Meet the team: Catarina Prata, Rewilding Lawyer

Welcome to our Meet the team series, where we introduce the people behind The Lifescape Project, giving you an insight into who we are, how we work, and why we’re passionate about Lifescape’s mission.

In this entry, we chat to Catarina Prata.

What do you do at Lifescape?

I’m a Rewilding Lawyer, specialising in rewilding projects and legal frameworks, including working on initiatives such as the Rewilding Law Hub.

What did you do before?

I was in academia, then moved to Amnesty International Portugal as a Research and Advocacy Officer. Before joining Lifescape, I was working in the legal team of a startup in the digital healthcare field. I saw the vacancy for my current role in a newspaper and I knew I had to apply.

What’s your favourite thing about working at Lifescape?

The team. We are all passion-driven professionals, with a great sense of mission. It is great to learn from my colleagues and it feels great to work with like-minded people.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I love hiking, backpacking, sailing, and tracking wildlife.

Tell us about your favourite encounter with nature

I have to go with an encounter I had with two wolves in northern Portugal. I was in my tent’s entrance, admiring a cold, snowy, and sunny winter morning, when I caught some movement in the corner of my eye. I turned and saw two wolves calmly passing by around 30 metres from me. I stood still while I watched them go. They saw me first, of course, but seemed completely calm. We acknowledged each other’s presence and they went about their day. I will never forget their gaze.

If you could be any animal, which would you be and why?

I would like to be a wolf. They are almost perfect beings. The resilience they show, the collective intelligence, and the bonds they form with their family is something that moves me. They are perhaps the most hated animal in Europe, and yet here they are, against all odds.