,” Sara added. “It made the tools and resources – like the app, FAQs, and videos – feel much more accessible and practical.”
Also, Yannick de Win from the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (EV-INBO) echoed that enthusiasm, “People often think of forests as trees, birds and mammals, but so many fundamental processes continuously happen belowground. That’s where trees and roots develop and where carbon is stored, thanks to the great diversity of organisms that live there.”
As part of the WILDCARD project, the teams at EV-INBO and Silva Tarouca Research Institute (VUK) will analyze both soil and forest floor layers to understand soil carbon dynamics, while Sara will extract environmental DNA from soil samples to investigate microbial community composition across different forest successional stages throughout Europe. Their combined efforts aim to reveal how soil carbon and biodiversity have shifted over time – specifically in areas where agricultural land and pastures were abandoned more than 70 years ago or forest management had been stopped.
The ultimate goal is to provide deeper insight into the potential for forest restoration and to inform strategies for climate change mitigation in the near future.
What began with this workshop is hoped to grow into a powerful reminder: that soil holds essential clues to the health of our planet and our future. In Brno, the WILDCARD team not only collected soil samples – they also planted seeds of knowledge, collaboration, and curiosity, laying the groundwork for more sustainable land management across Europe.
As Europe’s forests expand, a growing treasure trove of natural resources is emerging—one that extends far beyond traditional timber. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are gaining recognition as a vital economic, social, and environmental asset across the European Union. From edible fruits and mushrooms to medicinal herbs and resins, these resources support local economies, sustain traditions, and enhance biodiversity. Yet, despite their importance, clear guidelines for their collection and trade remain absent from EU policies, raising concerns about their sustainable management.
A Growing Opportunity
Europe’s forest coverage has surged by 30% since the 1950s, driven largely by socio-economic shifts such as agricultural land abandonment. As farming declines in marginal areas, forests—both natural and artificially planted—have reclaimed the landscape. In parallel, forest management strategies are evolving, with many regions shifting away from intensive timber production toward conservation-focused approaches, known as “proforestation”. We also investigate this rewilding approach in the WILDCARD project, where we for example investigate how biodiversity below and aboveground develops after the abandonment of forest management (more info here).
This transformation described above is unlocking new opportunities for rural communities. As abandoned farmland returns to nature, an abundance of wild foods, medicinal plants, and other valuable forest products becomes available. Moreover, proforestation encourages the accumulation of deadwood, creating ideal conditions for mushrooms and other fungi to thrive. The resurgence of long-forgotten plant species further enhances the diversity and economic potential of these landscapes.
Economic and Cultural Revival
For many rural and forest-dependent communities, NTFPs already provide a crucial source of income, particularly where large-scale timber production is not viable. Small-scale farmers, foragers, and local businesses benefit from the collection, processing, and sale of these natural goods, offering an alternative to traditional agricultural economies.
Beyond financial gains, the resurgence of NTFPs fosters a cultural revival. Many of these products have deep roots in traditional medicine, cuisine, and folklore. Their renewed presence in forests is helping to reconnect people with their natural heritage. Ecotourism is also flourishing, as activities like guided foraging tours, wildflower picking, and educational walks focused on medicinal plants attract visitors eager to engage with nature in a meaningful way.
Policy Gaps and Future Challenges
Despite their increasing importance, NTFPs remain an underregulated sector. While key EU policies such as the EU Forest Strategy, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) acknowledge the value of these resources, there is little guidance on sustainable collection and trade. Without clear regulations, the risk of overexploitation looms, which can threaten the long-term availability of these products and the ecosystems that support them.
A Path Forward
To fully realize the potential of NTFPs, the EU must develop comprehensive policies that balance economic opportunity with conservation. Guidelines for sustainable harvesting, certification systems, and incentives for local businesses could help ensure that these resources remain abundant for future generations. As Europe’s forests continue to evolve, so too does the relationship between people and nature. By embracing a closer-to-nature approach and fostering a diversified forest economy, NTFPs can serve as a bridge between conservation and rural development—proving that forests offer far more than just timber.
For rewilding to occur, a combination of conditions must be met. Various factors may come into play, from agricultural abandonment to new forest set-asides and policy decisions on nature protection. But all things considered, which regions of Europe are most likely to experience significant rewilding?
This is one of the central questions WILDCARD researchers set out to answer, particularly through the work of our project partners at VU Amsterdam. While a robust conclusion requires extensive investigation and will only be available at the end of the project, their preliminary findings are already shedding light on potential rewilding hotspots. These insights, though early, help satisfy our curiosity and guide the progress of our other research streams while we wait for more precise answers!
Their approach is to analyse land cover in Europe through two lenses or modalities: rewilding through natural forest expansion, capturing agricultural areas that are likely to undergo rewilding following abandonment, and through proforestation, which occurs once forest management ceases, allowing forests to regenerate naturally. Both past and projected abandonment were considered. So, what do the results tell us?
