Iberian Highlands
Rewilding the Southern Iberian Chain in Spain
Rewilding Spain is a non-profit organisation created with the main purpose of promoting the recovery of nature and wildlife in Spain, as well as the conservation of nature and landscape, based on natural processes and for the benefit of society.
Spanish society is shifting towards a more positive attitude towards nature, wildlife and forests. The Foundation wants to be part of this movement which is developing a new approach to conservation in Europe and which, in turn, opens up new opportunities and challenges for nature and people.
Complemented by its extremely low human population, the area’s diverse habitats are home to many endangered species. The rocky slopes that oversee the river canyons boast thriving populations of raptors such as golden eagle, Bonelli’s eagle, peregrine falcon, Egyptian vulture, griffon vulture and eagle owl. Ungulates living in the area are roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, wild boar, mouflon and small groups of Iberian ibex. The Iberian wolf was completely eradicated at the beginning of the 20th century. Although some individuals have been detected in the past, there is no proof yet of permanent wolf packs residing in the area. The Iberian lynx also disappeared in the last century, when the rabbit population crashed due to various introduced diseases and no sightings have been recorded in the recent past. The Iberian Chain was the last place in Mediterranean Spain where the brown bear became extinct (in the 19th century).
Rewilding Spain seeks to take greater account of the importance of ecological processes in the management of natural areas and to provide nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, more resilient to external threats and pressures such as climate change. It aims to foster nature-based economies and generate new business and employment opportunities for rural society by promoting competitive land use for landowners and local communities, complementing existing land uses. It will also carry out actions aimed at raising awareness of the concept of rewilding and disseminating its interest in society
The biogeographical position of the Iberian Highlands represents a crossroads of climates and habitats from the Mediterranean, Euro-Siberian and Euro-Turkestanian regions, giving it a great floristic diversity (about 20% of the total Iberian flora species can be found here).
In the medium-term, we expect all four species of vultures will be breeding in Iberian Highlands, the Iberian wolf and Iberian lynx will have re-occupied the area and the reintroduction of brown bear will be under discussion, if not in execution. Natural grazing for biodiversity, carbon storage and forest prevention will be a mainstream climate adaptation measure, with the use of wild or semi-wild horses, wild asses, bovines and bison. A network of protected forests will be in place and the main financing mechanism will be the rewilding (carbon) credits, as opportunity to scale up the initial efforts of protection of old-growth forests. Most of weirs and small, obsolete dams in the area will not exist anymore and the river connectivity will be much improved.
The spectacular landscape and wildlife of Iberian Highlands will turn the area into one of Europe’s most iconic natural landscapes. It will become a prime example of how rural depopulation and building nature-based enterprise can be a long-term investment for protection of its natural assets and the restoration of nature at a large scale. Nature-based tourism and other new business models will by then be fuelling the local economy, driving the reconnection of local communities with wild nature and wildlife in a sustainable way.
Rewilding Spain is a non-profit organisation created with the main purpose of promoting the recovery of nature and wildlife in Spain, as well as the conservation of nature and landscape, based on natural processes and for the benefit of society.
Spanish society is shifting towards a more positive attitude towards nature, wildlife and forests. The Foundation wants to be part of this movement which is developing a new approach to conservation in Europe and which, in turn, opens up new opportunities and challenges for nature and people.
Complemented by its extremely low human population, the area’s diverse habitats are home to many endangered species. The rocky slopes that oversee the river canyons boast thriving populations of raptors such as golden eagle, Bonelli’s eagle, peregrine falcon, Egyptian vulture, griffon vulture and eagle owl. Ungulates living in the area are roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, wild boar, mouflon and small groups of Iberian ibex. The Iberian wolf was completely eradicated at the beginning of the 20th century. Although some individuals have been detected in the past, there is no proof yet of permanent wolf packs residing in the area. The Iberian lynx also disappeared in the last century, when the rabbit population crashed due to various introduced diseases and no sightings have been recorded in the recent past. The Iberian Chain was the last place in Mediterranean Spain where the brown bear became extinct (in the 19th century).
Rewilding Spain seeks to take greater account of the importance of ecological processes in the management of natural areas and to provide nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, more resilient to external threats and pressures such as climate change. It aims to foster nature-based economies and generate new business and employment opportunities for rural society by promoting competitive land use for landowners and local communities, complementing existing land uses. It will also carry out actions aimed at raising awareness of the concept of rewilding and disseminating its interest in society
The biogeographical position of the Iberian Highlands represents a crossroads of climates and habitats from the Mediterranean, Euro-Siberian and Euro-Turkestanian regions, giving it a great floristic diversity (about 20% of the total Iberian flora species can be found here).
In the medium-term, we expect all four species of vultures will be breeding in Iberian Highlands, the Iberian wolf and Iberian lynx will have re-occupied the area and the reintroduction of brown bear will be under discussion, if not in execution. Natural grazing for biodiversity, carbon storage and forest prevention will be a mainstream climate adaptation measure, with the use of wild or semi-wild horses, wild asses, bovines and bison. A network of protected forests will be in place and the main financing mechanism will be the rewilding (carbon) credits, as opportunity to scale up the initial efforts of protection of old-growth forests. Most of weirs and small, obsolete dams in the area will not exist anymore and the river connectivity will be much improved.
The spectacular landscape and wildlife of Iberian Highlands will turn the area into one of Europe’s most iconic natural landscapes. It will become a prime example of how rural depopulation and building nature-based enterprise can be a long-term investment for protection of its natural assets and the restoration of nature at a large scale. Nature-based tourism and other new business models will by then be fuelling the local economy, driving the reconnection of local communities with wild nature and wildlife in a sustainable way.