The land stewardship (custodia del territorio) approach has become a key tool in Galicia and Northern Portugal for actively conserving, restoring, and managing shared natural spaces, riverbanks, and fluvial ecosystems that cross the border.
What is Land Stewardship?
Land stewardship refers to voluntary agreements between landowners, local communities, environmental associations, and public administrations to protect and enhance the environmental, landscape, and cultural value of specific areas. In the Galicia–Northern Portugal Euroregion, its importance is particularly high: rivers and their riparian systems do not recognize political boundaries, and activities on one side directly influence the other.
Recent Developments in Galicia
In 2025, the city of Pontevedra launched its municipal land stewardship plan within the framework of the cross-border GreenGap project. The plan has identified nine target areas, prioritizing three key projects:
- Rivers Lérez and Almofrei: removal of invasive species, strengthening of riparian forests, and restoration of pedestrian paths.
- River Gafos: environmental recovery of the dam and old mills in Cabanas.
- Junquera de Gandarela (Lourizán): environmental consolidation of the natural area.
These actions combine ecological restoration, historic heritage recovery, and community engagement, demonstrating how land stewardship can deliver tangible results.
Portuguese and Cross-Border Perspective
On the Portuguese side, land stewardship is also growing, though more unevenly. Cooperation can be organized through entities operating in border areas, fostering an integrated management model that involves:
- Local landowners and community groups
- NGOs and environmental associations
- Public administrations from both countries
Cross-border coordination helps maximize resources, share best practices, and protect ecosystems more effectively on both sides of the frontier.
Current Challenges
Key challenges include:
- Administrative coordination: overcoming legal and administrative differences between Spain and Portugal.
- Project continuity: ensuring initiatives continue beyond temporary funding.
- Active participation: genuinely involving landowners and local communities.
- Measuring outcomes: quantifying environmental recovery, biodiversity improvements, and community benefits.
Why It Matters
Land stewardship not only protects nature but also strengthens local identity, connects citizens with their environment, and enhances resilience to climate change. For residents, workers, and visitors in the Euroregion, this means cleaner rivers, healthier forests, and restored cultural heritage.
Conclusion
In 2025, land stewardship in the Galicia–Northern Portugal Euroregion is expanding and consolidating. Municipal plans, cross-border projects, and community involvement show that collaborative environmental protection is possible—creating a management model that transcends borders and delivers ecological, cultural, and social benefits.
