European Rewilding Network
ERN2005

Vale das Lobas

Nature & Health Sanctuary

Vale das Lobas is located on the edge of the Greater Côa Valley rewilding area, close to the Serra da Estrela National Park, which is also a member of the ERN.
Vale das Lobas
This community-driven initiative will repurpose abandoned land and create a haven for wildlife and nature.
Vale das Lobas
Developmental work at the resort, which integrates ancestral traditions with innovation, is focused on sustainable construction, regenerative farming, natural medicine, artisanal crafts and the protection and rewilding of natural ecosystems.
Vale das Lobas
The iconic 19th century olive mill in the Coa Valley is being transformed into a vibrant restaurant.
Vale das Lobas
The Nature Spa Hotel is a lost treasure of the ancient world with healing waters and aura of antiquity which provide the perfect environment for relaxation, regeneration and inspiration.
Vale das Lobas

Vale das Lobas (“Valley of the She-Wolf”) is a nature-based tourism resort focused on wellbeing, discovery and biodiversity that is scheduled to open in 2021. At the end of 2019, Vale das Lobas received a loan of 600,000 euros from Rewilding Europe Capital – Rewilding Europe’s enterprise loan facility – to contribute to its development.

Vale das Lobas is a purpose driven social enterprise, established in 2012, that holds as its vision: A sustainable, peaceful and healthy world. The eco-resort, located in the interior of Portugal, will provide respite, recreation and renewal experiences within nature, in the areas of Well-Being, Nature Discovery and Biodiversity.

It is a rural regeneration initiative, to restore health, revitalise community and regenerate ecology. The interventions have been carefully designed to integrate ancestral traditions with innovation, using sustainable construction, regenerative farming, natural medicine, artisan crafts and the rewilding and protection of natural eco-systems. It will provide courses and programs for transformation, inspiration, education and healing.

The Vale das Lobas program is transforming the valley into a Biodiversity Park, a special area for biodiversity, rewilding and nature discovery. With minimum intervention and maximum protection, nature is regenerating and rebalancing herself. The best indicators of ecological regeneration are improving soil quality and increasing biodiversity. Recovering biodiversity leads to more birds, insects, wild animals, an increasing range of plant life, and the soil becoming richer in micro-organisms, providing the basis for entire eco-system recovery.

The Biodiversity Park is a community based initiative, involving local municipalities, landowners, and local, national and international organisations, including Rewilding Europe.

Specification Description Achievements Exchange
Project: Vale das Lobas
Region: Portugal, Guarda district
Type of project: Fostering the development of nature based economies, Increasing interest in the wild through communications, Supporting wildlife comeback
Aim and vision: Vale das Lobas is focused on reaching long-term sustainable goals with a positive impact on people, community and planet. Visitors will have transformational experiences that improve their sense of well-being. Local community will be revitalized, with employment, training, the valuing of traditional skills and practices, and the return of migrants to seek work in their home community.
Nature will be regenerated by Agro-Ecology and rewilding techniques and become more resilient against wildfires.
Uniqueness of the project: Rewilding of the land and increasing biodiversity will be done with a bottom-up approach. Bottom-up means we will start with improving the soil and it means it will be a community-driven project. Vale das Lobas will show how tourism, farming, housing and healing can be done to the benefit of nature.
Other activities: Community involved, Eco tourism, Education, Recreational activities
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on: Regeneration of biodiversity, revitalization of community, restoration of health. Contributing and participating within a network of projects that are consciously restoring health to people, nature and planet.

Results so far: Construction of nature tourism facilities well underway. Grand Opening Spring 2021.
Hectares of land under the Protocol of Regeneration.
Extension of the area in which production forests change into non-managed forests (ha) – on Vale das Lobas site and in Biodiversity Park. Extension of the area in which natural mosaics and transition between forests and grassland on Vale das Lobas site and in Biodiversity Park. Extension of area without hunting, poaching and/or poisoning on Vale das Lobas site and in Biodiversity Park
Inspirational value: We are entering an era where new thinking is required. We have had to revise and transform our own thinking to meet the challenges and overcome the obstacles that were presented. The key to our success is integrated awareness. This is a state of being non-judgmental, and realizing that all parties have a part to play.
Experience you would like to share: The use of micro-dilutions in regenerating landscapes
Experience you would like to gain: More practical knowledge about ground water and forest management
Map
Country
Portugal
Start year
2012
Size (ha)
60
Area type
Forest-grassland mosaic, Mediterranean vegetation, Mountainous
Natural process
Other
Flagship species
Wolf
Vale das Lobas
Member of:
Rewilding Europe Capital
Vale das Lobas is located on the edge of the Greater Côa Valley rewilding area, close to the Serra da Estrela National Park, which is also a member of the ERN.
Vale das Lobas
This community-driven initiative will repurpose abandoned land and create a haven for wildlife and nature.
Vale das Lobas
Developmental work at the resort, which integrates ancestral traditions with innovation, is focused on sustainable construction, regenerative farming, natural medicine, artisanal crafts and the protection and rewilding of natural ecosystems.
Vale das Lobas
The iconic 19th century olive mill in the Coa Valley is being transformed into a vibrant restaurant.
Vale das Lobas
The Nature Spa Hotel is a lost treasure of the ancient world with healing waters and aura of antiquity which provide the perfect environment for relaxation, regeneration and inspiration.
Vale das Lobas

