Call for Submissions

We are delighted to invite proposals for sessions at Rewilding Futures 2027, taking place in Copenhagen on 29–30 April 2027. Rewilding Futures will bring together people from around the world to explore and shape the future of rewilding as a vital strategy for nature recovery. We see the conference as a chance to explore emerging ideas, encourage innovation and build meaningful partnerships.

True to the spirit of rewilding, we want to create an open, dynamic space for bold ideas, honest discussion and creativity. We invite you to propose talks, workshops and other sessions on the topics you believe should be part of the conference.

Successful applicants will need to buy a conference ticket. Tickets are being released in two rounds: one now and a second in January 2027, after decisions have been sent. So there’s no need to buy a ticket before you hear back from us, unless you would like to attend nonetheless. We ask all speakers to attend the full two-day programme, which helps build lasting connections across the rewilding community. If cost is a barrier, please see our concession tickets and student bursaries on the [Buy Tickets page].

What we’re looking for

We want this conference to push rewilding forward, so we’re looking for proposals that are bold, ambitious and honest.

We’re especially keen to hear from people who:

• are doing genuine rewilding: restoring natural processes and giving nature room to lead

• are trying new approaches, taking risks, and willing to share what didn’t work as well as what did

• bring fresh voices, unexpected collaborations or challenging ideas

To make the most of our time together, we’re less likely to select:

• sessions debating the definition of rewilding; we’d rather spend the time doing it

• conventional conservation or restoration projects relabelled as rewilding

Themes

We want the conference to be as interdisciplinary as possible, reflecting the many skills, perspectives and places where rewilding is happening around the world. To give the programme some structure, sessions will be organised into six themes. These help guide your proposal, and help delegates plan their conference around their interests. The themes are in no particular order, so when you submit, please tell us which theme your session fits best.

Reading the Wild: Science, Data & New Technologies - How can scientific research, innovation and emerging technologies advance rewilding practice and deepen our understanding of ecosystem recovery? This theme will be curated with Professor Jens-Christian Svenning.

We welcome proposals on topics such as:

• ecological monitoring and data collection

• new technologies that support rewilding

• research into ecosystem processes and function

• emerging evidence and hypotheses that could shape the future of rewilding

Rewriting the Rules: Finance, Policy & Law for Nature Recovery - How can finance, policy and legislation help scale up rewilding by unlocking investment, creating stronger incentives and enabling more ambitious action?

We welcome proposals on topics such as:

• nature credits

• conservation finance models

• national and international policy frameworks

• legislative barriers

• other ways to create the conditions for rewilding to thrive

Whose Wild?: People, Communities & Coexistence - How can communities be meaningfully involved in, and empowered to lead, rewilding?

We welcome proposals on topics such as:

• local engagement

• social perspectives

• human–wildlife coexistence

• health and wellbeing

• new approaches to communication that strengthen people’s connection with nature

Room to Roam: Rewilding Land, from Grazers to Whole Landscapes - This theme will showcase rewilding on land, from practical interventions and species reintroductions to large-scale habitat restoration and ecological connectivity.

We welcome proposals on topics such as:

• landscape-scale restoration

• practical rewilding techniques

• species reintroductions

• habitat connectivity

• restoring dynamic, resilient ecosystems

From Source to Sea: Rewilding Rivers, Wetlands, Coasts & Oceans - This theme will explore efforts to restore and reconnect aquatic ecosystems, from rivers and wetlands to coasts and seas.

We welcome proposals on topics such as:

• coastal, marine and freshwater restoration

• catchment connectivity

• species recovery

• aquatic habitats

• the establishment and enforcement of marine protected areas

Off the Map: Ideas that Don’t Fit the Mould - Rewilding is a broad and fast-moving field. If your proposal sits outside the themes above but would make a valuable contribution, we’d love to hear it. We especially welcome creative, interdisciplinary and emerging perspectives that challenge thinking.

Session formats - We welcome proposals in a range of formats, including:

• Talks and presentations

• Workshops

• Panel discussions

• Roundtables

• Live demonstrations and interactive debates

• Hackathons and hands-on sessions

• Creative and artistic sessions

If you have an idea that doesn’t fit these formats, please propose it anyway, as long as it has rewilding at its heart.

Interested in exhibiting? Booths will be available separately; see our Exhibitors page.

Timeline

• Applications open: 19 October 2026

• Applications close: 20 December 2026

• Review period: mid-December 2026 to early January 2027

• Decisions sent: mid-January 2027

• Programme published: mid-February 2027