Agricultural abandonment hotspots
For agricultural abandonment, Southern andEastern Europe emerged as the regions with the most extensive potential hotspots in the future. Considering both partial and full agricultural abandonment, predictions point that the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), Romania (central and southern), Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, and the Alps (northern Italy, Switzerland, and Austria) will emerge as hotspots for this process, with large agricultural areas projected to transition into natural ecosystems by 2050.
Additional notable regions include parts of Western Europe, particularly central and southern France and central areas of the United Kingdom. Most abandoned territories in the Alps and Eastern Europe are expected to experience full abandonment, leading to the establishment of new unmanaged or low-intensity forests. In contrast, most abandoned areas in Western Europe and the Iberian Peninsula are projected to undergo partial abandonment, resulting in mosaic-shaped ecosystems rather than forests. In Eastern European countries, partial agricultural abandonment is also widespread, especially in Romania and, to a lesser extent, Albania.
Proforestation/ forest set-asides
In contrast, for proforestation, the most prominent and constant hotspots appear to be located in Northern Europe, with a focus on northern Finland and fragmented locations along Norway and northern Sweden.
In Eastern Europe, the highest frequencies of proforestation were observed in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. Western, Central, and most of Southern Europe do not exhibit significant proforestation according to our preliminary results.
Underlying scenarios and methodology
Our preliminary findings are grounded in analyses of past data as well as projected land abandonment. The historical data analysis uses satellite data on land cover, coupled with existing maps and databases from former projects and initiatives. Future projections used models aligned with IPBES’ Nature Futures Framework, which outlines three scenarios of land use between 2020 and 2050 (“Nature for Nature”, “Nature for Society”, and “Nature as Culture”).
The areas most likely to be rewilded are those that consistently appear across all three scenarios.
In the next three years of WILDCARD, these results will be refined by updating the models and accounting for specific scenarios that represent different options of forest management strategies and implementation of biodiversity and carbon targets. These are aimed at improving our estimates of the potential for rewilding as well as depicting what locations could benefit from rewilding under alternative policy options.
For more information, read our report “Preliminary scenarios of potentially available land for rewilding due to agricultural abandonment and set-aside forests” by clicking the button below.
Learn how to collect soil data with our new video guide!
While many studies have explored how the presence of vegetation and animals change during rewilding, the hidden world of soil has received far less attention. Yet, soils represent the largest terrestrial carbon pool, and accommodate more than half of the Earth’s biodiversity. There’s still a lot we don’t know about how carbon stocks and soil biodiversity respond when nature is left to recover on its own. This is partly because soil is incredibly complex, expensive to study, and varies greatly from place to place.
The WILDCARD project is working to close this gap. By collecting data on soil carbon and biotic communities, the latter using advanced environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques, we aim to better understand how soils respond to rewilding. This will help us learn more about the role of soil in storing carbon and supporting biodiversity.
Instructional videos
To support the WILDCARD consortium and other organisations involved in the project, our partner Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) created a series of videos that explain the steps for collecting soil samples. These videos complement the project’s written soil sampling guide, developed by INBO and the Silva Tarouca Research Institute (VUKOZ), making it easier to follow the process in the field. The information gathered will help us track changes in soil carbon and biodiversity as rewilding progresses in forests where management was halted and on abandoned farmland. The videos and soil sampling protocol can aid other projects and researchers in doing similar investigations, thus generating consistent and harmonised data across different initiatives.
Discover our video guide:
Video #1 Sampling the forest floor
This video shows how to collect samples from the forest floor using a frame with a known surface area. It covers the steps of:
Identifying the fresh litter layer (OL) and fragmented and partly decomposed forest floor layer (OFH) and telling them apart from the mineral soil underneath.
Measuring the thickness of each layer.
Preparing samples to study their mass, chemical composition, and biodiversity using eDNA.
Video #2 Taking undisturbed soil samples
This video explains how to collect undisturbed soil samples from set depths (0–100 cm) using metal rings with a known volume. These samples are used to measure soil bulk density and the amount of stones (coarse material).
Video #3 Mixing composite samples and taking subsamples
This video demonstrates how to mix soil from different spots within the plot, to create a representative sample for each layer. It also shows the steps to:
Taking smaller samples for chemical and eDNA tests.
Properly bagging, labeling, and recording the samples.
Storing eDNA samples temporarily in a car-based freezer.
Video #4 Taking disturbed soil samples
Learn how to use a soil auger to collect disturbed soil samples from set depths (0–100 cm). These samples are tested for chemical properties over the entire depth range and for biodiversity, focusing on the 0–10 cm layer.
