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.
The impact of a shoe in the communities and the landscape
This collaboration between Wildling Shoes and Rewilding Portugal, now in its third year, has established a bridge between the German sustainable footwear company and the region’s livestock farmers. The first model appeared in 2023, telling a story of proximity and synergies. The wool used in the ‘Perto’ model promotes the implementation of damage prevention measures such as fencing and livestock guardian dogs, as well as animal welfare.
The launch of the ‘Perto’ model was a success and this exclusive edition sold out in just a few months.
Wool was a product that had lost its market value, to the point where many producers in the region had to keep it because they couldn’t find a way to sell it. This initiative allowed the wool to be paid at fair prices to the producers and used to shoe people all over the world.
This collaboration has generated, on average, an additional income of 500 euros/year per producer through the sale of their wool, which contributes significantly to the annual maintenance costs of their damage prevention measures.
In addition, Wildling Shoes pays for shearing services for the 11 livestock farmers involved in the project, which saves each one an average of 300 euros/year.
The growth of this partnership has been responsible for creating a job in the region, hiring a person to manage the shearing season and supporting the producers with animal welfare issues.
These positive figures and the very strong public support led Wildling Shoes to launch a new model of footwear this year. Keeping the basic idea of promoting coexistence in the southern Douro region, but with a new colour and a new name: Atento. If ‘Perto’ wanted to demonstrate proximity to local communities, wildlife and the link with our outreach work, this new model, ‘Atento’, brings again the public’s attention to this project of coexistence and circularity.
This new model is now available to order worldwide here: https://www.wildling.shoes/en/products/atento
Building coexistence
The outreach work began five years ago with livestock producers operating in the Iberian wolf’s distribution area south of the River Douro, providing support in implementing measures to prevent damage to livestock on their farms. These measures include management practices that reduce the risk of predation on livestock and the use of tools such as livestock protection dogs and the installation of electric (mobile or fixed) and metal fencing.
To date, Rewilding Portugal has delivered 108 guarding dogs and 46 fences, supporting more than 80 livestock breeders such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses.
The support for damage prevention measures was carried out as part of the LIFE WolFlux project, funded by the European Union and the Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme, and coordinated by Rewilding Portugal in partnership with Rewilding Europe, the University of Aveiro, Zoo Logical and the Transmumância e Natureza Association. The project aims to promote the ecological and socio-economic conditions necessary to support the viability of the Portuguese Iberian wolf sub-population south of the River Douro, which is currently fragmented and highly isolated from the rest of the Iberian population due to ecological and social barriers.
These shoes also have the active participation of the Tavares SA and Ecolã units.
‘Atento’, as well as “Perto”, contribute to the coexistence of humans and wildlife, allow for production chains of 150 kilometres between the origin and the final product, guarantee high animal welfare standards and fair payment to livestock farmers.
If we were already ‘close by’, now we’re also ‘paying attention’. Come and wear a pair that makes a difference and contributes to coexistence with endangered species.