Rewilding Weeks in Central Apennines

Rewilding Week

Five days dedicated to exploring nature, wildlife and local cuisine. Activities including:

• Wildlife observation and trekking
• Tasting of products from local partners that support nature recovery
• Applying coexistence measures like electric fence construction
• Visit to a bear-smart community
• Barbed wire removal
• Analysis of camera trap footage

Learning by doing

Thank to this special program, we want to increase people’s awareness towards rewilding principles, enhance the rewilding movement both in Italy and abroad by offering personal growth opportunities and “learning by doing”, and to support conservation actions in Central Apennines through the Bear Fund.

• Field actions; Join us on the field and give your contribution to rewilding!
• Immersion in nature ; Walk across the wild mountains of Central Apennines and discover its wildlife through sings of presence and direct observations.
• Encounter with local producers; Meet and exchange experiences with the communities that daily co-exist with wildlife.

When can i do this?

Most of the Rewilding Apennines field activities are carried out between spring and autumn when the lack of snow allows to maximize the efficiency on the field. The chances of observing wildlife are also higher during this timeframe. See out calendar date booking calendar for available dates.

• Wednesday 23 April 2025 – Sunday 27 April 2025
• Wednesday 11 June 2025 – Sunday 15 June 2025
• Wednesday 9 July 2025 – Sunday 13 July 2025
• Wednesday 15 October 2025 – Sunday 19 October 2025

DAY 1 – The Bear Smart Community Genzana Alto Gizio

Arrival at the Pratola Peligna train station, afternoon settling at the hotel and presentation of the guide and Rewilding Apennines team. Visit to the Bear Smart Community of Pettorano sul Gizio. 1 hours’ walking – 100 m ascent – 100 m descent

DAY 2 – Call to action for a more nature-rich Europe

After breakfast we will take action with the Rewilding Apennines team to contribute to habitat-restoration by the removal of small unauthorized rubbish dumps or of decades-old abandoned barbed wire in the mountains, that constitutes both an aesthetic and ecological deterrent for man and wildlife movement. Possibility of observing grazing red deer, roe deer and different birds of prey. Packed lunch and transfer to Ortona dei Marsi, visit to the apple cider brewery Melagusto and tasting of local products. In the evening, brief excursion and wildlife watching activity. Return to Pettorano sul Gizio, dinner and overnight stay. 3 hours’ walking – 250 m ascent – 250 m descent

DAY 3 – Bear-living in a men’s world

Breakfast and meet with the Rewilding Apennines team. In the morning, we will contribute to the installation of electric fences and bear-proof doors as tools for preventing bear-made damages to small farms, in the name of conflict mitigation. In the afternoon, we will have the opportunity to visit a Bear Smart Community for better understanding the human actors of the corridors, such as residents, small entrepreneurs, students and volunteers, for listening to their co-existence stories but also for tasting some local products. Dinner and overnight stay. 2 hours’ walking – 200 m ascent – 200 m descent

DAY 4 – The Monte Velino Nature Reserve

After breakfast the Rewilding Apennines team will guide us during a wildlife monitoring activity based on direct observation at sunrise or aid by the use of camera traps. Our day will go on with a focus on the griffon vulture and the activities that the team carries out in the context of the collaboration between the Reparto Carabinieri Biodiversità di Castel di Sangro (environmental law enforcement agency) and Rewilding Apennines. In the evening, return to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay. 5 hours’ walking – 400 m ascent – 400 m descent

DAY 5 – Active conservation of the Freshwater Crayfish

Our last day on the field will be dedicated to the discovery of two more corridor areas and of the Freshwater Crayfish, a key species in freshwater ecosystems whose numbers are declining in most of Europe. The small excursions planned will moreover allow to visit sites of naturalistic and historical relevance for the opportunity of taking back an unforgettable postcard of this experience! During early afternoon end of activities and departure of the participants. 5 hours’ walking – 300 m ascent – 300 m descent