Today we're virtually at the @RewildingEurope #RewildingSymposium and will be bringing you updates throughout the day on the latest science from european landscapes #rewilding

Paul Jepson of ecosulis the first speaker of the day, stating that #rewilding presents a new narrative in conservation fit for the 21st century. There are many actors shaping it, but in particlar its an opportunity for young people to shape and define their future environment

He says the science behind current laws in particular Natura2000 are based on science which is 50 years out of date. We need to redesign laws across Europe based on a new narrative and incorporating modern scientific thinking on rewilding

Next we move onto Frans Schepers - Rewilding European Landscapes. Who starts by highlighting the development and debates in rewilding science and the 'skyrocketing' numbers of publications. However he says most are based on opinion more than practice

Using the example of the Netherlands he points out that what is now called rewilding. Began as 'Nature Development' in the 1980's with projects such as OSV, Plan Stork and Living Rivers. They moved from defensive to offensive approach to nature conservation

Kicking off the afternoon session of the #RewildingSymposium is @JCSvenning talking about 'restoring the role of megafauna in European ecosystems'

He begins by highlighting that current megafauna is unusually poor. Last at this level >30 million years ago. Historically, super diverse megafauna was the norm.

He points out that most current species are 100,000 to >1m years old. Meaning they have a complex evolutionary background with the landscape and complex ecological characteristics

The presence of megafauna promotes biodiversity and provide crucial ecosystem services and trophic effects through, predation, seed dispersal, grazing, browsing, carbon diversification and non-trophic disturbance. Promoting heterogeneity both vegetation and abiotic

The absence of large herbivores is also threatening species depended on open and semi open habitats in Europe. Including species which are specifically adapted to megafauna effects. Europe has a far lower levels of herbivore biomass compared to what would be considered normal