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In Europe, only 1-3% of forests can be considered truly "primary" ecosystems that have never been directly managed by humans. But how do scientists distinguish between genuinely untouched wilderness and forests that have naturally regenerated?
Tzvetan Zlatanov thought he'd struck scientific gold. The forest ecologist from Bulgaria's Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research was standing in what appeared to be Europe's ecological holy grail: a pristine woodland in the Rhodope Mountains, untouched for centuries. Massive spruce trees draped in ancient lichens towered around him. No footpaths, no stumps, no human fingerprints anywhere. Until he checked his map on the way home and discovered something that changed everything…
Welcome to WILDCARD: The Forest Game, the scientific podcast that explores Europe's rewilding revolution through real ecological detective stories. Episode one reveals how nature's extraordinary recovery powers can fool even expert researchers - and why understanding this matters for Europe's environmental future.
About the podcast
A scientific adventure across Europe’s hidden forests
What if rewilding Europe were a strategic board game where every forest hides a secret, and every move shapes the future of our ecosystems?
Welcome to an extraordinary audio journey that transforms the complex world of ecological restoration into an immersive, continent-spanning adventure.
In each episode, listeners make a “strategic move” through Europe’s diverse forest landscapes, uncovering how damaged ecosystems can recover and flourish. Guided by expert researchers and scientists, the podcast dives into the investigative work of identifying true wilderness, explores the delicate balance between conservation and human needs, and highlights innovative strategies that restore ecosystems to their full complexity.
Using the metaphor of a “game board”, complex scientific ideas become accessible, engaging stories, where every dice roll reveals new ecological mysteries and every square tells a tale about our evolving relationship with the natural world.
Credits
«WILDCARD. The Forest Game» is a podcast production written by Silvia Giralucci for the WILDCARD project and Starter.
Scientific Supervisor: Giorgio Alberti, University of Udine
Editorial Supervisor: Gesche Schifferdecker, European Forest Institute
Voice-over: Rahel Könen, European Forest Institute
Post-production: Santiago Alarcón, European Forest Institute