Uniting farmers, entrepreneurs, and communities to restore soil, water, and biodiversity in one of Europe’s driest landscapes
implementing regenerative agriculture
under direct improved management from farmers
developed within the landscape
benefitting from increased access to new markets and infrastructure
Creating a more regenerative future in the Altiplano Estepario, Spain
The Altiplano Estepario spans five districts at the intersection of Almería, Murcia and Granada, three provinces belonging to Spain’s southernmost region, Andalucía. It is a semi-arid steppe (a large area of flat unforested grassland) and transition zone between desert and Mediterranean forest.
Climate change has only intensified the see-saw between drought, heat, and torrential rains, rapidly accelerating desertification. To counter the intensifying conditions, agricultural activities including pesticide use, deep ploughing, and industrial monocultures have further damaged the ecosystem.
Remarkably, despite this decline, the Altiplano remains a landscape of immense ecological value and social resilience.
In 2015, with support from Commonland, the AlVelAl Association was established to develop a long-term vision for the Altiplano Estepario based on the 4 Returns framework.
Coming together from across five districts and three provinces, local farmers, conservationists, government, and entrepreneurs began integrating ecological restoration with community empowerment and regenerative enterprise.
The vision outlines three interdependent zones:
If we want to keep farming into the future, it needs to be done regeneratively. Every year we grow more and better: what we’re doing is the future of agriculture.
Maikel Lara, Farmer
By 2034, the Altiplano Estepario is a regenerative landscape where nature and agriculture are in balance. An ecological corridor connects the region’s mountain ranges. Farms with both natural and productive lands form a mosaic of biodiversity hotspots, which act as stepping zones between natural areas. Rural abandonment is reversed as young people return and find new opportunities. The area continues to regenerate, led by a group of diverse, inspired local stakeholders.
Challenges:
Opportunities:
Regenerating a landscape’s ecological foundation by restoring and protecting native vegetation, trees, and biodiversity.
Activities
Restoring natural zones such as La Muela; facilitating restoration of natural zones on farms to implement measures to retain water, soil and to promote biodiversity, including the development of biodiversity corridors; engagement and mobilisation of farmers, community members and other stakeholders; research & development, monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
Restoring the topsoil and biodiversity, and delivering sustainable economic returns through regenerative agriculture, agroforestry and rotational grazing.
Activities
Facilitating restoration of natural zones on farms to implement measures to retain water, soil and to promote biodiversity; facilitating transition to regenerative agriculture (through workshops, pilots) to retain water and soil and to promote biodiversity; engagement and mobilisation of farmers, community members and other stakeholders; research & development; monitoring, evaluation and learning.
To deliver sustainable economic productivity with dedicated areas for value-adding activities like processing. This zone is typically concentrated in urban areas.
Activities
Processing and marketing of regenerative products from the territory, while supporting an ecosystem of regenerative businesses and entrepreneurs; engagement and mobilisation of farmers, community members and other stakeholders; research & development; monitoring, evaluation and learning.
Mediterranean forests consists of trees like oaks and evergreen shrubs such as thyme and rosemary. These forests once covered vast areas of the AlVelAl Territory.
Restoration requires planting new trees to grow in some areas: a difficult task in a semi-arid landscape.
Gullies transport water throughout the semi-arid landscape.
Planting trees to restore the slopes La Muela: an iconic mountain table top.
Slivers of Mediterranean forests border farm land.
Antonio Maurandi works to expand the natural zone on his farm Cortijo Nuevo.
Seedling on the farm of Antonio Maurandi, Spain.
Antonio Maurandi places a camera trap on his property.
More than 100,000 ha of rain-fed almonds grow in the AlVelAl Territory, creating huge potential for business-driven restoration.
Cristóbal and David, father and son, run a family-owned extra virgin olive oil brand in the territory.
Developing almonds groves managed with regenerative agriculture principles allows farms to support biodiversity, infiltrate water and harvest healthier products.
Arantza Ilarduya collecting almonds for research at Cortijo El Ciruelo.
Maikel manages a herd of seguereño sheep within an olive grove.
Ponds are a critical haven for biodiversity in the semi-arid landscape.
Swales prevent soil erosion and allow water to infiltrate into the landscape.
The contrast between management styles is stark and seen throughout the territory. Regenerative techniques are known and work, but cultural adoption is a long-term process.
Farming regenerative almonds for Almendrehesa provides farmers with a premium price.
Marina and Antonio sample almonds at office of La Almendrehesa.
A new range of regenerative products is available on the online platform AlVelAl Foods.
Producing organic honey goes hand-in-hand with restoring the Altiplano.
Workshop AlVelAl on ‘introduction on regenerative agriculture’ for farmers.
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