Welcome to Kriton Arsenis We are very pleased to welcome Kriton as a trustee of Wild Europe. Twice voted “MEP of the Year” by his colleagues in the European Parliament for achievements in forest and marine conservation during his tenure from 2009 – 2014, he has a significant track record as environmentalist and politician. He played a key role in development of forest policy, including establishment of the EU Timber Regulation, and led the Parliament in adopting EU legislation on mon...| Wild Europe
Can massive Highland restoration save the salmon from regional extinction? The fate of one of the world’s most iconic species hangs in the balance across the Highlands of Scotland, and in many other parts of Europe. Due to climate change, water temperatures now frequently surpass the crucial 23 degree level above which survival of the Atlantic salmon is not sustainable. Wild Europe is engaging through its associate The European Nature Trust (TENT) in initiation of a massive ecological re...| Wild Europe
Can massive Highland restoration save the salmon from regional extinction? The fate of one of the world’s most iconic species hangs in the balance across the Highlands of Scotland, and in many other parts of Europe. Due to climate change, water temperatures now frequently surpass the crucial 23 degree level above which survival of the Atlantic salmon is not sustainable. Wild Europe is engaging through its associate The European Nature Trust (TENT) in initiation of a massive ecological re...| Wild Europe
New mapping initiative to support natural ecosystem area conservation Protection and extension of wild areas has received a significant boost with the publication of CARTNAT, a high-resolution process to identify and measure levels of naturalness in France. CARTNAT can help improve protection of existing natural areas, and locate potential for restoration and connectivity. Backed by Wild Europe, the initiative offers timely support for policy makers and practitioners, and has potential for re...| Wild Europe
Protection and extension of wild areas has received a significant boost with the publication of CARTNAT, a high-resolution process to identify and measure levels of naturalness in France. CARTNAT can help improve protection of existing natural areas, and locate potential for restoration and connectivity. Backed by Wild Europe, the initiative offers timely support for policy makers and practitioners, and has potential for replication across Europe.| Wild Europe
Wild Europe with consortium wins large EU Horizon project for forest ecosystem support A large EU funded initiative for safeguarding carbon and biodiversity rich forests is to be undertaken by a group of eighteen organisations led by the University of Oulu in Finland. Wild Europe Foundation played a key role coordinating the preparatory stages and selecting the locations for in-depth study. Over the next four years our contribution will focus mainly on formulating and communicating policy re...| Wild Europe
Wild Europe launches the RECCS Report at COP29 The RECCS Report, Renewable Energy and Climate Change Strategy calling for cessation of commercial scale solid (forest) bioenergy and reallocation of subsidies to costed alternatives for addressing climate change, was launched at COP 29 on 14th November. See the summary leaflet and a main document. The Report was produced by Trinomics Consultants, energy advisors to the European Commission and national governments, and commissioned by Wild Eu...| Wild Europe
Wild Europe launches RECCS Report at COP29 The RECCS Report, Renewable Energy and Climate Change Strategy, commissioned by Wild Europe from Trinomics Consultants, was launched at the Baku climate conference on 14th November, together with a summary leaflet Over 50,000 delegates attended the conference, with key issues at stake including potential adoption of BECCS (Bioenergy with Climate Change and Storage), and the impact of withdrawal by the new US Trump regime from the Paris Agreement. W...| Wild Europe
Hungarian Civil Presidency: Ancient forest & wilderness need new skills & strategy for protection Presentations by Wild Europe personnel in October for the Hungarian Civil Society Presidency programme supported strong EU targets but identified urgent need for capacity building to meet these. Zoltan Kun’s presentation called for a joint EU strategy, drawing on Wild Europe’s definition and the objectives from the 2009 European Parliament Resolution in favour of stronger protection, massi...| Wild Europe
Civil society and the EU Hungarian Presidency With the Budapest regime adopting an increasingly non-aligned stance on environmental and governance issues, NGO interests have established a “Civil EU Presidency” to provide a parallel voice for the way ahead during Hungary’s six month tenure. As expressed on the Civil EU Presidency website, output from a series of events together with participation in other EU related sessions, will be collated into recommendations for environmental s...| Wild Europe
UK Government warned against adoption of ‘deeply flawed’ BECCS energy policy In its response to the Government’s consultation on subsidies for Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage on 29th February, Wild Europe has strongly advised the cessation of all further support for solid (forest) bioenergy. “Replacing fossil fuels with bioenergy that has higher emissions, even than coal, is not a genuine clean energy policy” argued Toby Aykroyd. “Burying these emissions underground i...| Wild Europe
Clouds gather over European environmental policy – a way ahead Just as 2023 was declared the hottest year on record, the last few weeks have seen a series of setbacks to essential environmental reforms. CAP reform measures are being eroded, there are calls for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to be delayed and diluted, massive further funding is recommended for solid (forest) bioenergy that worsens climate change with higher emissions than fossil fuels. Now the Nature Restoratio...| Wild Europe
Nature Restoration Law (NRL) passed – lessons for the future At last a prize worth cheering about, as the European parliament votes 329 votes in favour, 275 against, to back the NRL. The final step will involve Council endorsement towards the end of March, with Environment Ministers meeting on 26th. Thereafter successful implementation will depend on Member States adopting effective National Restoration Plans. Behind the celebrations there is much ground to cover. The real task still ...| Wild Europe