Video #5 Description and classification of terrestrial humus forms
This video explains how to classify the forest floor into different humus forms using a small soil pit. It highlights key features of the forest floor layers and the A horizon to help identify the humus form.
Where will we collect soil data?
The data collected using our soil sampling protocol will be used to study how rewilding affects carbon storage and biodiversity in different environments on the European continent, with a special focus on so-called High-Intensity Sites (HIS). These are carefully chosen locations that represent different ecological and climatic conditions, past land uses, classes of time since abandonment, and where additional data will be collected by WILDCARD.
At HIS-aboveground, our researchers use advanced tools like terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and unoccupied aerial laser scanning (ULS) to map forest structures and explore their links to biodiversity. At HIS-belowground, the focus is on soil—sampling for chemical and physical properties and analysing eDNA from the mineral soil and forest floor in approximately 300 locations. By targeting these High-Intensity Sites, the project ensures comprehensive coverage and gathers detailed data to understand how ecosystems recover and thrive when left to rewild. This knowledge will help shape strategies for healthier landscapes and better climate solutions.
Banner photo credit: Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
By Ajdin Starčević, Wageningen University and Research
On a bright May morning, I boarded the train to Schiphol Airport with my Wageningen University colleagues, researcher Silke Jacobs and European Forest Resources professor Gert-Jan Nabuurs, brimming with excitement for a journey that would take us far from bustling cities and deep into one of Europe’s most surprising natural treasures. Our destination: Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country not often recognised for its immense ecological wealth. But its hidden treasure isn’t golden—it’s a vibrant green, in the form of vast, untouched forests, some of the last of their kind on the continent.
This expedition was inspired several months earlier during the kick-off meeting of WILDCARD, held in the scenic Italian village of Valbruna, nestled at the foothills of the Julian Alps. There, we met Renzo Motta, a seasoned ecology professor at the University of Turin who has been conducting environmental studies in Bosnia for over two decades. Discovering that I had roots in the region, Renzo enthusiastically invited us to join his annual spring field trip together with WILDCARD coordinator Giorgio Alberti and his colleagues from the University of Udine. This was a chance to reconnect with the Forestry Faculty at the University of Sarajevo and explore these ancient forests firsthand. As part of WILDCARD, our goal was to identify reference sites across Europe to study the effects of rewilding and proforestation—an approach focused on letting forests naturally regenerate without human intervention.
We arrived in Bosnia to a warm welcome from our hosts from the Faculty of Forestry of the University of Sarajevo: Cemal, Besim, Sead and Mehmed, who invited us to an evening barbecue. We gathered around as they briefed us on the plan for the days ahead, hinting that each day would reveal new wonders. We had no idea just how extraordinary those wonders would be.
Day 1: The Untouched Forests of Konjuh
Our first day began with an excursion to the Konjuh protected landscape, located in the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As we drove through the rolling hills of Bijambare, lush and vibrant under the spring sun, a sense of anticipation grew.
When we arrived, our guides Dino and Mehmed led us deep into a forest area that had remained unlogged for centuries. Walking through it felt surreal, like stepping into a fairytale. Towering beech trees stretched upwards, their thick trunks forming a canopy that cast dappled shadows on a forest floor carpeted with wild garlic (Allium ursinum). It was as though the forest was suspended in time, untouched by human hands. The sight of these giant trees stretching down steep slopes toward a gentle creek was breathtaking. And yet, our hosts assured us that even more astonishing landscapes awaited us in the coming days.
Landscape of Bosnia with a medieval tombstone called stećak
Walking through the protected landscape Konjuh
Day 2: Sarajevo’s Hidden Wilderness
On our second day, we travelled closer to Sarajevo, the country’s vibrant capital. Just an hour’s drive from the urban centre lay a pristine beech, fir, and spruce forest—a natural sanctuary almost unimaginable in its proximity to the city. The forest floor was full of deadwood, some massive fallen trees stretching over 50 meters, adding layers of texture and life to the scene. Thanks to the steep terrain and the abundance of forested land nearby, this area had largely escaped human interference. Even during the post-war period, when there was pressure to exploit these resources, the Forestry Faculty in Sarajevo successfully advocated for its preservation. Their efforts allowed us to explore this magnificent site, which ultimately became one of the chosen reference sites for the WILDCARD project.
Silke Jacobs next to a huge fir tree in the primeval forest of Ravna Vala
Day 3: Sutjeska’s Primeval Wilderness
Our third day took us to Sutjeska National Park, home to one of Europe’s rarest gems—a primeval forest of over 1,400 hectares, untouched and alive with thriving biodiversity. Hiking through this ancient landscape was nothing short of extraordinary. At one point, our guide paused and pointed out a remarkable detail—just hours earlier, a bear had passed through, leaving muddy paw prints in the trail we were now following. Stumbling across these impressions in the soft earth was a humbling reminder of the wilderness that still thrives here.
