ARK Rewilding Nederland

ARK Rewilding Nederland, formerly known as ARK Natuurontwikkeling or Stichting ARK, is a Dutch private nature organisation founded on 23 June 1989. It is headquartered in Nijmegen and operates as a foundation (stichting) with roughly 35 employees. The name refers to Noah's Ark. ARK describes itself as a pioneer of nature development and a founder of rewilding, working to create large, interconnected 'robust' nature areas. ARK's approach emphasises spontaneous, site-specific natural processes rather than fixed targets for specific habitats or species. It positions itself as an initiator and catalyst, working with landowners and partners rather than owning land itself. Projects combine nature conservation with other societal goals such as water safety, landscape development, recreation, and water or raw material extraction. ARK has no structural government funding; projects are financed by clients, special funds, and the Nationale Postcode Loterij. In the Netherlands, ARK has worked along the Grensmaas, in Kempen-Broek, along the Waal, in the Gelderse Poort, the South Holland dunes, the Geuldal including Ingendael, and in IJsselmonde. It is involved in the 'Dood doet Leven' project focused on scavengers and in preparing the Netherlands for the independent immigration of wolf and lynx. It has participated in reintroduction projects for wisent, tree frog, beaver, red deer, otter, and Atlantic sturgeon. In Europe, ARK is involved in projects such as the introduction of koniks in England, nature and rural development in Bulgaria and Latvia, and Rewilding Europe, which aims to develop wilderness areas of at least 100,000 hectares. Many projects include educational activities, particularly for primary school pupils. ARK's origins lie in a plan for Meinerswijk commissioned by the municipality of Arnhem, involving Trudi Woerdeman, historian/landscape architect Willem Overmars, Utrechts Landschap manager Gerard Litjens, and Wouter Helmer. Inspired by the Oostvaardersplassen and the large rivers, the founders believed a new approach to nature conservation and management was needed, based on nature's resilience. This was also a core idea behind Plan Ooievaar, of which Overmars was a co-author, proposing a new approach for the river area. The idea of developing nature and asking for more space for nature experience was elaborated by Helmer in the essay 'Filosofie van de Nacht'. Today ARK continues to work on rewilding in the Netherlands and abroad, with an active strategy of land acquisition to strengthen existing nature cores by enlarging and connecting them. Its website highlights recent news and collaborations, such as a partnership with Natuurbegraven Nederland for wild nature as a final resting place.

ARK Rewilding Nederland, formerly ARK Natuurontwikkeling or Stichting ARK, was founded on 23 June 1989. Its origins lie in a plan for Meinerswijk commissioned by the municipality of Arnhem, involving Trudi Woerdeman, historian/landscape architect Willem Overmars, Utrechts Landschap manager Gerard Litjens, and Wouter Helmer. The name refers to Noah's Ark. The official founding date of ARK and the associated design bureau Stroming was 23 June 1989. Inspired by the development of the Oostvaardersplassen and the large rivers, the founders believed a new approach to nature conservation and management was needed, based on the resilience of nature. This was also the core idea behind Plan Ooievaar, of which Overmars was a co-author, proposing a new approach for the river area. The idea of developing nature and asking for more space for nature experience was elaborated by Helmer in the essay 'Filosofie van de Nacht'. ARK describes itself as a pioneer of nature development and a founder of rewilding. Its approach emphasises robust nature: large, interconnected nature areas. It seeks to combine nature conservation with other societal goals such as water safety, landscape development, recreation, and water or raw material extraction. ARK does not set targets for specific nature types; it sees the development itself as the goal, provided it involves spontaneous, site-specific natural processes. ARK sees itself primarily as an initiator and catalyst, working with various landowners and in principle not owning land itself. It values public involvement, especially children, in its projects. There is no structural government funding; projects are financed by clients or by special funds and the Nationale Postcode Loterij. In the Netherlands, ARK has worked along the Grensmaas, in Kempen-Broek, along the Waal, in the Gelderse Poort, the South Holland dunes, the Geuldal including Ingendael, and in IJsselmonde. It is involved in the 'Dood doet Leven' project focused on scavengers and a project preparing the Netherlands for the independent immigration of wolf (Canis lupus) and lynx. ARK previously participated in reintroduction projects for wisent, tree frog, beaver (Castor fiber), red deer, otter, and Atlantic sturgeon. In Europe, ARK is involved in various projects, such as the introduction of koniks in England, nature and rural development in Bulgaria and Latvia, and the Rewilding Europe project with the goal of developing wilderness areas of at least 100,000 hectares. Many ARK projects include educational activities, particularly aimed at primary school pupils. Today ARK continues its work under the name ARK Rewilding Nederland, with an active strategy of land acquisition to strengthen existing nature cores by enlarging and connecting them. Its website highlights recent news and collaborations, such as a partnership with Natuurbegraven Nederland for wild nature as a final resting place.

• ARK and associated design bureau Stroming officially founded.

• ARK founded as a Dutch private nature organisation.

• Involvement in reintroduction projects for wisent, tree frog, beaver, red deer, otter, and Atlantic sturgeon.

• Participation in Rewilding Europe aiming to develop wilderness areas of at least 100,000 hectares.

• Partnership with Natuurbegraven Nederland for wild nature as a final resting place.

Pioneer of nature development and rewilding in the Netherlands, working through partnerships and land acquisition to create robust, connected nature.

• Rewilding Europe

  Project aiming to develop wilderness areas of at least 100,000 hectares.

• Dood doet Leven

  Project focused on scavengers.

• Gelderse Poort

  Nature development area along the Waal.

• Grensmaas

  Nature development along the Grensmaas river.

• Kempen-Broek

  Nature development area in the Kempen-Broek region.

1. 1Nederland verdient meer wilde natuur | ARK Rewilding Nederlandarkrewilding.nl
2. 2ARK Rewilding Nederland - Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org
3. 3ARK Nature - Wikidatawikidata.org