Credits: Jeroen Helmer, ARK Netherlands
Harnessing Communications Tools – A meeting of the Global Rewilding Communicators Network, with Jeroen Helmer & Anne-Marie Pronk, ARK Rewilding Netherlands
Illustrations are transforming rewilding communication — turning complex science into stories everyone can understand, from toddlers to policymakers. By making the invisible visible, rewilding illustrations help us better understand the world we live in and invite us to connect more deeply with nature.
The Global Rewilding Communicators Network meets several times a year to exchange ideas, share communication tools, and strengthen how we tell the story of rewilding. Our goal is to connect and support rewilding communicators worldwide, foster collaboration, and learn from each other, so together, we can amplify the rewilding message, inspire more people, and build momentum for systemic change.
We are holding seasonal sessions to spotlight our partners and an aspect of their work, from best practices, shareable toolkits and collective challenges. Inspired topics are warmly welcomed – get in touch with our team!
If you’re a communicator working in rewilding, conservation, or nature restoration, sign up to stay informed about upcoming meetings.
On September 15, 2025, we had the pleasure of learning from ecological illustrator and rewilder Jeroen Helmer and communicator and campaigner Anne-Marie Pronk from ARK Rewilding Netherlands. If you’ve followed the rewilding movement, chances are you’ve seen Jeroen’s work before! His vivid illustrations have become a precious and unmissable resource for the movement. Having worked alongside ARK Rewilding Netherlands for 36 years, Anne-Marie and Jeroen are well-acquainted with harnessing these beautiful tools to support ARK’s ground work, perception-shifts in favour of wild landscapes and nation-wide campaigns.
You can watch the replay of the session here.
Illustration of “The Wisent”, (European Bison) A Keystone Species, and the web of ecosystem relationships. Credits: Jeroen Helmer
Jeroen Helmer wins the Audience Award with his book “Wilderness in our own country”
This conversation came at a perfect moment: Jeroen’s new book, Wildernis in eigen land (“Wilderness in our own country”), won the Audience Award for Nature Book of the Year 2025, which highlights nature books that are accessible, enjoyable, and able to broaden perspectives to help us understand the world a little better.
Andre Kuipers, Dutch astronaut, said of the book:
“Just as space gives you an overall view of our beautiful, fragile planet, this fascinating book gives you an overall view of the wild nature in the Netherlands, in the past, present and future.”
And that’s exactly what Jeroen’s illustrations achieve and why ARK Rewilding Netherlands decided to publish this book – to make these illustrations more widely available and raise awareness on the transformative power of rewilding.
Portrait of Jeroen Helmer and his book Wildernis in Eigen Land. Credits: ARK Netherlands and Eva Broekema
Illustrations: a powerful tool for rewilders to communicate complex topics
Rewilding is inspiring, and there’s no denying it’s also a complex topic to communicate about; it requires a whole-systems outlook and understanding of unique ecosystem interactions.
Keystone species, invisible yet powerful processes, vast interconnections within ecosystems… rewilding is rooted in strong science, but how do we convey such complex notions in a simple, gripping way for everyone? Words alone often fall short. Jeroen’s illustrations bridge that gap: by making the invisible visible in a beautiful and accessible way. They reveal the hidden relationships that are holding ecosystems together – the hidden relationships we all depend on.
As Jeroen explained, his process blends science and art. Choices about composition, color, perspective, and detail are made strategically to help guide the viewer’s eye, simplify complexity, and make the message instantly clear. Even the placement of text is considered from the start, ensuring that words and images reinforce one another.
Sometimes, his creative decisions are unexpected, drawing us into the ecosystem itself and asking us to notice the all-encompassing interactions. For example, when trying to illustrate soil processes, Jeroen realized the soil itself was blocking the view. His solution? Remove it entirely. “I wanted to show everything happening in the soil,” he said, “but what bothered me was the soil. So I left it out, like everything is standing on a glass plate.”
Jeroen, with the longstanding support of ARK and other rewilders, generously makes his illustrations free and openly accessible for us all to use: we highly recommend that you download and spread these freely accessible rewilding illustrations to support your nature restoration message!
Jeroen’s illustration shows how soil disturbance by species such as wild boar and large herbivores enhances the functionality of the soil and supports countless species. Credits: Jeroen Helmer, ARK Netherlands
A new way of seeing nature
Illustrations help us perceive what’s normally invisible: the unseen webs of interaction that hold ecosystems together. They show how even the smallest species, such as mussels, can play a keystone role. They remind us that removing just one link can unravel the whole system.
Anne-Marie described Jeroen Helmer’s illustrations as putting on “rewilding glasses,” enabling people to see and appreciate the beauty and self-regulating potential of nature, rather than just perceiving it as messy. The combination of ecological knowledge and communication tools like Jeroen’s illustrations effectively brings the message of rewilding to life in an accessible visual way.
And once you see it illustrated that way, you can’t unsee it. You start looking at your garden, your local forest, and the nature around you in a whole different way.
Jeroen Helmer in his element. Credits: ARK Netherlands
Engaging with a broader audience
Freely available for anyone to use, and translated into 14 languages, his drawings have become a cornerstone resource for educators, conservationists, scientists, and policymakers alike. It’s been used in both kindergarten classrooms and official case studies for government offices. How many communications pieces do you know that can be used so widely? His images speak a universal language.
Jeroen has been working alongside the team at ARK Rewilding Netherlands for 36 years now, a Dutch NGO dedicated to restoring wild nature by giving space and time for natural processes to unfold. Since 1989, ARK has pioneered rewilding in the Netherlands by re-meandering rivers, reintroducing large herbivores, reconnecting fragmented landscapes, and piloting projects like oyster reef restoration in the North Sea. ARK works bottom-up with landowners, communities, and governments, embedding nature recovery into society and the economy, and is a founding partner of Rewilding Europe, amplifying its impact across the continent.