Vale das Lobas (“Valley of the She-Wolf”) is a nature-based tourism resort focused on wellbeing, discovery and biodiversity that is scheduled to open in 2021. At the end of 2019, Vale das Lobas received a loan of 600,000 euros from Rewilding Europe Capital – Rewilding Europe’s enterprise loan facility – to contribute to its development.

Vale das Lobas is a purpose driven social enterprise, established in 2012, that holds as its vision: A sustainable, peaceful and healthy world. The eco-resort, located in the interior of Portugal, will provide respite, recreation and renewal experiences within nature, in the areas of Well-Being, Nature Discovery and Biodiversity.

It is a rural regeneration initiative, to restore health, revitalise community and regenerate ecology. The interventions have been carefully designed to integrate ancestral traditions with innovation, using sustainable construction, regenerative farming, natural medicine, artisan crafts and the rewilding and protection of natural eco-systems. It will provide courses and programs for transformation, inspiration, education and healing.

The Vale das Lobas program is transforming the valley into a Biodiversity Park, a special area for biodiversity, rewilding and nature discovery. With minimum intervention and maximum protection, nature is regenerating and rebalancing herself. The best indicators of ecological regeneration are improving soil quality and increasing biodiversity. Recovering biodiversity leads to more birds, insects, wild animals, an increasing range of plant life, and the soil becoming richer in micro-organisms, providing the basis for entire eco-system recovery.

The Biodiversity Park is a community based initiative, involving local municipalities, landowners, and local, national and international organisations, including Rewilding Europe.

Map
Country
Portugal
Start year
2012
Size (ha)
60
Area type
Forest-grassland mosaic, Mediterranean vegetation, Mountainous
Natural process
Other
Flagship species
Wolf
Specification
Project: Vale das Lobas
Region: Portugal, Guarda district
Description
Type of project: Fostering the development of nature based economies, Increasing interest in the wild through communications, Supporting wildlife comeback
Aim and vision: Vale das Lobas is focused on reaching long-term sustainable goals with a positive impact on people, community and planet. Visitors will have transformational experiences that improve their sense of well-being. Local community will be revitalized, with employment, training, the valuing of traditional skills and practices, and the return of migrants to seek work in their home community.
Nature will be regenerated by Agro-Ecology and rewilding techniques and become more resilient against wildfires.
Uniqueness of the project: Rewilding of the land and increasing biodiversity will be done with a bottom-up approach. Bottom-up means we will start with improving the soil and it means it will be a community-driven project. Vale das Lobas will show how tourism, farming, housing and healing can be done to the benefit of nature.
Other activities: Community involved, Eco tourism, Education, Recreational activities
Achievements
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on: Regeneration of biodiversity, revitalization of community, restoration of health. Contributing and participating within a network of projects that are consciously restoring health to people, nature and planet.

Results so far: Construction of nature tourism facilities well underway. Grand Opening Spring 2021.
Hectares of land under the Protocol of Regeneration.
Extension of the area in which production forests change into non-managed forests (ha) – on Vale das Lobas site and in Biodiversity Park. Extension of the area in which natural mosaics and transition between forests and grassland on Vale das Lobas site and in Biodiversity Park. Extension of area without hunting, poaching and/or poisoning on Vale das Lobas site and in Biodiversity Park
Exchange
Inspirational value: We are entering an era where new thinking is required. We have had to revise and transform our own thinking to meet the challenges and overcome the obstacles that were presented. The key to our success is integrated awareness. This is a state of being non-judgmental, and realizing that all parties have a part to play.
Experience you would like to share: The use of micro-dilutions in regenerating landscapes
Experience you would like to gain: More practical knowledge about ground water and forest management
Vale das Lobas
Member of:
Rewilding Europe Capital
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