Large herbivores such as horses and Tauros need to live naturally in rewilding areas if they are to deliver their full ecological benefits. A collaboration between The Lifescape Project, Rewilding Europe, and Rewilding Spain has shown this is partly possible under existing European law, but that further legal changes are still essential.
In a historic step for rewilding in Spain, nine European bison have been released for the first time in the Iberian Highlands. As part of an international study, they will help unlock vital insights into how bison can restore ecosystems across Europe, while also bringing renewed hope and opportunity to the local community of El Recuenco.
For the first time in history, Przewalski’s horses have been released into a protected area of Spain’s Iberian Highlands. This milestone introduction will help shape a wilder landscape, drive nature-based tourism, and support the recovery of this iconic subspecies.
The Iberian Highlands of Spain have struggled with rural depopulation and economic decline for many years. Today, rewilding is helping communities in the landscape turn these challenges into new opportunities — creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and enabling nature to become a powerful driver of local prosperity.
Cinereous vultures have recently been released in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria and the Iberian Highlands of Spain. Their return marks an important step forward in rewilding Europe’s skies — supporting the comeback of the species in Europe, strengthening the circle of life, and delivering lasting benefits to local communities.
In the Iberian Highlands rewilding landscape in Spain, an ambitious volunteering programme is advancing rewilding efforts, equipping participants with valuable knowledge and skills, and creating passionate new advocates for nature recovery.
In 2024, a rewilding education programme saw more than 400 students from Spain’s Iberian Highlands learn more about Tauros and nature recovery in their local landscape. The highly engaging programme proved so successful it will be scaled up next year.
Rewilding Spain has signed its first agreement to protect an old-growth forest in the Iberian Highlands. A change in forest management will support natural regeneration, delivering benefits to both nature and people. With other owners of old-growth forests interested in signing similar agreements, there is significant scaling-up potential.
A herd of 16 Przewalski’s horses has just arrived in the Iberian Highlands rewilding landscape in Spain. Together with 10 horses transported to the area in May, they will soon be released to roam free across 5,700 hectares of public forest, delivering benefits for wild nature and local communities.
The vast and sparsely populated Iberian Highlands became Rewilding Europe’s tenth rewilding landscape in 2022. Enabling wild nature to recover here could transform the outlook for local communities.
