![\"Atlantic](\"https:\/\/rewildingeurope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/RewildlingEurope_Sturgeon_PressSelect_20_2.jpg\")
<\/a>Jon A. Ju\u00e1rez\u2019s prize-winning photo depicts the release of an Atlantic sturgeon in Sweden\u2019s G\u00f6ta River.<\/p>\nJon A. Juarez \/ Rewilding Europe<\/p>\n
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Stunning submission<\/p>\n
The stunning winning entry \u2014 captured by Spanish photographer Jon A. Ju\u00e1rez<\/a> and titled \u201cComeback of the Atlantic Sturgeon\u201d \u2014 depicts the release of a juvenile Atlantic sturgeon in Sweden\u2019s G\u00f6ta River in 2024, as part of a first batch of 100 fish. This pioneering rewilding initiative, which is being coordinated by the Swedish Anglers Association<\/a> (Sportfiskarna), offers new hope for the recovery of the species in Europe.<\/p>\n \u201cI had an incredible time working with the Sportsfiskarna team \u2014 it was intense, inspiring, and they made me feel at home every single day,\u201d says Jon. \u201cWinning this award is a wonderful way to thank them and to continue sharing their story of hard work and hope. It\u2019s a story rooted in the idea of rewilding and the belief that it\u2019s not too late to make nature a wilder place.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Elena Gyldenkerne Massa<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Capturing an iconic moment<\/p>\n The annual European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition celebrates the finest nature photography from Europe and beyond. Now an established part of the competition, the Rewilding Europe Award highlights images that tell powerful stories of recovery, co-existence, natural processes, and the relationships between species. It inspires people to connect with nature, while showcasing the achievements and wide-ranging benefits of the growing European rewilding movement.<\/p>\n Jon\u2019s award-winning photograph was selected by a jury of independent wildlife photographers \u2014 who judge the entire European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition \u2014 as well as renowned wildlife photographers Jen Guyton<\/a> and Peter Cairns<\/a>, who were brought in for their expertise in rewilding-related visual storytelling. His image was recognised for its artistic quality and storytelling power.<\/p>\n \u201cThe return of Atlantic sturgeon to Europe\u2019s degraded freshwater systems is as significant as the return of wolves to the American plains,\u201d says Peter Cairns. \u201cJon has skilfully and artfully captured an iconic moment \u2014 a moment that could eventually lead to the restoration of this species across its historical range.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the greatest challenges of our time is nature disconnect \u2014 the widening gap between people and the wild. Jon\u2019s uplifting image shows how we can begin to close that gap \u2014 not only by creating more protected areas, but by weaving nature back into our daily lives. In doing so, we can restore biodiversity, lock up more carbon, and enhance human health and wellbeing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Braving the elements<\/p>\n Jon had to work hard to capture his award-winning photo, overcoming challenging underwater conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cThis image captures the release of the first Atlantic sturgeon into Swedish waters after more than 120 years of absence. Conservationists had worked tirelessly to make this moment possible, and my task was to condense their efforts into a single image. There were strong currents churning the dark water at the release site, but I was determined to photograph the fish in its element.<\/p>\n \u201cI jumped into the river, only to discover that my artificial lights were useless in the murky underwater conditions. Then, just in time, the sun broke through and gave me enough light. The team opened the cage and the first sturgeon drifted out slowly, gliding into its new home \u2014 and into history.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe team opened the cage and the first sturgeon drifted out slowly, gliding into its new home \u2014 and into history.\u201d<\/p>\n Jon A. Ju\u00e1rez \u00a0<\/p>\n A picture of co-existence<\/p>\n As a forward-thinking approach to conservation, rewilding aims to create spaces where people and nature can co-exist and thrive together<\/a>. The second prize in the Rewilding Europe Award went to Romanian photographer Zolt\u00e1n Gergely Nagy<\/a> for his image \u201cThe Green Heart of Bucharest\u201d \u2014 an aerial shot that highlights nature\u2019s resilience and demonstrates how rewilding can transform cities, reshaping the relationship between urban residents and the recovering nature on their doorstep.<\/p>\n V\u0103c\u0103re\u0219ti Nature Park<\/a>, the subject of Zolt\u00e1n\u2019s image, was once a construction site in the heart of the Romanian capital, but has since been reclaimed by nature. Nestled among high-rise buildings, this rewilded wetland now teems with life, providing a sanctuary for hundreds of species \u2014 from birds and butterflies to orchids and otters \u2014 and an increasingly popular retreat for locals and visitors.<\/p>\n \u201cZoltan\u2019s image is a beautiful representation of the co-existence\u00a0that\u2019s possible between man and nature, even in cities,\u201d says Jen Guyton. \u201cIt invites us to rethink our relationship with the natural world and embrace the opportunities that come with nature recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Zolt\u00e1n Gergely Nagy<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Wildlife in focus<\/p>\n Three photographers received high commendations for their submissions to the Rewilding Europe Award, each highlighting the relationship between wildlife species and their habitat. German photographer Christian-D. Morawitz captured a pack of wolves trotting across a former open-cast coal mine \u2014 an area now being reclaimed by nature \u2014 while Dutch photographer Marijn Heuts<\/a> captured a beaver diving into a pool created by its own dam. These images emphasise the remarkable capacity of wildlife to bounce back and recolonise landscapes, with both of these species returning to the countries where they were photographed in the last 30 years. Having been absent for decades, they are now strengthening the health and resilience of wild nature.<\/p>\n German photographer Jonathan Fieber\u2019s<\/a> striking image of a bark beetle underscores the role of rewilding in restoring natural forests<\/a>. With climate change fuelling increasingly frequent bark beetle outbreaks \u2014 which are often deadly to trees \u2014 resilient, biodiverse forests are far more likely to withstand the threat than more vulnerable monoculture plantations.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The three commended images in this year\u2019s Rewilding Europe Award each highlighted the relationship between wildlife species and their habitat.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Promoting rewilding on a European stage<\/p>\n The best image submissions to the Rewilding Europe Award are not only visually impressive, but promote a vision of Europe where people and nature flourish alongside each other. By sharing stories of recovery, resilience, and reconnection, they can motivate people and organisations to work towards a wilder, more vibrant continent.<\/p>\n The standout entries in this year\u2019s Rewilding Europe Award will be celebrated at the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 awards ceremony<\/a>, held as part of the GDT International Nature Photography Festival in L\u00fcnen, Germany, from October 24 to 26. The first- and second-place winners will receive 1,000 euros and 500 euros respectively, but the real prize is the exposure their work will gain: the winning images will feature in an exhibition that tours Germany and Europe over the next three years, inspiring audiences with their powerful messages of achievement and hope.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Want to know more?<\/p>\n <\/a>The German Society for Nature Photography<\/a> (GDT) has announced the winner of this year\u2019s Rewilding Europe Award, as part of the prestigious European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. The award attracted outstanding submissions from across the continent, with winning and commended images showcasing rewilding stories spanning rivers in Sweden and wetlands in Romania to beavers in the Netherlands and wolves in Germany.<\/p>\n<\/a>Jon A. Ju\u00e1rez is a highly skilled underwater photographer.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Spanish photographer, winner of the Rewilding Europe Award 2025<\/p>\n<\/a>Zolt\u00e1n Gergely Nagy\u2019s aerial shot of V\u0103c\u0103re\u0219ti Nature Park in Bucharest.<\/p>\n