Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/rewilding-spain/

Rewilding is the act of restoring land to its natural state, which includes the reintroduction of species that may have been driven out. An organization in Europe has been committed to this act, to help expand nature across the continent and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Their next stop? Mountains in Spain.

Rewilding Europe recently announced plans for its 10th project, this time in the Iberian Highlands. The effort will focus on nearly 3300 square miles in a portion of the Southern Iberian Chain, a mountain range that stretches over 300 miles from the Cantabrian to the Mediterranean regions of Spain. The organization says this area has among the lowest population densities in Europe and much of its land has been abandoned, so it’s a good target for such a project. They say the existing biodiversity and plentiful nature parks and reserves it contains also make it a good potential spot for tourism.

So, how will the “rewilding” of this area occur? The project will focus on three priorities: Restoring lost ecological processes and species in an effort to make the ecosystems fully functional, using nature to improve the socioeconomic development of the landscape, and promoting teamwork with stakeholders and communities to achieve these goals together.

Among the species to be reintroduced is the Cinereous vulture, a large raptor found throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In September, seven of the birds were released from an aviary, fitted with GPS trackers to keep an eye on their movements.

There are also efforts to attract bearded vultures back to the area through strategically placed feeding points with camera traps. The goal is to see a return of more scavenging across the landscape.

Natural grazing is a goal, as well, with a herd of tauros cattle already set loose, along with semi-wild horses. A predator that had been missing from the area may be reintroduced, too, as there are plans to bring back the Iberian lynx. The organization says such additions will help restore ecological processes and the habitat. There is hope that the overall work will also help mitigate climate change impacts.

It’s not just the landscape that may benefit, however. People are also part of the plan. The team hopes to use the project to develop more nature tourism and help community members to forge relationships as they work on the project together.

Additionally, they plan to create more resilient forest landscapes by protecting old-growth forests through incentives and to generate more value from the trees’ ability to capture carbon.

There are hopes that this could only be the beginning for Spain.

Frans Schepers, executive director of Rewilding Europe, says, “Spain has huge potential for rewilding. I hope Iberian Highlands will become an inspiring example for other organisations, municipalities and landowners in Spain to follow its approach to demonstrate the benefits that it can bring to both nature and people.”

Rewilding Europe has done similar work in Bulgaria, Portugal, Italy, Scotland, Sweden, and more. To learn more, check out their website.

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog