Upscaling plan, route-map for upscaling Spanish demo

The Spanish demonstration area is located in El Bierzo, a region in northwest Spain within the province of León, covering 307,778 hectares, of which over 80% is forested. The area is characterised by two distinct landscapes: mountainous zones dominated by forestry, livestock and abandoned mining, and valleys with intensive agriculture. Since the 1950s, rural depopulation has led to land abandonment, increasing shrubland and fire-prone forests. Key challenges include increased wildfire risk, habitat fragmentation (threatening the endangered Cantabrian brown bear) and economic decline through the loss of traditional livelihoods. Consequently, the upscaling plan aims to restore degraded landscapes, enhance biodiversity and promote sustainable rural economies through silviculture, reforestation and community engagement.

The restoration strategy targets: i) ecological resilience to restore degraded forests and shrublands to reduce wildfire risk and the expansion of brown bear corridors by planting native species (e.g., Quercus pyrenaica) and improving habitat connectivity; ii) economic revitalisation to include the promotion of chestnut plantations, ecotourism and non-timber forest products (mushrooms, honey) to support rural livelihoods; iii) climate mitigation objectives to enhance carbon sequestration through reforestation efforts and; iv) engaging local communities, policymakers and private investors in long-term land management objectives.

The plan employs a multi-stakeholder approach, combining silvicultural treatments, habitat restoration, community involvement and policy alignment. It aims at  leveraging EU and regional funding (e.g., EAFRD, LIFE Programme) and aligning with the EU Nature Restoration Law. Two upscaling scenarios were defined: i) Regional - Focused on northern Castilla y León (Zamora, León, Palencia, Burgos) to connect brown bear subpopulations and; ii) Iberian Peninsula - broader restoration across Spain and Portugal (long-term vision). Overall, the Spanish demo demonstrates that ecological restoration, economic incentives and stakeholder engagement can coexist. By upscaling these efforts, El Bierzo can serve as a model for fire-resilient landscapes, wildlife conservation and rural revitalisation across Europe.