The Large Herbivore Working Group is a UK-based group of rewilding practitioners, scientists, and legal experts. They visited Denmark last October to find out how we in Denmark work with reintroducing large herbivores to promote ecosystem restoration and how they can do the same!
They visited Lille Vildmose and Mols Bjerge National Park before meeting Marianne and Elena in Thisted, where they received a welcome talk from the Danish Nature Agency in Thy. Our first destination was Klitmøller, a haven of biodiversity with year-round grazing of Konik horses. Amidst the 220-hectare dune and coastal heath area, participants engaged in an insightful walk, delving into themes such as natural process restoration, nature monitoring, and practical considerations. A rejuvenating coffee break was enjoyed amidst this breathtaking landscape, where Marianne presented her work exploring herbivore ranges and site use using GPS collar data. The talk demonstrated the interconnected nature of science and practitioners in Denmark and was made even better by the arrival of some friendly four-legged visitors.
Next, we embarked on a journey to the future Nature National Park in Hanstholm, spanning an impressive 5,000 hectares. Here, Thomas Borup Svendsen provided a comprehensive introduction to Nature National Parks, shedding light on potential restoration efforts and future grazing systems within the dune landscape. Discussions also touched upon the social aspects and legal frameworks crucial for conservation endeavors.
Our exploration continued with a drive to Tved Plantation, a part of the future Nature National Park, where Elena presented her work on past vegetation baselines in Europe using fossilised pollen data. We discussed the historic role of herbivory and other disturbances regimes mediated by large herbivores in Europe, before we savoured a hearty dinner and enjoyed bonfire at a wooden cabin within the future Nature National Park.
The next day, we visited The Danish Nature Agency sites in West Jutland and explored Risbæk Heath, home to beavers and Exmoor ponies. From there, we embarked on a scenic drive to Husby Klitplantage, another extensive year-round grazing project. We walked through the parabolic dunes within the 400-hectare grazing area, encountering Highland cattle and Exmoor/Shetland Ponies along the way. Our journey was enhanced by GPS tracking, providing valuable insights into their movements and behaviors.
Following our exploration, a well-deserved lunch awaited us at Koglehuset in Husby Klitplantage. Our next destinations were the future Nature National Park Stråsø, Lystbæk, and Vind Heath, where we saw more Exmoor ponies.
We had a fantastic few days with the Larger Herbivore Working group, where we shared experiences of the potential for and barriers to rewilding. Thank you to all who contributed to making this journey a memorable and enriching experience.
We look forward to future adventures together!
