Awareness and pride

The pride of local communities in their beautiful region and wild nature, as well as the awareness and support of stakeholders and people of the country, are of great importance for the conservation of Danube Delta ecosystems and landscapes.

Dima Neer Kikundra

Awareness and pride

The pride of local communities in their beautiful region and wild nature, as well as the awareness and support of stakeholders and people of the country, are of great importance for the conservation of Danube Delta ecosystems and landscapes.

Reaching out to people

Rewilding is an innovative conservation approach resonating with and inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds. But they need to have a chance to learn about it. Effective communication is essential when it comes to changing people’s ways of thinking, building public support, creating positive attitudes and engaging with stakeholders as we work towards a wilder Danube Delta. To this end, we always place great emphasis on reaching out, creating dialogues and involving people from all strands of society. The achievement of great things is impossible without the consensus and support of stakeholders.

Laurent Geslin/Wild Wonders of Europe

Local communities

In our communications we place a significant emphasis on informing and training local communities – they should be the main beneficiaries of wilder nature and proud of the region they live in.

Generally local people value their region and nature, but they are sometimes unaware of how to effectively use the natural resources and possibilities that can result from rewilding. We provide the necessary information and assistance through different channels and instruments, and aim to engender a love of the land in the people of the Danube Delta.

Awareness

We cooperate with local media, producing and distributing informative materials on grazing, nature restoration and nature-based solutions. A photo exhibition about rewilding will be held in all three countries of the Danube delta.

Community events

Community events like ethno-ecological festivals can help to build pride and show the economic value of wild nature to local people. We plan to hold two festivals in Ukraine, one in Romania and one in Moldova.

School campaign

Educating younger generations is the best way to build a sustainable future. School campaign will be held in the schools of all three Danube Delta countries, followed by children and youth club creation, joint field visits and photo missions, and a summer camp.

Maxim Yakovlev

Partners and stakeholders

We work a lot with relevant stakeholders, gradually changing their attitude towards wilder nature, wildlife comeback and sustainability. Inspired and dedicated stakeholders are our good partners in achieving rewilding goals. We are grateful to them for these joint efforts to build a better future for nature and people.

We value the input of different groups of stakeholders, including local and national authorities, scientists, nature management structures, protected areas, as well as NGOs and community groups, businesses, media, schools and youth clubs. We regularly send out a newsletter for our stakeholders and interested parties. You can subscribe to it here.

Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe

Fellow citizens

The third wheel of our work is the people of the countries where we operate – Romania, Ukraine and Moldova. Thanks to your support we feel we are doing the right things, we are valued in society, and receive feedback on our work.

We communicate with people through traditional and social media, special projects, ambassadors, websites, newsletters and informative materials. We create impactful imagery and videography which speaks louder than a thousand words.

We aim not only to inform, but to generate support and engagement. We aim to generate a closer connection with nature by encouraging people to visit our rewilding areas or other wild spots. You are always welcome!

Our main achievements

Major regional outreach for the rewilding initiative has been created through our participation in the two editions of the "ROWMANIA Festival" and in the Pelicam Film Festival (2014).
A survey with positive feedback was carried out on local attitudes towards a beaver reintroduction in the area.
A photo exhibition "Fresh Perspectives on the Danube Delta" was launched in partnership with the Pelicam Film Festival in 2014.
"The Fish Trail" documentary was filmed and produced in the Danube Delta rewilding area, in partnership with Vira Films and the Pelicam Film Festival in 2015.
Three different communications products have been prepared: a general Danube Delta map, a Sfantu Gheorghe community trails map, and a "Natural history & cultural heritage on the border with the Black Sea" leaflet.
The Danube Delta rewilding area has been promoted in numerous prominent international magazines, including National Geographic.
A three-day monitoring effort in 2014 identified an occupied beaver lodge, where camera traps revealed a beaver family with young. This was communicated widely in Romania, creating significant media interest and support for the comeback of the species.

The Danube Delta rewilding area has been promoted in numerous prominent international magazines and platforms, including The Guardian, CGTN TV, Unian and else.
In autumn 2021, the ethno-eco festival "Tarutino Steppe" was held in the unique steppe. A photo exhibition about the Danube Delta was launched at the festival. It will be presented further at other events in Romania, Moldova and Ukraine.
At the beginning of 2022, WWF-Ukraine and Rewilding Ukraine launched a joint information campaign "Living rivers are not only water!" to draw the attention of Ukrainians to the value of rivers and floodplains.
In 2019-2024, photo and video missions took place and numerous videos were created highlighting the rewilding activity in the Danube Delta. You can watch them on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qNnAGvZfH1S9x_euNfRdg
In 2022, because of the war in Ukraine, a joint fundraising campaign with 1+1 media was launched for the benefit of natural parks, zoos, animal shelters affected by hostilities.
A UN report that was published at COP 15, recognises the Danube Delta rewilding landscape as a European nature restoration showcase. The report aims to accelerate nature restoration by providing examples of inspirational nature restoration initiatives and the wide-ranging benefits they are delivering.
The Living Danube Delta education campaign involved 16 schools in Ukraine, Romania, and Moldova, immersing students in the nature of the delta and rewilding activities. The most active participants joined the Danube Delta Rewilders Club and took part in the Pelican Camp and Rewilders Danube Delta Camp, held in the Romanian part of the Delta in 2023-2024.

A social study conducted in 2024 in the Borodino community, which owns the Tarutino Steppe in Ukraine, found positive attitudes toward rewilding.

The ethno-ecological festival “BELEU BIO FEST 2019” took place on the bank of Beleu Lake in Moldova end of summer 2019. More than 3000 people from the country and abroad attended the event.