Climate change is increasing the risk of catastrophic wildfire outbreaks in Mediterranean regions. A new study, based on the Greater Côa Valley in Portugal, shows that adopting a holistic approach to landscape management could be the most effective way of preventing such outbreaks, with rewilding playing a key role.

Gonçalo Ferreira, a student at ISCAP in Porto, has completed his bachelor’s degree with a thesis dedicated to the impacts of the Wild Côa Network project on the socio-economic development of the Greater Côa Valley, namely through its value-added tourist attraction. The conclusions show a positive and noticeable impact with the capacity to grow even more in the near future. The full article can now be consulted.

In 2023, Rewilding Portugal once again opened its volunteer fire monitoring programme in Ermo das Águias rewilding area in Pinhel for three months, welcoming several dozen volunteers during this period in yet another successful edition.

As Rewilding Europe’s enterprise loan facility, Rewilding Europe Capital has supported the growth of European nature-based businesses since 2014. A new strategy and set of targets will see this support scaled up through till 2030, amplifying the benefits for people and nature.

Young people play a key role in the future of rewilding around the world, and in Europe it was with this in mind that the European Young Rewilders was created, also with a team working and growing directly from Portugal.

After a successful first edition with the ‘Perto’ model, Wildling Shoes and Rewilding Portugal continue to collaborate with livestock farmers to promote coexistence with the Iberian wolf and the use of preventative measures with the new ‘Atento’ shoe model, produced with wool from producers in the Greater Côa Valley.

Rewilding efforts are now supporting wildlife comeback in Portugal’s Greater Côa Valley. The first of a network of wildlife watching hides has just opened in the landscape, providing visitors with an exciting window onto this recovery and supporting the development of nature-based tourism.

Located in Trancoso, Mercearia do Fradinho is one of Rewilding Portugal’s strategic partners and a member of the Wild Côa Network. It has already provided catering services for several of the organisation’s events and is a supplier of extremely high-quality local products that circulate throughout the territory, which are also the ones guiding principles in our work.

According to the Red Book of Mammals, the wildcat is Endangered in Portugal and it is estimated that there are less than 100 adult individuals, and this is the first confirmed record for the Greater Côa Valley, outside the Serra da Malcata, in more than 30 years, although there have been some sporadic unconfirmed observations. Habitat loss and hybridisation with domestic cats are its biggest conservation problems. In parts of Europe such as Scotland, 88 per cent of wildcats have domestic cat genes. We are losing the genetic uniqueness of this species and urgent action is needed to conserve this unique animal!

Michèle Trotta was one of the seven winners of the competition for international artists, who were then selected to develop a piece in natural materials in the Greater Côa Valley as part of the CÔA – Corridor of Arts festival. In an interview, she talks about her work and her experience in the region.