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9.30
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Welcome & Opening Remarks Opening ceremony by
Chair: Michele Robson
1. Video messages
2. Introduction of the Global Rewilding Manifesto
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9.45
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Opening act and warm-up by stand-up comedian Rogier Bak
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10.00
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Community-Centred Conservation and Rewilding
Dr. Purnima Devi Barman UN Champion of the Earth, Hargila Army, Assam, India & Director of Species Restoration & Community Climate Education, Rewilding Academy
Purnima Devi Barman, a wildlife biologist from Assam, India, founded the Hargila Army, mobilizing 20,000+ women to protect the endangered Greater Adjutant Stork. A Whitley Gold Award winner, she has quadrupled the stork population in Assam and earned global acclaim, including the UN Champions of the Earth Award, is one of Times Women of the year 2025, is a TEDx speaker and was featured by National Geographic.
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10.30
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Legacy of Conservation and Rewilding
Sir Humphry Wakefield
2nd Baronet, FRGS Wilderness Pioneer & Heritage Rewilder
Sir Humphry Wakefield, custodian of Chillingham Castle and its iconic wild cattle, has long championed conservation and rewilding. He co-founded the Wilderness Foundation with Dr. Ian Player and Laurens van der Post, later leading land restoration initiatives in North Africa. A trustee of the Chillingham Wild Cattle Association and director of the Tree of Life Foundation, he integrates heritage, forestry, and philanthropy with global conservation leadership, reflecting a lifelong commitment to restoring wild nature and ecological resilience.
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11.00
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Coffee & Tea Break
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11.20
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Oostvaardersplassen en the role of loss of aversion
Dr. Frans Vera
Biologist and Conservation Specialist, Pioneer in rewilding in the Netherlands Frans Vera is a Dutch biologist and founding father of rewilding in the Netherlands, known for the “wood-pasture hypothesis,” which challenges traditional views of European primeval landscapes. His influential work at Oostvaardersplassen and key publications shaped rewilding strategies and conservation practices. Vera has also led the restoration of rivers and floodplains through the Stork Plan (Plan Ooievaar), reintroducing natural dynamics to restore biodiversity and enhance ecological resilience in Dutch river landscapes.
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11:50
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Awards Ceremony
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12.05
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Rewilding & Reintroduction
Derek Gow
Conservationist, farmer, and author, Devon, United Kingdom
Derek Gow is a British conservationist, farmer, and author, renowned for his work in species reintroduction and rewilding. He has successfully restored species like beavers, white storks, and wildcats to the UK, turning his Devon farm into a model for rewilding with native species. Gow has authored Bringing Back the Beaver and Hunt for the Shadow Wolf, advocating for the reintroduction of apex predators like wolves. His pioneering work in conservation aims to reverse biodiversity loss and reshape Britain’s natural landscapes through bold, transformative projects.
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12.50
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Q&A session, moderation by
Conference Chair:
Michele Robson
Speakers: Purnima Devi Barman, Sir Humphyry Wakefield, Frans Vera, Derek Gow
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13.00
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Buffet & Networking Lunch
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14.00
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Wildlife Rescue and Rewilding
Dr. Sulaiman Tameer
Wildlife Veterinarian & Rescue Specialist, Kurdistan Organisation for Animal Rights Protection, Iraq
Sulaiman Tameer, an award-winning wildlife veterinarian from Kurdistan, Iraq, is a pioneer in animal rights and conservation. Founder of the Kurdistan Organization for Animal Rights Protection, he authored Iraq’s first animal rights law and leads wildlife rescue and rehab efforts, inspiring regional action for animal welfare and conservation. Featured in many documentaries, Sulaiman was also host to an episode of the famous Dutch tv-series “Floortje gaat mee”, with Floortje Dessing and photographer Jasper Doest.
