The Wilderness' History and Vision
Vision
We are working to establish one of Denmark’s most important new natural areas and create a platform for new knowledge, best-practice development, and communication on nature restoration.
Saksfjed Wilderness is one of Denmark’s largest rewilding initiatives. Across 800 hectares on southern Lolland, natural processes are being reintroduced as former agricultural land is transformed into wild nature. Here, we provide space—for nature itself and for cutting-edge research and education on ecological restoration.
The Wilderness prioritises research, knowledge exchange, and education, inviting scientists, students, volunteers, and visitors to take part in understanding and accelerating nature’s recovery.
Our Goals
Establishing New Nature
We want to create some of Denmark’s largest, most significant and unique new nature. The Wilderness exists to create more wild nature. This includes the acquisition of designated areas and ensuring that they have the best possible conditions to develop freely and naturally. The value and potential of these areas largely depend on their size and connectivity to other natural areas.
About Saksfjed WildernessGenerating New Knowledge
We aim to create new knowledge and establish best practices through collaboration. We work with organisations, researchers, and students to gather and share the latest insights on nature restoration and rewilding—to the benefit of everyone who works professionally with nature. Learn more about all the ways you can collaborate with us here.
Get involvedInspiring Action
We want to inspire efforts to put nature restoration on the agenda - both nationally and internationally. The work in the Wilderness should benefit and inspire decision-makers, researchers, organizations, and the public. Through communication and education, we aim to demonstrate how rewilding can enhance biodiversity and create functional ecosystems. See our latest discoveries on the link below.
NewsThe History of Saksfjed Wilderness
Saksfjed Wilderness was established when the Hempel Foundation purchased nearly 800 hectares of land in 2023. The area, formerly known as Lungholm Inddæmning, is located at the southern tip of Lolland. It consists of reclaimed seabed, previously used for agriculture, set-aside land, and some forestry.
The foundation’s goal with this acquisition was to protect and restore biodiversity using science-based rewilding as a method. Saksfjed was chosen due to its size, soil conditions, and location, which give it exceptional potential for nature recovery.
The first step in the transition was constructing 23 km of perimeter fencing, enabling the introduction of large herbivores - a crucial element in restoring natural ecological processes lost in cultivated landscapes.
Nearly 200 animals were released into two large enclosures, including approximately 150 Galloway cattle and 50 Exmoor ponies. At the same time, a range of baseline studies and monitoring projects were initiated to document ecological changes and provide a foundation for future research in the area.
