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

The Valle del Quípar is a reflection of the challenges facing southern Spain—a region where the land has suffered decades of unsustainable farming, damaging water sources, and rising temperatures. Once a life-giving valley, the Quípar now struggles under the weight of erosion, desertification, and biodiversity loss. But this isn’t just a story of decline—it’s a story of hope, action, and community-driven change.

Map of the Valley

 

Why it matters
The Quípar River, running through one of Europe’s driest areas, was once the lifeline of this 30,000-hectare watershed. Generations of farmers thrived here, growing food and cultivating a connection to the land. Today, water scarcity and depleted soil have left the valley and its people in crisis. This isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a human one. When the land suffers, so do the communities that depend on it.

 

What are we doing

This isn’t a quick fix. It’s a bold, long-term effort to heal the land and the lives it supports. At the center of this movement is La Junquera, a 1,100-hectare farm leading by example in regenerative agriculture. Since 2015, La Junquera has shown how restoring ecosystems can also restore livelihoods. It’s a place where farmers, scientists, and students come together to learn, innovate, and collaborate.


The restoration of Valle del Quípar focuses on three things:

  • Water: improving natural water flows to restore wetlands, streams, and the river itself.
  • Soil: bringing life back to degraded soil, which is essential for growing food and storing carbon.
  • Community: supporting local farmers and businesses in transitioning to sustainable practices that benefit both people and the planet.


What’s different about this project
This is about more than just planting trees or fixing one part of the problem. We’re working with the “4 Returns Framework” from Commonland, an approach that looks at the big picture. It’s about bringing back natural balance, creating jobs, and building hope for future generations. It’s a model that can inspire other regions facing similar challenges, not just in Spain but across the Mediterranean and beyond.

 


 

The following video shows vegetable farms in the middle of the desertic landscape

 

How you can help

This is a call to action for anyone who believes in the power of nature and community to create change. Whether it’s donating to the cause, partnering with us, or simply spreading the word, you can help turn the Valle del Quípar into a place of abundance once again.
This valley has a future. Together, we can make it happen.

 


 

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