The CAVIAR research group continues to strengthen its collaboration with initiatives that promote sustainability, the restoration of natural heritage and community engagement. On 9 July, members of the group took part in a visit to the project led by the Plentziako Herri Lurrak association to gain first-hand insight into the work being carried out to restore the native woodland of Mount Isuskitza, in Plentzia.
An initiative to restore native woodland
The visit was attended by Urtza Uriarte Otazua, Claudia Pennese, Isabel Guevara Fernández and Saioa González Gutiérrez, members of the CAVIAR research group, together with representatives from the Faculty of Education and the Sustainability Office of the University of the Basque Country (EHU), as well as BC3 – Basque Centre for Climate Change, Euskal Herriko Hazien Sarea (Red de Semillas de Euskadi) and Justicia Alimentaria.
The project, developed by Plentziako Herri Lurrak association in collaboration with Plentzia Secondary School and Primary School and Euskal Herriko Hazien Sarea, aims to transform a 6,159 m² area on Mount Isuskitza into a food forest composed of traditional Basque varieties.
Over the past eight years, the site has undergone a remarkable transformation, with eucalyptus plantations and invasive species being replaced by native trees and fruit-bearing species, including apple, pear and cherry trees, as well as chestnuts, hazelnuts and grapevines. This ongoing work is helping to restore the area’s original ecosystem.
A sustainable and community-led management model
During the visit, participants explored the food forest, an initiative that seeks to restore native oak woodland, enhance the value of public land and promote a more sustainable approach to land management.
Food forests such as this enhance biodiversity, provide food and other natural resources (including fruit, edible leaves and roots, medicinal and aromatic plants, mushrooms and timber) and create habitats for a wide range of animal and insect species. They also represent a model of community stewardship founded on participation, shared ownership, collective care and a deeper understanding of the local geographical and historical environment.
The visit provided an opportunity for the participating organisations to exchange knowledge and experiences while learning about an initiative that brings together ecological restoration, sustainability and community participation principles that closely align with CAVIAR’s research on wellbeing, place-based approaches and the development of more resilient communities.
