WilderCamp, a new mobile camp in Portugal’s Greater Côa Valley, offers a fully immersive rewilding experience. Showcasing the restoration of wild nature at various sites across the landscape, this unique retreat will connect guests with the valley’s breathtaking biodiversity and support the development of nature-based tourism.

With the help of Rewilding Portugal, the first landowner in Portugal’s Greater Côa Valley was recently granted a license to leave livestock carcasses in the field. This milestone moment for vulture conservation will hopefully lead to the award of many more licenses, amplifying the benefits for these iconic scavengers, local farmers, and society.

Over the past six years, Rewilding Portugal has undertaken a wide range of actions to enable the natural recovery of Iberian wolves south of the Douro River. In collaboration with local partners and supported by the European Commission, the “LIFE WolFlux” initiative has provided a strong foundation for ongoing work aimed at securing a brighter future for this iconic keystone species.

Shot by renowned Portuguese wildlife filmmaker Joao Cosme, “Wilder Côa” is a visually stunning documentary portraying nature and rewilding in Portugal’s Greater Côa Valley. A recent premiere in Lisbon attracted an audience of more than 200 guests, helping the Rewilding Portugal team raise the profile of the landscape and their ongoing efforts.

A herd of eight European bison have just arrived at the Herdade do Vale Feitoso Estate in Portugal. Managed in cooperation with the Rewilding Portugal team, they will enhance carbon sequestration, boost biodiversity, and support the growth of nature-based tourism.

The Wild Côa Network was established by the Rewilding Portugal team in 2021 to drive the development of nature-based enterprise in and around the Greater Côa Valley. A recent survey demonstrated the network’s beneficial impact to date, and offered insights into how this impact could be scaled up going forwards.

Starting this month, the Rewilding Portugal team are coordinating cross-border, multi-partner efforts to enhance the recovery of Iberian lynx and Iberian wolf populations south of the Douro River.

At the beginning of November, Portuguese photographer and videographer Ricardo Lourenço won three prizes at the Portuguese Rewilding Photo Contest, which is co-organised by the Rewilding Portugal team. In October, one of his images was also highly commended at the prestigious European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. We caught up with Ricardo to find out more about his life, work, and thoughts on rewilding.

Organised and managed by the Rewilding Portugal team, the “CÔA – Corridor of Arts” Festival united art, nature and culture in the Greater Côa Valley this July. Attracting thousands of visitors, the event helped the team establish and deepen connections with a wide range of stakeholders and promote the benefits of rewilding to a huge audience.

On the banks of Portugal’s Côa River, a thriving connection between people, nature and business offers new hope for the future.