Rewilding Europe’s European Rewilding Network unites a growing number of initiatives who share a vision for a wilder continent. With two new members from Türkiye and Greece joining the community, the network continues to expand — strengthening collaboration and amplifying its positive impact for nature and people.
Mediterranean Conservation Society
An increasingly vibrant community
Rewilding Europe’s European Rewilding Network continues to grow as a vibrant community of initiatives working to restore nature. The addition of two new members — CALLISTO in Greece and Marine Rewilding Türkiye (Turkey) — extends the network to two new countries and strengthens collaboration and expertise across both terrestrial and marine landscapes. Marine Rewilding Türkiye is led by the Mediterranean Conservation Foundation, a Turkish NGO.
The European Rewilding Network brings together practitioners from a wide range of rewilding initiatives, linking efforts that are revitalising ecosystems, helping wildlife return, and exploring ways for nature and people to thrive together. By sharing knowledge, experience, and inspiration, they support one another and help scale up rewilding across Europe.
The members of the network, which now total well over 100, are working on an array of different species and habitats — from mountain landscapes and river systems to coastal and marine ecosystems. The addition of CALLISTO and Marine Rewilding Türkiye highlights this diversity — and shows how rewilding can take many forms, while contributing to a common vision of a wilder Europe where people and nature both flourish.
CALLISTO
Sharing space with large carnivores in Greece
Founded in 2004, CALLISTO – Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society works across mountain and forest landscapes in Greece, with a primary focus on improving coexistence between people and large carnivores such as brown bears and grey wolves.
CALLISTO’s long-term vision is to protect biodiversity and strengthen the health, connectivity, and resilience of nature across Greece and the wider region. By supporting protected areas and working with partners at national and international levels, the organisation aims to create landscapes where wildlife and people can thrive together. Its activities include research and monitoring, community engagement, education, and the development of practical solutions that help people and wildlife share space. These include preventive measures such as electric fencing and improved waste management.
Armin Riegler
Strengthening collaboration
Over the coming decade, the CALLISTO team want to see healthier populations of both brown bears and grey wolves in Greece and southern Europe. Helping communities and large carnivores live well alongside each other will play a key role in achieving this. By joining the European Rewilding Network, they are aiming to connect their work with initiatives that have a similar focus.
“Through our collaboration with the Rewilding Apennines team on the LIFE Bear Smart Corridors initiative, we saw first-hand the value of working alongside organisations that share a strong commitment to coexistence between people and wildlife,” says Spyridon Psaroudas, CALLISTO’s general coordinator. “Through the network we hope to exchange knowledge and experience with other initiatives and strengthen collective efforts to restore nature and support wildlife recovery across Europe.”
James Shooter
Revitalising marine ecosystems along the Turkish coast
Marine Rewilding Türkiye is focused on restoring European seascapes. The initiative is working to breathe new life into marine ecosystems along the Turkish coast through science-based conservation and close collaboration with coastal communities — particularly small-scale fishers.
Through marine protection, restoration, and long-term monitoring, the initiative aims to help marine life recover while supporting sustainable livelihoods. Community-based governance is central to this approach, with local fishers and cooperatives actively involved in protecting and managing marine resources.
Zafer Kizilkaya
Building partnerships for wilder seas
The initiative has developed practical tools to support marine recovery, including locally rooted enforcement through marine ranger programmes and partnerships with scientists, public authorities, and international organisations. Together, these efforts help strengthen marine protected areas and restore the health of Mediterranean ecosystems.
By joining the European Rewilding Network, Marine Rewilding Türkiye hopes to strengthen collaboration with other rewilding practitioners across Europe and share lessons from its seascape restoration work.
“This is a great opportunity to connect with organisations working to restore nature across the continent,” says Gizem Akdoğan, general secretary of the Mediterranean Conservation Foundation. “We’re looking forward to exchanging knowledge on how to scale up ecosystem restoration and develop nature-based economies. At the same time, we’re eager to share our experience working with coastal communities and artisanal fishers to help marine life recover.”
Mediterranean Conservation Society
Strengthening a growing rewilding community
The addition of CALLISTO and Marine Rewilding Türkiye marks an exciting milestone for the European Rewilding Network. With Greece and Türkiye now represented, the network continues to expand geographically, while embracing an ever wider range of rewilding approaches — from coexistence with large carnivores in forested landscapes to ecosystem recovery in coastal seas.
By connecting initiatives across borders and ecosystems, the network is helping accelerate learning, foster collaboration, and inspire practical action for nature recovery. As the community grows, so too does the opportunity to scale up rewilding — bringing benefits for wildlife, landscapes, and communities.
James Shooter
Let’s rewild together
Rewilding Europe extends a warm welcome to all European rewilding initiatives that focus on practical, results-oriented rewilding and encourages them to apply for European Rewilding Network membership.