

We’re turning a green desert into a thriving ecosystem.
At first glance, the Muga Valley in the Spanish Pyrenees looks like a forest paradise. But this landscape, shaped by centuries of charcoal production, is actually what scientists call a “green desert.” Dense, uniform oak forests are not just blocking out sunlight and suffocating the undergrowth, they’re sucking up all the water from the ground. As a result, the streams that once fed the Muga River are drying up. Droughts hit harder, and iconic wildlife like vultures have disappeared.
The mission
The loss of biodiversity in the Muga Valley has pushed the ecosystem to the brink. Reversing damage on this scale requires out-of-the-box thinking. That’s where our partner Stef van Dongen and his team at Pioneers of our Time come in. Their solution is as unconventional as it is effective: they’re cutting down trees to bring the forest back to life. Thinning the canopy lets sunlight and moisture return, revives undergrowth, restores soil health, and brings back the Muga River. This allows iconic wildlife like otters, crayfish, wolves, and deer to return. But one keystone species is still missing: vultures.



These misunderstood scavengers are essential to healthy ecosystems. They prevent disease outbreaks by cleaning up carcasses, protecting both wildlife and people. That’s why, with support from the Planet Wild community, we’re not only restoring 10 hectares of forest, we’re also helping to bring back vultures. We’re setting up five puppet decoys to attract these highly social birds, providing safe feeding stations, and tagging two individuals with GPS to monitor their return. All these steps help ensure that this landscape will once again be a self-sustaining forest full of biodiversity. You can even see the impact firsthand as Stef and his team at Pioneers of Our Time are welcoming you to visit the Muga Valley and witness the effect of their project. Visit their website for more information!
What we achieved
Ideal outcome
Our Partner
Stef van Dongen is an innovator, an entrepreneur, and the founder of Pioneers of our Time. When he arrived at Muga Valley, he saw firsthand how much the ecosystem was struggling. He realized that the valley didn’t just need conservation, it needed regeneration. Together with local communities, experts, and funders, he set out to restore the valley’s landscapes. That’s how Pioneers of our Time was born.
Our Partner

Stef van Dongen is an innovator, an entrepreneur, and the founder of Pioneers of our Time. When he arrived at Muga Valley, he saw firsthand how much the ecosystem was struggling. He realized that the valley didn’t just need conservation, it needed regeneration. Together with local communities, experts, and funders, he set out to restore the valley’s landscapes. That’s how Pioneers of our Time was born.