In 2025, we started with our latest project to restore 10.9 hectares of deforested mountain range into a Pyrenees conifer and mixed forest. This restoration project is situated in the southern part of the Pyrénées-Orientales in France, only 4 kilometers from Mount Canigou, at an altitude of 1200 meters. Historically, part of this land served as a summer pasture for transhumance. Until the 1970s, nearly all members of a family decamped to higher mountains with their cows or sheep, living in rudimentary stone cabins for the summer grazing season. Thanks to the enormous soil diversity, ranging from sandy loam to silty sand soils, materials inherited from gneiss to intact granite, and a small, narrow river, the land supports a diverse range of biotopes.
The Pyrenees conifer and mixed forests is an ecoregion in southwestern Europe. It extends along the Pyrenees mountains which run east and west along the border between France and Spain. It stretches from the lower slopes all the way to the highest peaks, marking the transition between the Mediterranean climate to the south and east, and the more humid and temperate forests of Western Europe to the north and west. Due to its diverse elevation and climate, this ecoregion is home to a rich variety of plant communities and species. In fact, there are around 3500 native plant species, including 200 that are endemic to the region. However, only 10% of this ecoregion is designated as protected areas, while just 1% of the unprotected land still boasts natural forest cover.
With the expertise of esteemed French and Spanish ecologists, we are working on identifying the plant species that are currently missing and are likely to thrive once reintroduced. This selection will aim to enhance biodiversity and restore the ecological balance. We are currently developing a restoration plan to reintroduce both common and endangered plant species, including a variety of trees and shrubs. Check back soon for the list of plants we aim to reintroduce.
