Rewilding Velebit

Rewilding Velebit, part of the Rewilding Europe initiative, is working to restore and protect one of the wildest landscapes in the Mediterranean. Situated on Croatia’s Adriatic coast, the Velebit Mountains host two national parks, a biosphere reserve, old-growth forests, deep canyons, and thriving wildlife including chamois, red deer, brown bear, wolf, and lynx. The project focuses on strengthening natural processes and creating opportunities for local communities through nature-based tourism. 

The Velebit region is ecologically outstanding, spanning a wide range of habitats, from Mediterranean landscapes at sea level, to vast beech forests, alpine grasslands, and even near-boreal systems at higher altitudes. This range of ecosystems supports rich biodiversity while offering dramatic natural scenery of cliffs, canyons, waterfalls, and uninhabited plains. With strong tourism infrastructure already in place, the area is well-positioned to benefit from rewilding, both ecologically and economically. 

ERF is supporting Rewilding Velebit in scaling up efforts to restore habitats, strengthen wildlife populations, and further integrate rewilding with sustainable tourism.