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14.30
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From past to future: Unlocking the potential of the palaeoecological record for nature restoration challenges
Prof. Danielle Schreve
Palaeoecologist and Biogeographer, University of Bristol
With a background in physical geography, palaeontology, and archaeology, Danielle Schreve has developed a model for understanding climate and environmental changes in north-west Europe over the last 500,000 years, widely adopted in various scientific fields. Fossil faunal and floral collections have traditionally been used for diverse purposes, from reconstructing past environments and dating geological sequences to the interpretation of early human diet. However, one area of investigation that has been so far less commonly exploited concerns the information that these collections can shed on past climate change and biodiversity for future conservation purposes. Data from Quaternary palaeoecological studies (last 2.6 million years) are increasingly applied to modern conservation challenges via the emerging field of conservation palaeobiology, a new integrative approach that draws on fossil and historical records to inform the conservation, management and restoration of species, communities and ecosystems beyond the limited time frame of direct human observations. This information can contribute not only to the identification of populations and species of conservation concern but also to the design and management of protected areas, to the regeneration of whole landscapes and the reintroduction of individual species or proxies. Drawing on examples from recent and current research, this presentation will illustrate the potential of fossil collections and historical archives to provide critical new information for guiding nature restoration.
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15.00
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Social acceptance of rewilding with large herbivores Dr. ir. Susanne Vogel Interdisciplinary Conservation Scientist, Open University
Susanne Vogel is an assistant professor in socio-ecological modeling at the Open University, specialising in human-wildlife interactions. She integrates ecology and social science to study coexistence between people and large herbivores, particularly African elephants, and works with NGOs and communities on conflict mitigation and coexistence strategies.
The importance of large herbivores for biodiversity conservation
Szymon Czyżewski M.Sc.
Ecologist
Szymon Czyżewski is a PhD researcher at Aarhus University’s Center for Novel Ecosystem Dynamics. His work explores the role of large herbivores in shaping vegetation and biodiversity, aiming to define a pre-Homo sapiens baseline for European forests. He promotes trophic rewilding in Poland and supports local NGOs in creating rewilding reserves.
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15.40
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Refuel & Refresh – Tea & Refreshments Break
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16:00
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Rewilding, a Climate Strategy
Reinier van den Berg
Meteorologist, climate change expert, former RTL4 weather host, the Netherlands
Reinier van den Berg is a Dutch meteorologist, environmental advocate, and former RTL4 weather presenter. Passionate about nature and sustainability, van den Berg has actively engaged in climate research, including expeditions to Greenland. As Rewilding Academy’s ambassador, he promotes rewilding as a powerful, nature-based solution to climate challenges, fostering resilience for people and the planet.
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16.30
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The European Wildcat in Germany Stefanie Huck Wildlife keeper and Chief Animal Caretaker
Stefanie Huck is Chief Animal Caretaker at Retscheider Hof e.V., specialising in the rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction of polecats and wildcats. Alongside her hands-on conservation work, she leads nationwide monitoring and research to support the long-term survival of these carnivores.
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17.00
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Wild Horses, Wild Landscapes
Lucy Rees Ethologist, Pioneer of Equine Ethology and Rewilding
Lucy Rees, Welsh ethologist and horse trainer, is renowned for her pioneering studies of wild and feral horses. Through the Pottokas en Piornal project in Spain, she demonstrates how free-roaming ponies shape landscapes and social bonds, advancing understanding of equine behavior while contributing to conservation, rewilding, and ecosystem restoration.
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17.30
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Panel Discussion Trailblazers in Rewilding, From Vision to Action
Panel: Purnima Devi Barman, Derek Gow, Danielle Schreve, Frans Vera, Leo Linnartz
Meet the pioneers pushing the boundaries of nature recovery. This panel brings together leading voices in rewilding to share bold ideas, practical lessons, and fresh visions for restoring ecosystems and reconnecting people with the wild.
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20.00
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Film Screening: Kees’ Backyard – A Year on the Veluwe through the Eyes of a Naturalist
Q&A: Kees Ravensbergen, Filmmaker Marcel Everts
In this film, viewers follow Kees Ravensbergen through the ‘backyard’ of the Netherlands—the Veluwe. Filmmaker Marcel Everts, inspired by Kees’ lifetime of unique wildlife footage, creates a journey through the seasons, capturing everything from large game to returning species and intimate natural moments across this remarkable landscape.
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