In 2024, more than 400 students from Spain’s Iberian Highlands learned more about Tauros and natural restoration in the local landscape during a rewilding education program. The highly engaging program has proven so successful that it will be expanded next year.
Rewilding Spain
Create a deeper connection with nature
Inspire and help young people join The booming rewilding movement vital to the future health of the planet. Connecting children with nature is not only good for their health and development, but also helps to create a generation of ecologically aware people who value and understand the importance of protecting and restoring natural habitats and are willing to participate in nature restoration. Build engagement Working with people of all ages is a core component of all rewilding efforts.
The Rewilding Educa program was launched in 2017 to encourage and help children develop a deeper connection with the stunning wild nature on their doorstep, and to educate them about rewilding and its benefits. iberian highlands Earlier this year, Spain rewilded its landscapes. Supervised by committee members Rewilding Spain team and working with local NGOs Mikrizha Associationa program that engaged more than 400 students from Iberian Highlands elementary and middle schools on field trips and classroom activities focused on Taurus and other large herbivores.
Rewilding Spain
Taurus takes center stage
As the focus species of the program, Taurus is not a species but a mixture of cattle breeds carefully selected to create an adaptable animal that is adapted to life in the wild. through their natural grazingthese iconic and impressive animals help enhance biodiversity and Reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire outbreaksand their presence in the landscape can also support nature-based economic development.
To date, the Rewilding Spain team has Two groups of Taurus were released Located in the Iberian Highlands, one of them is in Frias de Albarracín, in the department of Teruel, and the other in Massarete, in the department of Guadalajara. This is the first herd of golden bulls to arrive in Spain. Through the Rewilding Education program, students in the Iberian Highlands have the opportunity to see these striking herbivores and witness their impact firsthand.
Rewilding Spain
A series of engaging activities
A field trip to Taurus was carried out by the Micorriza association, an organization that brings together young professionals from the landscape and works to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the Iberian highlands. During these visits, students explore the landscape while participating in hands-on and interactive activities to learn about natural processes and concepts such as wildfires, food webs, and the importance of enhancing wild nature.
These field trips are supplemented by classroom workshops that combine rewilding education with robotics. Students took coding classes and developed technical skills that allowed them to recreate the habitat and behavior of the Taurus using robots built out of Lego bricks. This innovative approach sparks curiosity and connects students to nature in a modern and creative way, demonstrating that technology can support a deeper understanding of ecological processes.
“These classroom activities are really fun and everyone has a great time,” said a teacher at a local school in Thera Ministra. “The students learned a lot about robotics and became more aware of the importance of wildlife and nature restoration.”
This dynamic combination of outdoor exploration and classroom innovation ensures students gain a comprehensive and memorable understanding of rewilding and its benefits. In October, more than 300 students and teachers attended the closing event of the Rewilding Education 2024 program in Molina, Aragon.
Rewilding Spain
Expand scale
Following the success of the first year of the Rewilding Educa programme, the Rewilding Spain team is already looking to the future. In 2025, the program will expand beyond the regions of Alto Tajo and Sierra de Albarracín to also include the region of Serranía de Cuenca, where local partners will once again be involved in field missions. this Mikrizha Association Their collaboration will be repeated in the Alto Tajo area, while la malesa zoological park and Stipa and Azela The ship will lead a visit to the Albarracín and Cuenca Mountains regions.
Rewilding Spain
valuable support
Our work to rebuild Europe Rewilding the landscape Backed by a wide range of high-value partners. We would like to pay special thanks to those who provided core funding – in particular Ecological Restoration Fundthis Dutch Postcode Lottery, WWF Netherlandsand Arcadia. Their long-term support plays a vital role in enabling us to achieve and expand our rewilding impact.
The program is also made possible by the valuable contributions of private donors, whose support helps create innovative educational experiences. These experiences not only inspire the next generation of rewilders, but also strengthen the connection between local communities and the landscapes they inhabit.
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