Who are you?

I am a young environmentalist from Italy and Environmental Law Graduate.

I moved to North Europe 5 years ago and have not left since then – currently I am based in Sweden. I just can’t stay away from wilderness, the outdoor and the cold!

I love woking with and for fellow young people, advocating for the inclusion of youth perspective in environmental decisions. When I am not involved in rewilding, I also coordinate the Nordic chapter of the youth consituency of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

What excites you about rewilding?

I think rewilding has the potential to be a win-win for humans and the environment because it goes beyond nature protection, and emphasizes the fact that nature thrive and hear itself if given space. Rewilding moves away from historical anthropocentrism, addressing fundamental aspects of our relationship with nature – and exactly because of this I think can provide long-lasting and deep changes. I find myself aligned with this view on a personal level, and I see rewilding as a true and implementable solution to steer away from the business-as-usual.

Why did you join the EYR?

I believe that young people are really the future of the rewilding movement. We are getting knowledgable, we are enthusiasts and passionate, and this is truly an unleashed potential to make Europe wilder. We have the right to demand a flourishing nature.

If enabled and given the tools, young people can really do great things. I want to support and empower all these young people around Europe that want to initiate their rewilding activities but do not know where to start.

Who are you?

Hi my name is Aleksandrina, but you can call me Aleks! I am originally from Bulgaria but currently live in friendly Denmark, in the city of Aarhus.

I am a huge nature lover and a generalist when it comes to habitats and animals, I love them all!

I have been captured by the idea of rewilding ever since my Bachelor in Conservation Biology. After all the doom and gloom scenarios we were learning about, the idea of rewilding gave me hope that nature can indeed recover, if we only let it.

What do you do?

Alongside my work as a Supervisory board member for Rewilding Europe, I am currently studying a Master’s degree at Aarhus University and working as a research assistant studying marine mammal vocalisations. Therefore, if I am not in a board meeting or listening to growling seals and singing whales you will most likely find me running towards getting a degree.

Why did you join the EYR?

The idea of a Young Rewilders Community instantly became close to my heart. I wanted young people like me to feel like they are a part of a community, like they belong in the rewilding world where opportunities are often scarce.

I myself had faced the struggles of finding jobs and opportunities in this field and what it is like to want to help the environment but not to know how. Therefore I wanted us to give others the ‘how’. To provide them with a network of contacts and possibilities, and encourage them to find their way.

I believe that nature’s future will be more than bright if the enthusiasm and potential of young professionals is realised! We just need a playing field!

Who are you?

I am a wildlife conservationist from England and Germany, and have been interested in the concept of rewilding for many years now. I studied my BSc in Wildlife Conservation and will soon be finished with my MSc in Global Change Ecology. I have wanted to work with nature since I was a young girl and have also always had a soft spot for wolves especially, although I love all wildlife. I enjoy nature photography, hiking, sailing, snorkelling/diving, and just generally being outdoors!

What excites you about rewilding?

I really like the different approach of rewilding from other conservation techniques which often have an anthropogenic view involving strict management/control – there is something beautiful about letting nature go back to its wild state and reclaim the space back for itself! I love that the rewilding concept restores whole ecosystems and has wide-reaching effects that make nature much more resilient in the face of the challenges ahead, and I think the positive results we have seen so far from rewilding projects is just the beginning.

Why did you join the EYR?

I want to get more involved in rewilding initiatives and connect to other young people who are passionate about rewilding to learn about their experiences and ideas. I am also always happy to get to know more about the different rewilding projects around Europe, as this is something am highly interested in pursuing for my career.

Who are you?

I am Felix, from Hannover, Germany. I am a conservationist and excited about traveling, gardening and wild bees. I also love playing soccer, even if I am oddly bad for playing it for over 20 years. At the moment I am in South America and applying for PhD in the field of rewilding.

What excites you about rewilding?

I think that nature offers so powerful solutions helping us to fight climate change and loss of biodiversity. We are often surprised how fast life returns if we just let it be. Rewilding offers so many great opportunities to let life return and thrive again. And I also love that it creates positive stories about conservation.

Why did you join the EYR?

I really want to work in and contribute to conservation and I think rewilding is the best approach. EYR connects young people who share the same ideals ideals and gives ideas how to become active and how to make a change for us and for future generations, because we only have this one chance.

Who are you?

My name is Noa van Mulken, I am 23 years old from Sittard, the Netherlands. I have always been passionate about environmental conservation. Initially, I was convinced that politics would be the best way to tackle the biodiversity crisis, but during my bachelor in European Studies, I realized I wanted to shift my focus towards policy and research. This has led me to pursue a Master’s in Public Policy and Human Development related to climatic risks, where I wrote my research about factors influencing human-wildlife conflicts in six National Parks in the Canadian Rockies. Due to Covid, I wanted to gain hands-on experience in the field and decided to undertake a conservation internship in Costa Rica, where I for instance experienced the reintroduction of species. At the moment I am working at a local NGO as a policy officer space, nature and landscape.

