Rewilding efforts are driving wildlife recovery in Portugal’s Gran Coa Valley region. The region’s first wildlife observatory has just opened, offering visitors an exciting window into wildlife recovery and supporting the development of nature-based tourism.
Pedro Pires
An exciting step
Want to take a stunning photo of a majestic black stork or a dazzling European bee-eater? Want to get up close and personal with an otter or a European pond turtle? Wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers will be happy to hear that Rewilding Portugal has just opened its first wildlife viewing area in Portugal. Paul de Toirões Wildlife Reservelie in Grand Koa Valley Rewilding landscape between Almeida and Sabugal.
The opening of the shelter is great news for the local nature-based economy, and more shelters will be built in Paul de Toirões and across the country. Rewilding Portugal other Rewilding SiteAll of these will be accessible through members-only services Wild Cocoa Network – Flourish Nature-based business networks Set up by Rewilding Portugal in the Grand Coa Valley in early 2021. A portion of each hidden booking fee will go to support the ongoing rewilding work.
“This is an exciting step forward for rewilding and nature-based tourism in the region,” said Pedro Prata, Portugal Rewilding Team Leader. “This and the next few events will allow visitors to see first-hand the continued return of wildlife supported by our rewilding efforts. They will help people reconnect with the wild, promote rewilding, and enable local businesses and communities to benefit economically from nature restoration.”
Fernando Roman
Where wildlife thrives
Portugal’s rewilding team is establishing more and more rewilding sites in the Grand Coa Valley because they Develop 120,000 hectares of wildlife corridors Connecting the Malcata Mountains in the south to the larger Douro Valley in the north. As ecological stepping stones, these sites enhance landscape connectivity. They also serve as refuges where a variety of wildlife species can recover and thrive.
Portugal works to restore Paul de Toirões, a site once riddled with mines Starting in 2022Many of the excavated areas here have been filled with water, creating a network of lagoons, canals and ponds that are home to a wide range of resident and migratory wildlife. Acquiring and protecting the site means that the wildlife here is no longer disturbed by human hunting and fishing or livestock, meaning that birds and mammals have become less elusive and easier to see.
Juan Carlos Munoz Robredo/Rewilding Europe
Breathtaking scenery
The Paul de Toirões hideaway offers unobstructed views of the lagoon and many birds from the Grand Coa Valley and beyond roost or rest here.
“The new nests, mainly for waterbird species, will be open during the last migration of the summer,” explains Pedro Plata. “We are seeing more and more bird species using the Paulo de Tuvares Oasis as a place to recharge during their migration.”
“Paul de Toirões is a very interesting and peaceful rewilding site,” adds Fernando Romão, owner of a wildlife watching company Portugal Wildlifea company of the Wild Côa Network, will manage the hide under an agreement signed with Rewilding Portugal. “The hide offers visitors the opportunity to observe and photograph birds in comfort, accompanied by one of our guides and without disturbance. The main species include black storks, marsh harriers and kingfishers, and we have also seen otters passing through.”
Xavi Rene
expand
Paul de Toirões’ hides were purchased by Rewilding Portugal, with funds provided by Reshaping European capitalthe corporate lender for Rewilding Europe. Rewilding Europe Capital provides commercial loans and repayable grants to businesses in and around the Rewilding Europe portfolio Restoring the natural landscapeThe goal is to scale up the impact of rewilding, support nature-based economic development, and pilot new business approaches that benefit both nature and people.
The hideaway was also designed and built by Rewilding Portugal, with consultation from Italian wildlife tourism company SKUA Natural GroupRewilding Europe has partnered with Technology Partnerships.
In the future, Paul de Toirões plans to build four more hides. When the entire network of hides is operational by summer 2025, it will offer both multi-day and multi-night hideaway experiences. The knowledge and expertise gained from building and managing these hides will be invaluable as Rewilding Portugal seeks to develop wildlife viewing at other rewilding sites in the Grand Coa Valley. All hides will be rented out to members of the Wild Coa Valley network, such as Rewilding Portugal, with profits going towards developing more hides and nature tourism infrastructure in the landscape.
Daniel Allen
The bigger picture
Today, more people than ever are looking to connect with Europe’s wild nature. Europe may not yet have the reputation of a top wildlife viewing destination like Africa, but it is home to a wide variety of exciting and iconic animals – from bears, bison and beavers to lynx, wolves and vultures. As populations of these species continue to recover across Europe, wildlife viewing opportunities – and the chance to set up wildlife viewing hides – are booming.
Wildlife viewing hideaways are available Contributes to rewilding in many waysEarlier this year, Rewilding Europe published a Best Practices Handbook Providing guidance to businesses and initiatives that want to develop and operate these projects.
Nalek de Weed
Book your Paul de Toirões experience
The first Paul de Toirões wildlife viewing area is now open for bookings for groups of 1 to 6 people. Bookings can be made via Rewilding Portugal or Portugal WildlifeThe Wildlife Portugal website provides more information on hide experiences and locations, recommended clothing, equipment and local accommodation, equipment rental, and outlines the rules for hide use.
Helping nature-based businesses
If you are a European entrepreneur looking to improve wild nature, Rewilding Europe Capital may be able to help you achieve your ambitions. For more information, contact Rewilding Europe’s conservation finance experts Daniel Verissimo.
Valuable support
Portugal’s rewilding efforts in the Grand Coa Valley have been Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Project.
Rewilding Europe’s work on rewilding landscapes is supported by a number of highly valued partners. We would especially like to thank those who provide core funding – especially Ecological Restoration Fundthis Netherlands Postcode Lottery, WWF Netherlandsand ArcadiaTheir long-term support has been critical in enabling us to achieve and scale up our rewilding impact.
