Celebrating the World Rewilding Day, Rewilding Spain’s work in the Iberian Highlands is consolidating as a benchmark for the rewilding movement with national and international reach.
World Rewilding Day is celebrated every 20 March all around the world. This year’s theme is #RewildingTogether and focuses on the power of partnership in rewilding to create positive impacts on nature and people’s real lives.
Since the launch of the Iberian Highlands initiative in late 2022, the rewilding efforts in the landscape have brought a number of achievements that consolidate this area as a benchmark for the nature recovery movement in Spain.
Thanks to the joint work with public administrations, local associations, donors, professionals, media, volunteers, scientists, protected natural areas, local businesses and entrepreneurs, and the local population, rewilding is making progress in the Iberian Highlands with actions and achievements that have a real impact in the landscape, benefitting both nature and people:
– Employment: 19 jobs created.
– Agreements with thirteen local companies, associations and entrepreneurs woking in ecotourism, environmental education and nature-based activities entrepreneurship.
– Management of 20,000 hectares of pastures with large herbivores (Serrano horses, Pottoka horses and Przewalski’s horses, and tauros) to boost the healthy regeneration of the mountains, increasing biodiversity and contributing to wildfires prevention.
– Reintroduction of 21 black vultures in collaboration with the Alto Tajo Natural Park and the Regional Ministry of Sustainable Development of Castilla-La Mancha region.
– Pioneering agreement in Castilla-La Mancha region for the conservation of an old-growth forest in Vega del Codorno, with an innovative model that seeks to compensate the loss of profits for ceasing logging through trading carbon absorption rights.
– Launch of Rewilding Educa environmental education programme, which was attended by more than 400 children in 2024.
– Volunteering programme, with the participation of around thirty volunteers since its launch in 2024.
– Positive visibility for the Iberian Highlands in leading ecotourism, education and nature events throughout Spain.
– Support and promotion of local events that highlight the natural values and traditions of the landscape.
– Three specialised training courses were held targeting ecotourism entrepreneurs and professionals.
– 9 million impacts in local, regional, national and international media on the topic of rewilding.
Benefits for nature and for people
By favouring the recovery of wild nature, rewilding can contribute to mitigating climate change and increasing biodiversity, as well as offering opportunities for people and revitalizing rural areas through the creation of new jobs and fostering nature-based businesses.
With these objectives, the Iberian Highlands rewilding initiative has become a reference that showcases the benefits that rewilding can bring for both nature and people, thus facilitating the expansion of the rewilding movement at different scales in other territories.
Furthermore, networking with Rewilding Europe and other initiatives across the continent makes it possible to share knowledge and experiences that strengthen the movement and multiply its positive impact.
