In Spain’s Iberian Highlands, Rewilding Spain and partners are restoring natural processes and reviving rural economies across an 850,000-hectare landscape of forests, steppe, and canyons. By reintroducing scavengers such as Cinereous vultures, promoting natural grazing with large herbivores, protecting old-growth forests, and preparing for the return of the Iberian lynx, the initiative is re-establishing ecological balance and biodiversity. Simultaneously, local communities are benefitting from job creation, eco-tourism training, and sustainable income linked to rewilding.
The Iberian Highlands is a sparsely populated plateau system that bridges Mediterranean and continental climates, hosting pine, oak, and juniper forests interspersed with grassland, steppe, and river canyons. Over half of its 850,000 hectares are designated Natura 2000 sites. Depopulation since the 1960s has led to natural forest regrowth, but also to loss of traditional land use, wildfire risk, and fragmented habitats. Raptors, vultures, deer, and wild boar have made strong comebacks, yet apex predators such as wolves, lynx, and bears remain absent. The project aims to restore trophic chains, natural grazing, and forest resilience while diversifying local economies through rewilding-based tourism.
Highlights
Reintroduction of Cinereous vultures (21 individuals released) and promotion of bearded vulture recolonisation.
Preparatory work underway for Iberian lynx reintroduction using non-breeding captive individuals.
Expansion of natural grazing with Tauros, wild, Serrano, and Przewalski’s horses (20,000 ha under grazing).
Creation of 14 old-growth forest reserves (2,000 ha) protected through carbon credits and compensation schemes.
30 new local jobs created; eco-tourism training delivered to entrepreneurs.
Launch of Rewilding Educa, reaching 1,000+ children annually, and a 2024 volunteering programme.
Timeline
Information not available.
About the intervention
The Iberian Highlands rewilding initiative integrates species reintroductions, natural grazing, forest conservation, and community enterprise to transform an abandoned rural region into a thriving biodiversity and nature-based economy hub. The return of vultures and the planned reintroduction of the Iberian lynx will re-establish ecological balance, while old-growth forest protection and carbon credit schemes provide sustainable funding. Education and enterprise initiatives are engaging residents, reversing depopulation, and embedding rewilding as a viable future model for the region.
Interventions focused on restoring key ecological processes (scavenging, predation, grazing and forest dynamics) across the Iberian Highlands, working with local partners and landowners in Castilla-La Mancha and Aragón.
The approach combined active reintroduction with measures to support natural recolonisation. Cinereous (black) vulture reintroduction began through the acclimatisation of individuals for several months in pre-release enclosures before release. In parallel, supplementary feeding platforms and visual lures were put in place to encourage bearded vulture recolonisation, alongside preparatory work for a future translocation of bearded vultures from the Pyrenees. To reduce key risks to scavengers, the project also promoted the use of lead-free ammunition and monitored poisoning threats. A total of 21 black vultures were reintroduced in collaboration with Alto Tajo Natural Park and the Regional Ministry of Sustainable Development of Castilla-La Mancha.
The intervention was designed in response to the lynx’s historical disappearance following rabbit declines caused by introduced diseases. An experimental release is being planned (“mapped out”), using animals considered unsuitable for captive breeding. Site selection and feasibility considerations included the current scarcity of rabbits, the presence of alternative prey (roe, fallow and red deer, and wild boar) in the proposed release area, and exploration of options to reintroduce rabbits. The intention is to scale up releases if the experimental phase proves successful, with the aim of establishing a viable, permanent population.
Natural grazing was initiated and expanded using large herbivores (including semi-wild/wild horses and tauros) to create structurally diverse vegetation, support natural regeneration and reduce wildfire risk. More than 100 large herbivores were reintroduced, and grazing was established across 20,000 hectares of pastures using Serrano horses, Pottoka horses, Przewalski’s horses and tauros.
Old-growth forest conservation was implemented through agreements with landowners to change forest management in favour of protection and natural regeneration, addressing the opportunity cost of foregone timber revenues via compensation. Mapping identified 987 hectares of old-growth forest, with surrounding buffer zones totalling 1,466 hectares. Relationships were built with key landowners, mainly in small municipalities, and agreements were signed to secure long-term protection. The first agreement was signed in Vega del Codorno, protecting 264 hectares of old-growth forest for 30 years, explicitly linked to safeguarding carbon sequestration and biodiversity values while enabling natural regeneration.
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New European Bauhaus compass
"1,2,3,2,1,2"
The transformation to the wetland mosaic is a secondary, but impactful, result of hydrological work.
It greatly enhances the scenic beauty and aesthetic value of the area.
The project ensured that marginalized groups were actively included in the planning phases.
Long-term ecological balance and climate resilience were the primary drivers.
Local communities were actively engaged in shaping the final design of the landscape.
Stakeholders from local, regional, and national governments collaborated on funding and execution.
Experts from ecology, urban planning, sociology, and economics worked together closely.
Introduction
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Key stakeholders
Rewilding Europe
Rewilding Spain
Castilla-La Mancha Regional Ministry of Sustainable Development
Alto Tajo Natural Park
Local municipalities (e.g., Vega del Codorno, Villanueva de Alcorón)
Private forest owners
Eco-tourism businesses
Educational institutions
Local communities and volunteers
Financial metrics
Funding sources
Rewilding Europe
Rewilding Spain
Castilla-La Mancha Regional Ministry of Sustainable Development
Bearded vulture recolonisation encouraged via visual lures and planned translocations.
Poisoning and lead ammunition use monitored and mitigated.
Predator restoration: Experimental Iberian lynx release designed to re-establish a top carnivore population.
Exploration of rabbit and small prey reintroductions to support long-term lynx viability.
Natural grazing: More than 100 large herbivores reintroduced; grazing by Tauros, Przewalski’s, Serrano, and Pottoka horses enhances biodiversity and fire prevention.
Grazing reopens dense post-fire forests, restoring light and acorn production.
Forest protection: Agreements with landowners secure long-term protection of old-growth forest, generating carbon credits and local income.
Forest mapping improves understanding of high-value biodiversity zones.
Hydrological restoration: River restoration (dam removal, fish ladders) improves connectivity for migratory fish and natural flow regimes.
Social
Local employment: 30 new jobs created directly through rewilding initiatives (rangers, guides, technicians).
Education and engagement: “Rewilding Educa” engages 1,000+ students annually.
Volunteering programme launched (40 participants in 2024).
12 eco-tourism and nature enterprise training courses delivered.
Community partnerships: 13 cooperation agreements signed with local eco-enterprises and associations.
Carbon compensation schemes compensate forest owners for conservation management.
Public outreach: Over 9 million media impressions across Spanish and international outlets raise awareness.
Economic
Nature-based enterprise: Expansion of eco-tourism linked to rewilding landscapes, vultures, and potential lynx viewing.
Carbon finance: Old-growth forest protection funded through carbon credit trading, creating an innovative conservation revenue model.
Eco-tourism development: Training and business incubation for local guides and hospitality providers.
Rural revitalisation: Rewilding supports the diversification of local economies previously reliant on forestry and hunting.