Overlooking the primeval forest of Perućica with Bosnia’s highest mountain, Maglić, in the background
With our guide, we navigated the forest’s winding paths and steep slopes, descending 350 meters to encounter one of Bosnia’s natural wonders: a majestic 70-meter waterfall cascading into crystal-clear waters.
As we trekked down, the forest transformed before our eyes. The beech-fir-spruce mix gave way to cooler, fir-dominated patches, while open areas revealed beds of wild garlic, punctuated by majestic maple trees. Every turn of the trail revealed another layer of this rich ecosystem. Standing amidst such raw beauty was a proud moment for me, a reminder of the remarkable natural heritage Bosnia still holds.
Gert-Jan Nabuurs and our guide in front of the Perućica waterfall
Day 4: The Rocky Slopes of Prenj
On our final day, we ventured up the rugged Prenj Mountain to experience Bosnia from a bird’s-eye perspective. This region in Herzegovina, shaped by the Mediterranean climate, presented a contrasting landscape, with hardy Bosnian pines (Pinus heldreichii) clinging to the rocky slopes. These trees, native to the Balkans, are my personal favourites—not only because they’re endemic (native) to this area but because they symbolise the resilience of the Bosnian people, standing tall and enduring challenging conditions.
Slopes of the Pernj mountain with Pinus heldreichii
As I stood on those slopes, overlooking the diverse landscapes below, I couldn’t help but feel that Bosnia and Herzegovina, like many of its Western Balkan neighbours, offers a treasure trove of research opportunities for environmental studies. Here, in a region rich in history and natural beauty, the forests stand untouched and untamed, offering glimpses into a Europe that once was—a landscape that is becoming all too rare on this continent.
Bosnia’s forests are not only a haven of biodiversity. They are a testament to nature’s resilience, a place of refuge, and an invaluable reference for understanding how ecosystems function without human interference. As we wrapped up our journey, I felt incredibly fortunate to have witnessed these landscapes and more committed than ever to supporting the conservation efforts that will ensure they remain preserved for future generations to study and appreciate.
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Banner photo on top: The Wageningen expedition crew (Gert-Jan Nabuurs, Ajdin Starčević, Silke Jacobs)
All over Europe, nature is making a comeback. As more people move to cities and other land use changes occur, the EU’s forest area is increasing, having grown by almost 10% (+14 million hectares) between 1990 and 2020. On top of that, a total of 10-29 million hectares of agricultural land are likely to be abandoned between 2000 and 2030. This leaves potential for native flora, fauna and complex ecosystems to reclaim space, bringing natural ‘rewilding’ to the center of Europe’s environmental policy discussions.
Understanding how rewilding can contribute to solving the climate and biodiversity crises is crucial for the successful implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, the EU Nature Restoration Law, and the EU Green Deal – a mission to be tackled by the new Horizon Europe project WILDCARD. Starting in January 2024, the project is, for the first time, systematically assessing the impacts of two major rewilding approaches on carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation at the European scale. Currently, a lack of comprehensive research on the topic prevents rewilding from being fully integrated into Europe’s strategy to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Running until 2027 with an EU budget of €8,9 million and a Swiss contribution of €1,2 million, WILDCARD combines field observations, remote sensing (e.g. Lidar data) and computer simulations of shifts in vegetation cover with economic, societal, and political analyses. The goal is to identify hotspots of rewilding in future climate and land use scenarios, as well as their overall impact at multiple time scales. WILDCARD mainly focuses on two aspects of rewilding: proforestation (halting forest management to allow for spontaneous forest development) and natural rewilding following agricultural land abandonment. Both are low-cost approaches that let nature do the job of restoring ecosystems.
With an interdisciplinary approach and cross-country collaboration between 16 partners, the project will investigate regulatory, cultural and economic barriers to rewilding, while also identifying social innovation mechanisms, models and incentives to foster its adoption and social acceptability. The research will not be limited to the bright side of rewilding but also seek to identify trade-offs, such as the possibility of increased forest fires due to the abandonment of forest management in dry regions of Europe. Locations with the highest rewilding potential and relatively small trade-offs will be prioritised for policy recommendations.
Some of the main results expected from WILDCARD are a set of recommendations for policy-makers, a ‘Rewilding Forum’ bringing together interested stakeholders all over Europe, a podcast series, as well as an ample variety of open-access scientific outputs allowing further research on the topic. These include refined datasets on carbon stock and biodiversity changes following rewilding; an assessment of rewilding benefits and trade-offs (open-access models for scenario simulation); European-wide maps on locations of potential rewilding and its impacts, and much more.
Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme under Grant Agreement No. 101081177, the project is coordinated by the University of Udine, in Italy, and implemented in collaboration with the following partners:
