Restoring Valle del Quípar: A mission to bring life back to the land

1. Introduction: a valley at a turning point

The Alto Quípar Valley, located in the northwest of the Region of Murcia, is a 30,000-hectare Mediterranean watershed that has undergone profound ecological and socio-economic changes over recent decades. Historically, its landscape supported diverse agricultural systems, small-scale farming, and natural water flows connected to springs and aquifers.

At the center of this upper valley lies La Junquera, a 1,100-hectare regenerative farm and educational hub. Since 2015, La Junquera has been a testing ground for regenerative practices adapted to semi-arid conditions. Around this experience, the Valle del Alto Quípar Restoration Project was born — an initiative that brings together land managers, researchers, educators, and local stakeholders to regenerate soils, rehydrate the landscape, and restore the socio-ecological balance of this region.

2. The challenge: degradation of land, water, and livelihoods

The Alto Quípar Valley is not facing a single problem — it is undergoing a long-term systemic breakdown caused by the way water, land, and economic activity have been managed. These issues are well documented in hydrological reports, environmental evaluations, and local field data.

Water over-extraction and loss of flow

The Quípar River, which originates in La Junquera, no longer maintains consistent flow along its course. It is not pollution that threatens the river — it is over-extraction. Springs that once sustained ecosystems and traditional irrigation are drying up. The Alto Quípar groundwater body (Masa de Agua Subterránea 070.038) is showing signs of overuse and disconnection from surface flows, confirmed by monitoring reports from IGME and CHS.

Soil erosion and sediment loss

Decades of deforestation, land abandonment, and unsustainable tillage have left slopes exposed to wind and water erosion. According to CHS studies, sediment from the upper valley clogs the downstream reservoir, and over 400 check dams were built in the area just to contain this erosion. But these technical interventions cannot solve the root causes alone.

Agricultural pressure on water and land

Over 85% of Murcia’s agriculture relies on irrigation. In the Alto Quípar, this dependence contributes to aquifer depletion and creates fragile systems that are extremely vulnerable to drought. The intensive use of synthetic fertilizers has also impacted soils and local water quality in various parts of the region.

Depopulation and rural collapse

Small farms are being abandoned or absorbed into larger operations. Young people are leaving the valley, and with them, the knowledge of how to live with and manage the land. This creates a dangerous feedback loop: degraded land becomes unprofitable, which accelerates abandonment, which in turn leads to further degradation.

Together, these dynamics are not just degrading the valley’s natural resources — they are undermining its future.

3. Vision and goals: regenerating the Alto Quípar watershed

The Valle del Alto Quípar project is a long-term initiative to regenerate the ecological function, economic viability, and social fabric of the upper watershed.
Our work is guided by the 4 Returns framework,which focuses on generating:

• Natural return: restoration of soils, water cycles, and biodiversity
• Social return: rural revitalization and community empowerment
• Economic return: viable livelihoods based on regenerative land use
• Return of inspiration: a renewed connection between people and place

4. Why this matters

The Alto Quípar is not an isolated case — it reflects broader Mediterranean dynamics of water stress, land degradation, and rural depopulation. It lies within the Segura River Basin, one of Spain’s most water-scarce regions, where demand consistently exceeds natural availability.

Yet unlike other depopulated areas, the Alto Quípar still has the conditions to change course. The groundwork is already being laid: La Junquera has proven that regenerative agriculture is possible in this climate, and the community around it is growing.

What’s needed now is the scaling of that vision — not just from farm to farm, but from plot to watershed. This means restoring ecological function across the upper valley, involving local actors, and building systems that respect environmental limits.

This is not a theoretical or symbolic project. It’s a deeply practical, place-based response to urgent challenges — one that integrates science, land management, and community.