Rewilding Spain’s sustainable forest management support service helps municipalities generate income through activities such as resin extraction. NEIL ALDRIDGE

In the decade since we have been watching the work of Rewilding Europe we have seen income generation growing in importance:

Allowing trees to grow old in healthy ecosystems can help to lock up and store huge amounts of carbon.
JUAN CARLOS MUÑOZ ROBREDO /

Rewilding forest generates revenue for communities in the Iberian Highlands

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.

The old-growth forest protected by the new agreement is popular with mushroom pickers.
SEBASTIAN URSUTA

The importance of old-growth forests

Letting forests naturally regenerate is one of the most practical, immediate, and cost-effective ways of addressing our ecological and climate emergencies. As vital ecosystems that support millions of animals and plants, mature natural forests – or old-growth forests – lock up and store huge amounts of carbon. They are more resilient to climate change and disease than young tree plantations, with their diverse mix of native species allowing them to better adapt to a far wider range of conditions. And they provide an array of other benefits to people, such as flood protection, erosion prevention, clean air and water, pollination, and support for the development of nature-based business.

Pioneering agreement

In the Iberian Highlands, Rewilding Spain is exploring opportunities with several municipalities and private landowners to protect old-growth forests, which are dotted across the rewilding landscape. In 2023, the team launched a sustainable forest management support service, to help municipalities based in the Molina-Alto Tajo, Serranía de Cuenca, and Sierra de Albarracín areas generate income through activities such as resin extraction, sustainable hunting, and mycology (mushroom picking).

In an exciting step forward, Rewilding Spain team have just signed their first agreement to preserve a 264-hectare old-growth forest in the Serranía Alta de Cuenca region, which is owned by Vega del Codorno town council and local residents. The agreement involves the creation of a reserve in which no trees will be cut for the next 30 years, allowing the forest to naturally regenerate. Hunting, grazing, and recreational use will continue in a sustainable way.

To compensate for the loss of income from timber harvesting, Rewilding Spain will pay 8,000 euros every year to the council, and assume responsibility for trading the carbon sequestration rights. If this trading generates more than 8,000 euros a year, the excess will be given to the municipality. If it generates less, the agreed sum will still be paid…

Read the whole story here.