Anne-Marie, ARK’s communicator, campaigner and network-coordinator of rewilding initiatives, shared that, beyond being an effective communication tool, these wild illustrations have contributed to national campaigns and have been featured in various national press articles. For example, Jeroen’s dead wood illustration helped convey the importance of leaving dead wood in forests, adding to a nation-wide shift in forestry management.
Anne-Marie Pronk, ARK’s Program Leader, shared with us how Jeroen’s illustrations have supported rewilding communications in the Netherlands. Credits: ARK Netherlands
The wide circulation of these illustrations even helps to bridge conversations with more conservative groups, less familiar with rewilding. Jeroen’s book ensured that rewilding as an idea became known not only within the nature conservation community but also among the general public in the Netherlands, making rewilding a more accessible concept. The book was widely distributed, including to people working in the field of climate and sustainability at large.
“It is my dream” Anne-Marie said, “that the climate and nature communities understand each other better and that we join forces for nature.”
This achieves a shift to a wilder world, one conversation at a time.
Jeroen’s carcass illustration displayed in a nature reserve in the Netherlands. ARK Rewilding Netherlands aims to make death completely normal again by allowing large animals that have died in their own habitat to remain where they are. Jeroen’s illustrations, here used in the field, help to cover a topic that is misunderstood by showing how rich cadaver fauna is and that it is part of the circle of life. Credits: ARK Netherlands
Impact across the movement
The ripple effects of Jeroen’s work are impressive. In the words of Isabella Tree, the book acts as a desperately needed shot in the arm for environmental restoration across Europe and beyond. And the inspiration Jeroen has had on many people was palpable in the meeting! Hannah Bullock from Rewilding Britain shared how they collaborated with him to create an illustration on the uplands. They turned it into a video, and four years later, it remains their most-watched video on YouTube.
As one participant put it:
“[Jeroen’s] work goes far beyond illustrating a single process— [He] combines multiple processes and ecological actions into one frame to show an entire ecosystem functioning, something a photograph could never do.” – Naitik Patel
Another praised the emotional impact:
“This is so beautiful! Holistic views, deep relations become visible.” – Elisabeth Zeppetzauer from Psitamex A.C.
The deep emotional connection Jeroen has with his local nature is also what makes these illustrations so special and unique. While Jeroen’s illustrations are mainly focused on the European continent, his global contribution is very relevant: he offers a new way of looking at nature and invites other illustrators to really get to know their local nature to be in the best position to illustrate it.
Big changes happen when human hearts are moved
Science can explain why ecosystems matter, illustrations can make us see it and feel it.
This is where the power of illustration lies: in its ability to move people, to spark curiosity, to connect us with our creativity. To bring the magic to the science. Just like in the drawing “Past, present, and future of European nature,” a favorite amongst the Global Rewilding Alliance’s team.
“The helix representing the past, present, and future is also a beautiful representation of our global movement; who are weaving together people and returning nature across many continents. It is a visual reminder that we are all part of the web of life, the helix – our DNA – that is stitched together with nature.” – May Scott, Deputy Director of Communications, Global Rewilding Alliance
Past, present and future of European nature. Credits: Jeroen Helmer, ARK Netherlands.
Jeroen’s work has directly inspired countless people, not just to use his illustrations but also to create their own, building invaluable ripple effects.
If you’re working to communicate rewilding, consider harnessing the power of illustration to make the important invisible work of nature and wildlife visible and connect with audiences from all walks of life. Many of Jeroen’s illustrations can be downloaded for free (for non-commercial use).
A special invitation for illustrators:
If you’re an illustrator and would like to get more involved in the rewilding movement, you can send your portfolio to Jeroen: . Please make sure the following are present: the basics of drawing are visible, a thorough understanding of ecological relationships, freedom to make attractive arrangements and knowledge of the species involved.
Thank you Jeroen and Anne-Marie for joining us in this conversation and for all you’ve contributed to the rewilding movement.
Our next Global Rewilding Communicators Network will be in November on the power of storytelling. Make sure you’re on our list to be kept in touch!
Learn more about the book and get your copy of Wildernis in Eigen Land, Lemniscaat Publishers.
Lemniscaat Publishers is known for its richly illustrated books for people aged 8 to 88.
Are you interested in a translation of the book into your native language and do you know a publisher in your country who would be interested in publishing this book, which has been a great success in the Netherlands? Please contact Anne-Marie Pronk: .
Wild about Butterflies. Making the invisible visible. Credits: Jeroen Helmer, ARK Netherlands
Key Takeaways – 5 Communication Tools for Rewilders
1 – Make the Invisible Visible
Use visuals to reveal hidden ecological processes (soil life, keystone roles, webs of interaction) that words or photos alone can’t capture.
2 – Blend Art with Science
Strategic design choices and illustration help communicate complexity, guide attention, and ensure clarity without losing depth.
3 – Universal Language, Universal Reach
One image can resonate across generations and sectors — from children’s classrooms to government reports — building a shared understanding.
4 – Shift Perceptions & Policies
Illustrations can normalize new ideas (e.g., leaving dead wood in forests), influencing public opinion and even national management frameworks. Visuals in campaigns are underestimated — use them!
5 – Move Hearts as Well as Minds
Science explains why ecosystems matter, but illustrations spark curiosity, emotion, and creativity — inspiring ripple effects across the movement and beyond.
You can watch the replay of the session here.