Land Custody: A Key Tool for Nature Conservation and Restoration

Land Custody is a conservation strategy that allows landowners to collaborate with organisations dedicated to protecting and restoring the environment. Through voluntary agreements, these partnerships aim to promote the preservation of natural areas, as well as the restoration of degraded ecosystems. This approach is vital to ensure the biodiversity and resilience of our landscapes, especially in areas affected by invasive species or unsustainable practices.

Land custody continues to be an effective model of conservation in Spain, protecting more than 550,000 hectares and allowing communities and landowners to be an active part of nature protection.

One of the organisations leading this effort in Galicia is Betula Custodia, the Asociación para a Custodia do Bosque Atlántico. Its mission focuses on the conservation and recovery of Galicia's natural, cultural and landscape heritage, particularly in the Fragas do Eume area. Betula Custodia works mainly on the elimination of invasive species, such as eucalyptus, and reforestation with native species, contributing to the restoration of native forests and the recovery of Atlantic ecosystems.

Last season, Life Terra had the pleasure of supporting Betula Custodia in one of its reforestation initiatives. Although we were unable to be present at the event, we contributed 100 native trees for the planting, which were added to a total of 250 trees planted on a plot of land in Marraxón. This land, given in trust by its owner, is part of the association's ongoing effort to restore biodiversity to the region.

We are very proud to have contributed to this project and to have been part of such a significant initiative that promotes the regeneration of Galician forests. We thank Betula Custodia and all the volunteers who made this planting possible, and we look forward to continuing to support land stewardship and ecological restoration actions in the future.