Montado Mosaic
Designing a restoration vision for Portugal’s montado landscape.
This planning grant assessed restoration opportunities in the montado landscape of Margem Esquerda in the eastern Guadiana. The montado is a Mediterranean agro-ecosystem of high biodiversity value, but intensification and abandonment have caused habitat loss and encroachment of shrubs and forest. The project combined ecological analysis with stakeholder engagement to co-design a landscape-scale restoration plan.
Eastern Guadiana, southern Portugal
Liga para a Protecção da Natureza (LPN)
US$ 101,780
November 2019 – May 2021
250,000 ha
Mediterranean montado, shrublands, grasslands, forests
Iberian lynx, Spanish imperial eagle, black vulture
Why This Landscape Matters
Endemic to Spain and Portugal, the Iberian lynx is globally threatened and one of around 100 species of European importance found in the montado landscape.
Southern Portugal’s montado supports some of the highest biodiversity of any cultural landscape in Europe. Two Natura 2000 sites in the project area each harbour around 100 species of European importance, including the globally threatened Iberian lynx and Spanish imperial eagle.
Despite this, land-use change has weakened the traditional habitat mosaic, reducing ecological richness and resilience. Restoring these systems would support both biodiversity and rural livelihoods.
What the Project Did
The grant used science and collaboration to set priorities for recovery. The grant delivered:
A climate impact assessment was carried out to inform long-term planning.
Stakeholder engagement was used to co-design restoration actions.
A comprehensive plan was developed for restoring a wilder, multifunctional and climate-resilient montado landscape.
of remote sensing and baseline mapping of restoration opportunities.
Looking Ahead
This work has helped partners successfully apply for further funding, including support from the LIFE Programme for recovery of the black vulture. Building on the restoration plan, partners will continue to raise resources and support large-scale ecological recovery in the montado.
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