On 26–27 September 2025, Polish-German workshops will take place in Zalesie near Szczecin and in Rothenklempenow. The event “Im Dialog über den Wolf – Sicheres Zusammenleben in Vorpommern / Rozmowy o wilkach – bezpieczne współistnienie na Pomorzu Przednim” aims to build trust, expand knowledge, and develop practical tools and strategies to reduce conflicts and support living alongside wolves and people.
Wolves, Sylwia Rylowska/Rewilding Oder Delta
A joint search for solutions ahead – from practical preventive measures to building dialogue
The programme will include a review of practical solutions—such as compensation schemes and preventive measures aimed at both farmers and residents—as well as a discussion of the social aspects of our attitudes toward wolves, helping to better understand mutual relations and attitudes toward this species. The workshops will bring together representatives of many communities—from farmers and residents, through public administration and NGOs, to educators, hunters, breeders, wildlife photographers and scientists—to share experiences and perspectives.
Interactive sessions and a panel discussion
Participants will take part in:
- lectures combined with discussions and opportunities to ask questions to experts,
- in interactive presentations and a photo exhibition that encourage a joint search for solutions and the building of mutual understanding.
- a panel discussion addressing issues related to communication, conflict prevention, protection of the wolf population, and support for local communities.
Field walk and good practices in the field
On the second day of the event, a nature walk is planned, enabling:
- direct contact with nature and the landscape under protection measures,
- learning about best rewilding practices,
- a discussion on the impact of the return of wild species on the environment and local communities.
The event will also be an opportunity to showcase the practical implementation of rewilding—from restoring natural resources, through educational activities, to social dialogue. A cooperation between science, administration and residents plays a key role in this process—towards harmonious coexistence of people and wildlife.
Event programme
„Im Dialog über den Wolf – Sichere Zusammenleben mit in Vorpommern / Dialogue about Wolves – safe coexistence in Western Pomerania”
Date: 26–27.09.2025
Venue: workshops: Transboundary Environmental Education Centre, Zalesie 4, 72-004 Tanowo (Poland); evening debate: Schlossstraße, 17321 Rothenklempenow (Germany)
Organiser: Rewilding Oder Delta Association
Partner: West Pomeranian Nature Society
Moderator: Katarzyna Karpa-Świderek (nature educator)
Honorary patronage: Ministry of Climate and Environment, Voivode of West Pomerania Adam Rudawski, Marshal of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship Olgierd Geblewicz, District Head of Police County Shivan Fate, Mayor of Police Krystian Kowalewski
Media patronage: Monthly “Dzikie Życie”
26.09.2025 Friday
08:00 Participant registration
08:45 Opening
09:00 Nature-friendly communities: together for a good life for people and nature; Fabien Quétier (Rewilding Europe)
+15 min (Q&A session + completion of the evaluation questionnaire)
Technical break (5 min)
09:50 Perceived danger – a real challenge: dealing with fear of wolves; Dr Thorsten Gieser (University of Koblenz / Czech Academy of Sciences / Tohoku University, Japan)
+15 min (Q&A session + completion of the evaluation questionnaire)
Group photo in the workshop room!
10:50–11:05 Coffee break
11:05 Assessment of damage caused by wolves: strategies, compensation and conflict resolution in Poland; Krzysztof Adamczak (Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Szczecin)
+15 min (Q&A session + completion of the evaluation questionnaire)
11:50–12:00 Wolves in Western Pomerania (Diaporama); Fernando Schmidt (Photographer), Sylwia Rylowska (Rewilding Oder Delta)
Technical break (5 min)
12:05 “The Wolf – Beauty and the Beast”; Prof. Rafał Kowalczyk (Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences in Białowieża)
+15 min (Q&A session + completion of the evaluation questionnaire)
12:50–13:30 Lunch break
13:30–13:45 Guided tour of the photo exhibition
13:45 Wolves and fear – who is afraid of whom? Katharina Kasper (Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences in Białowieża)
+15 min (Q&A session + completion of the evaluation questionnaire)
14:15 Meeting with Minister Mikołaj Dorożała – Dialogue on Wolves
14:40 Who speaks about wolves, why and how? A sociological perspective; Assoc. Prof. Krzysztof Niedziałkowski, IFiS PAS (Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw)
+15 min (Q&A session + completion of the evaluation questionnaire)
15:15–15:30 Coffee break
15:30 Wolves on the Oder – a photographer’s stories; Lech Jędras (Wolves of the Oder Valley)
+15 min (Q&A session + completion of the evaluation questionnaire)
16:15 Summary and close of the workshop session
Evening Debate
20:00–21:00 “The wolf – rival, neighbour or ally?”
A debate with two guests from Germany and two from Poland.
Moderator: Katarzyna Karpa-Świderek
27.09.2025 (Saturday)
08:30 Registration
09:00 Opening
09:15 Wolves and people. On real challenges and solutions; Anna Maziuk (reporter, author of the book Instynkt. About wolves in Polish forests)
+15 min (Q&A session + completion of the evaluation questionnaire)
10:00 Dialogue as a path to agreement and cooperation – social aspects of wolf conservation; Dr Piotr Chmielewski (Section of Environmental Sociology of the Polish Sociological Association, “Z Szarym Za Płotem” Association)
+15 min (Q&A session + completion of the evaluation questionnaire)
10:45–11:00 Coffee break
11:00 Wolves in Germany – damage assessment and conflict mitigation; Heiner Schumann (Thünen Institute of Forest Ecosystems in Eberswalde)
+15 min (Q&A session + completion of the evaluation questionnaire)
11:45 Wolves around us, or what can be learned by fitting a wolf with a transmitter; Prof. Roman Gula (Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences; SAVE Wildlife Conservation Fund)
+15 min (Q&A session + completion of the evaluation questionnaire)
12:30–13:20 Lunch break
13:20-14:00 Wolf-tracking walk and telemetry equipment demonstration; Sylwia Rylowska, Katarzyna Kozyra-Zyskowska (Rewilding Oder Delta) Roman Gula (SAVE Wildlife Conservation Fund)
14:15–14:30 Coffee break
14:30 Wolf rehabilitation – from care to education; Dr Eng. Aleksandra Kraśkiewicz (West Pomeranian Nature Society)
+15 min (Q&A session + completion of the evaluation questionnaire)
Technical break (5 min)
15:20 Living alongside wolves in the transboundary Oder Delta – prevention and coexistence; Dr Katarzyna Kozyra-Zyskowska (Rewilding Oder Delta)
+15 min (Q&A session + completion of the evaluation questionnaire)
16:05-16:20 Summary and closing
How to take part?
The event will take place in two locations:
Zalesie – workshop part See location
Rothenklempenow – evening panel discussion (26 September) See location
The workshops are open and free of charge. The organisers provide simultaneous interpretation.
Wolf, Sylwia Rylowska/Rewilding Oder Delta
Let’s meet in the Oder Delta!
The workshops are carried out as part of the project “Im Dialog über den Wolf – Sichere Koexistenz in Vorpommern”, which is co-financed with the support of the North German Foundation for Environment and Development.
Text and editing: Katarzyna Kozyra-Zyskowska