Project
Rewilding the Iberian Highlands

Rewilding Spain was born with the main purpose of promoting the recovery of nature and wildlife in Spain, as well as the conservation of wild landscapes based on natural processes and for the benefit of society.


The Iberian Highlands hold enormous rewilding potential. The high levels of land abandonment and one of the lowest human population densities in Europe provide opportunities to give more space back to nature. And although some key species are missing – such as the Iberian wolf – the relatively rich biodiversity is a great starting point for further growth of the tourism sector. The landscape already holds two Nature Parks, one Nature Reserve, two Micro-Reserves, nine Natural Monuments, one Ramsar site and eleven natural river reserves.

Ecological integrity will be restored through a focus on re-establishing more scavenging across the landscape, with a cinereous vulture reintroduction in development, along with actions to support the natural recolonisation of bearded vultures, and a habitat feasibility study to be carried out for the eventual release of captive-bred red kites. There are also plans to reintroduce the missing Iberian lynx back to the top of the food chain and to restore natural grazing in arid and fire-damaged areas – as well as revitalising rivers and restoring lagoons in steppe habitats. Food chains will become whole once again with natural processes reinvigorating the land in myriad ways through predation, scavenging, natural grazing and dispersal.

The Iberian Highlands rewilding landscape will also benefit socially and economically from a new vision to create more resilient forest landscapes through the protection of old-growth forests using different compensation schemes, as well as working with municipalities and businesses to create added value for the carbon-capturing power of forests.

Developing a large, multifunctional rewilded landscape takes time, and Rewilding Europe and Rewilding Spain’s vision for the area stretches beyond at least 20 years in order to bring all of the proposed actions to fruition, and create a truly resilient landscape in an ecological, economic and social sense.

With the first actions already implemented, a committed team in place, funding and a long-term strategy, the Iberian Highlands is ready to showcase how nature restoration can lead to a landscape richer in nature, more resilient to climate change, while providing myriad benefits to people.