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 YRC?

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?

Hi I am Anna and I live in the Netherlands, in the green city of Wageningen. I love adventure, I have a very broad taste of music going from rap, rock and deep house and I really  would like to have a dog.

What do you do?

I work as an ecologist which means you will find me counting bats, frogs, plants, and other animals. I also work as a bushcraft instructor where I teach people how to live in nature.

Why did you join the YRC?

During my studies there were only courses on how to manage nature. These ideas seemed very weird to me since I believed that nature should not necessarily be managed if basic processes are present.

When I encountered Rewilding Europe I felt recognition. However after my studies it was really hard to find opportunities to become professionally active into the rewilding movement and to find a place to learn more about it. It is a pity to let all this energy get to waste. That is why I want to create a place where this is facilitated.

Who are you?

Hi, I am Charles and I come from that small country in the heart of Europe, called Belgium. I have an immense passion for nature and agriculture, and I love to think of ways of how we could combine the two in the future!

What do you do?

With a predominant love for science I pursued a Chemistry degree in Ghent, but after that the call for the natural world became so big it dragged me into Biology. Therefore, I am currently doing a International Master in Marine Biology (IMBRsea), which takes me across our beloved continent in different universities. Next to this I am trying to set up a little farm at home which would represent my vision for sustainable future agriculture practices.

Why did you join the YRC?

Rewilding gives me the impression that not everything is doom and gloom, as a lot of young people nowadays think.

The biodiversity crisis and the climate emergency are wicked problems because they meet all aspects of our society and hence  are not easily solved.

For me Rewilding is more than just restoring nature, it tackles these problems in an overarching way, providing real answers to these societal problems.

I am hoping that my involvement in the YRC could push the rewilding cause further in Europe. I see it more as a personal duty to help nature on this planet, kind of like “doing my part” and the Young Rewilders Community is the best shot I have at doing so.

Who are you?

My name is Florian (aka FloW). Currently I’m living in Innsbruck, in the heart of the Austrian Alps. With that background I’m obviously doing a lot of skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer, as well as hiking and sleeping in the woods.

What do you do?

At the moment I’m studying Environmental-, Process and Energy Engineering in Innsbruck. In my “free time” I’m actively involved in founding an Youth Wilderness initiativ in Austrian and also fighting for more legal protection of our last untouched nature in Austria.

Why did you join the YRC?

I grew up in the middle of the Austrian Alps and have always been able to observe two extremes right under my nose. On one side of the valley one ski area after the other and opposite Austria’s oldest national park. Over the years, the ski areas have become bigger and bigger, but the national parks and wilderness areas have not. For a long time this fact was quite normal for me, but when I joined the WWF, I only really realised how precarious our Alps and their wilderness are. So I decided to do something about it to reverse this development.

I started my own youth wilderness initiative and one day I had the opportunity to become part of Rewilding Europe, which I took immediately, because our wilderness is threatened not only in Austria.

Who are you?

My name is Rhys Lemoine, I am originally from Ontario, Canada, but I’ve lived in Europe for the past two years, first in Ireland and now in Denmark. I have always been interested in nature, but over the past 5 years I have been increasingly involved in the Rewilding movement.

What do you do?

I am a PhD student working in the Svenning lab at Aarhus University. My work is on extinction, megafauna, novel ecosystems, and restoration ecology.

Why did you join the YRC?

When I was first learning about Rewilding, I found that it was very difficult to find more information or to become involved. I believe the field needs to be more accessible for young people if it hopes to gain more traction in the European community. I want to build a platform that makes that possible.

Who are you?

Hi my name is Kristen, I am from sunny United Kingdom but please don’t hold that against me. Love Nature, self-expression and a whole bunch of fun artistic pursuits alongside my more scientific rigors. You should come talk to me about my Solarpunk agenda, a bright green future here we come!!

What do you do?

I have just completed my Master’s studies in Ethnobotany, researching the relationships between people and nature. When not on furlough I also work on the white cliffs of Dover with the national trust waving frantically at France everyday.

Why did you join the YRC?

The YRC is an opportunity to increase diversity and intersectionality into the field of conservation and in the discussion about a green future. Championing the voices of younger rewilding enthusiasts, giving them advice and support is my way of effecting this brighter future for us all.

Who are you?

Hey, my name is Joep and I’m from the Netherlands. I live really close to the Veluwe, which is the largest lowland forest of Western Europe. You often find me here, looking for animals such as wild boar, badgers and deer. Furthermore, I love to go on hikes, read and listen to live music.

What do you do?

I’m currently studying for my master’s degree in Forest and Nature Conservation at Wageningen University. Next to this I’m a youth council member for the Dutch State Forest Service and a voluntary forester in one of the most extraordinary nature reserves in the Netherlands.

Why did you join the YRC?

I love that Rewilding Europe and the Young Rewilders Community look past the conservation narrative, since they aim to protect what is left AND to increase the amount of wild nature in Europe.

As I want to contribute to this positive view on the future of European nature, deciding to apply for the position of Ambassadors Coordinator was not a tough decision. In this position I hope to inform as much young people as possible on the ideas of rewilding and to find ways in which they can get involved in the wonderful world of rewilding.

Who are you?

Hi, my name is Chloe and I’m from England. I currently live in the New Forest National Park where I can often be found hiking, birdwatching and volunteering for Forestry England. Alongside my love of wildlife, I also enjoy camping yoga, and listening to music.

What do you do?

I have just finished my bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, where my dissertation focussed on attitudes towards reintroducing native mammals into the New Forest National Park. I am now currently working as an assistant ecologist for a consultancy and have spent time volunteering for a wide range of wildlife organisations and charities.

Why did you join the YRC?

Rewilding is a subject I am extremely passionate about, and I believe it is so important to make information about rewilding accessible and straightforward. I enjoy being creative and networking with those who are passionate about the subject, which is why I decided to apply for the position of Social Media Coordinator.
I have followed the work of Rewilding Europe and the Young Rewilders Community closely for a while now, and I love the concept of helping people to become active in the rewilding movement. I hope to bring informative and enjoyable content to a wide audience and encourage people to learn and engage in the rewilding community

Laurien Holtjer

Head of Communications

Laurien is an experienced communications professional within the field of nature conservation. In 2005, she graduated with an MSc in Tropical Nature Conservation from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Following an ecological field study in South Africa, she decided to specialise in the field of communications, a move which would enable her to inspire audiences and connect people with wild nature. She ended her MSc with a biodiversity project in Kyrgyzstan, where she worked with local stakeholders to encourage their involvement in nature conservation.

After finishing her MSc studies, Laurien continued her education in the fields of journalism, online communications and marketing. After working as a journalist, she became team leader and communications manager at Sovon, the Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology. While working at Sovon she was responsible for leading and developing strategies and projects, as well as producing content. During this time Laurien also worked periodically as an overseas dive instructor, helping people to explore the beauty and diversity of our underwater world.

Inspiring and connecting people with nature has always motivated Laurien. Working for Rewilding Europe fulfils her personal desire to work towards wilder nature, and a wish to make more people aware of nature’s beauty and innate resilience.

For the Young Rewilders community Laurien is a main advisor and the link between the core team of the Young Rewilders and management team of Rewilding Europe. She supports our team with her experience in communication and her valuable input and advice.

Silvia Ursul

Communications Intern

Silvia is a young ornithologist with a passion for promoting nature conservation. She graduated in 2015 with an MSc in Biodiversity Conservation from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iași, Romania. On returning to Moldova, Silvia co-founded a local non-profit focused on the protection and scientific study of wild birds,  building the organisation’s identity and brand while raising awareness of the importance of wild fauna. At the same time, she worked as a project assistant at an environmental organisation called Ecological Movement from Moldova, where she gained experience in various projects based on environmental education and public involvement.

Between 2015 and 2019 Silvia was a Moldova-based national coordinator for the 2^nd European Breeding Birds Atlas (EBBA2), organising extensive fieldwork across the country, maintaining communications with project volunteers, and submitting data to the central team. Currently she splits her work between fieldwork activities and communicating about local birds via magazines, radio, social media and website articles. Silvia works closely with a national Moldovan environmental magazine called “NATURA”, where she writes monthly columns about local bird species.

In all of her activities, Silvia promotes the importance of connecting with nature. She likes helping people to understand the ecological needs of local fauna while finding ways to help and protect wild animals. At Rewilding Europe she is responsible for the brand development of the Young Rewilders Community – a group of young professionals that are passionate about rewilding and share her same enthusiasm for nature.