What excites you about rewilding?

I am particularly excited about rewilding as it represents a new way of thinking about conservation, one that involves that ‘nature does not belong to us, so it does not require much human intervention’. Let nature do its thing and acknowledge that humans are just one small part of a complex, interwoven ecosystem. Rewilding to me is all about sharing space with wildlife and experience the beauty of nature all together.

Why did you join the EYR?

Who are you?

Hi, my name is Fedra, a young nature conservationist from Belgium. I have a BSc in Biology and will graduate with a master’s degree in Conservation Biology in a couple of weeks. When I am not studying, I love going on hiking adventures or writing for my blog. Aside from my passion for all things nature, I am a bit obsessed with books and love to cook delicious plant-based meals.

What excites you about rewilding?

What excites me the most about rewilding is the positive message and hope it brings to young (and not-so-young) people about the future of nature. I like how it goes beyond protecting what is still left and seeks to give back space to nature. Rewilding is a new and ambitious approach to nature restoration that has the potential to solve many of today’s crises and revive our connection to nature.

Why did you join the EYR?

Who are you?

I’m Flavia, a young conservationist from Switzerland excited about the animal world, bright colours, the concept of rewilding and everything which is or has to do with Scotland. I graduated from Biology in Switzerland and did my masters degree in Conservation in the UK. I am currently working for a conservation NGO in Switzerland.

What excites you about rewilding?

Rewilding is the only practical conservation concept which truly and thoroughly grants nature the power and ability to rehabilitate and fix things we humans messed up without conviction of having to thereby lead and manage it – concept which even for many conservationists seems to be scary and doomed to fail. But hey, what on earth could be better for nature than letting nature do her thing?
I’m excited about this concept, because here for once not humans but nature takes centre stage.

Why did you join the EYR?

As a young conservationist I have great compassion for all living creatures and a deep sense of responsibility for all the problems nature currently has to deal with. Rewilding is the one precious ray of hope for the future of this planet and must have a much bigger lobby especially among young people. We young Europeans have it in our hands, we are the last generation that can still make a change. Let’s do it with the best ally we could possibly have, let’s find a way to give back the needed power and space to nature to heal Europe together.

Who are you? 

I’m Amy Forster, a current MSc student in Forest and Nature Conservation at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

What excites you about rewilding?

Rewilding excites me because it provides a hopeful solution to biodiversity loss and the climate crisis. It also looks to reconnect humans with nature, which I believe is an integral part of the solution.

Why did you join the EYR?

I joined the EYR because I wanted to get involved in rewilding and contribute my skills and experiences towards making a positive impact. I believe the future of our natural world is in the hands of younger generations.

Who are you?

I am half German and half South African. I have been an active wilderness guide since 2012 and a committed rewilder since 2015. I am passionate about combining impactful wilderness experiences and tracking with rewilding progress in Europe. I am cofounder and part of a strong team of a social enterprise called WeWilder in the Southern Carpathians, Romania. And im looking forward to that wilder future!

What excites you about rewilding?

I am excited about the opportunity to rebuild our relationship to wild nature in Europe. I am excited about the unknown, the experiences we can have and the natural processes and patterns that are longing to unfold on our continent!

Why did you join the EYR?

To join and support the united force of young professionals that are serious and passionate about rewilding in Europe! Love the positive energy and dedication of the group.

Who are you?

Hi, I’m Giulia! I am originally from Italy but I live now in between the Netherlands and Belgium. I am an ecologist and nature guide. I work a lot with bats but I also love to take people outdoors for excursions and interactive workshops about wildlife.

What excites you about rewilding?

Rewilding is a message of hope in a chaotic and ever changing world. It inspires new generations to look at the future with positive eyes and creates opportunities to have a positive impact on the landscape, both from a nature and a social point perspective.

Why did you join the EYR?

By being part of this movement I would like to contribute (even in small parts) to the cause of social and environmental activism. I believe that the time to act is now and we can all be part of the change that we want to see around us.

Who are you?

I’m Alex, from the Peak District, UK. I’m a conservationist and freelance videographer with an overriding interest in rewilding and all things nature recovery. I’ve recently completed my BSc in Zoology and have begun my MSc in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management. I’m enjoying learning about how rewilding can be an important tool in the conservation toolbox, with positive impacts that extend far beyond ecology alone.

What excites you about rewilding?

Rewilding presents a new narrative that works to uplift and engage people in nature’s recovery on all scales. It is the potential of this narrative to incite radical positive change that inspires me most.

Why did you join the EYR?

I joined EYR because I know how crucial it is to engage youth in biodiversity conservation, and how empowering and impactful this can be. Reserva: the Youth Land Trust are a brilliant example of this. I want to help upscale this engagement within the rewilding scene and love being able to do so alongside such an inspiring group of young people that’s helping to push the movement forwards on a continental scale.