Rooting Resilience: Regenerative Agroforestry for Soil Health on El Hierro

Summary of the challenge El Hierro’s upland ecosystems face accelerating soil degradation due to decades of forest clearing, intensive grazing, and the misuse of desalinated irrigation water—exacerbated by climate change. These processes have led to a collapse in soil fertility, hydrological function, and plant diversity. Simultaneously, rural depopulation and the abandonment of traditional agroecological knowledge have left local communities with few viable economic alternatives. As aging populations migrate or shift to tourism-based economies, the island risks losing both its living soil and its living culture. Regenerative practices remain fragmented and under-supported, with critical gaps in education, training, and land access for the next generation of land stewards. Detailed description The island of El Hierro, the smallest and westernmost of Spain’s Canary Islands, is globally recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Yet despite this designation, the island’s upland soils are experiencing severe degradation caused by a convergence of factors: historical deforestation, overgrazing, the abandonment of traditional farming, and unsustainable practices like the use of desalinated water for monoculture production. These pressures are exacerbated by the island’s rapidly changing climate—marked by declining precipitation, longer droughts, and increased heatwaves—placing critical stress on both ecosystems and the people who depend on them. At the heart of this project lies Hoya de Dar, a 4.2-hectare transitional site situated at 900–1040 meters above sea level in the Monteverde zone. This landscape is a unique intersection of degraded volcanic hillsides, remnant orchards, and reforested areas. Once deforested for firewood and grazing, this terrain is now being reconceptualized as a model site for regenerative agroforestry and community-led soil stewardship. The goal is not simply ecological restoration—but socioecological resilience. Historical & Socioeconomic Context The Canarian highlands were traditionally fertile zones of food and forest production. But colonial land-use conversion, mid-20th century depopulation, and the rise of tourism and monoculture export economies have created cascading effects: the collapse of traditional agroforestry systems, erosion of communal ecological knowledge, and aging rural populations. Today, El Hierro’s food system relies heavily on imports, while land abandonment and underinvestment in small-scale agriculture persist. These trends also mean that the next generation lacks access to land, training, or viable models of regenerative farming. Without intervention, this socioecological collapse will deepen, perpetuating a cycle of dependence, ecological loss, and economic fragility. Ecological Urgency & Soil Relevance Over 3.5 hectares of Hoya de Dar's upper forest zone have lost most of their original topsoil structure. Historical clearcutting removed canopy cover, exposing the land to intense wind and water erosion. The combination of slope, bare soil, and erratic rainfall has led to rapid degradation. Soil organic matter is critically low; microbial and mesofauna diversity is severely reduced. The application of desalinated irrigation water elsewhere on the island has accelerated salinization and disrupted microbial communities. But this is also where the project finds hope. Using an integrated system of successional agroforestry, soil microbial inoculation, and horizontal rain capture (fog harvesting) via endemic species such as Morella faya, we are establishing multi-strata orchards and reforested corridors designed to regenerate both soil biology and hydrological function. These trees act as natural fog catchers, channeling atmospheric moisture into the subsoil—an ancient technique once used by the island's Indigenous Bimbache people and still visible today in the mythos of the Garoé Tree, the island’s “holy water tree.” In the orchard zone, preliminary monitoring data already show promising results: avocado yields are up by 70% in areas flanked by Morella faya, due to improved soil moisture and microbial activity. No artificial irrigation is used beyond the first 24 months after planting. Ground cover diversity is expanding, and the introduction of RCW (ramial chipped wood) mulching and cactus-based organic mulch is increasing soil water retention. Actors Involved This work is currently being implemented by a small transdisciplinary team led by a biologist and supported by local tree nurseries, independent researchers, and community members. The planting stock is sourced from local seed lines with strong genetic resilience to wind and drought stress. Educational institutions and agroecology networks on the island are beginning to express interest, and partnerships with nearby landholders are forming—though much of this is still in a fragile early stage. We are also cooperating with El Hierro’s only certified organic restaurant and local beekeepers, co-creating an ecosystem of regenerative micro-enterprises that depend on healthy soils rather than chemical inputs. However, the cultural and bureaucratic barriers remain steep. The project has faced years of delays in obtaining permits, government support, or technical infrastructure. Public agencies acknowledge the urgency of reforestation, yet lack frameworks for integrated, soil-centered regeneration. Knowledge transfer is siloed. Local skepticism persists—many residents still equate reforestation with economic futility, because a forest "does not feed people." Education as the Missing Piece What’s missing isn’t just technical solutions—it’s educational transformation. Our challenge is deeply rooted in soil illiteracy and cultural alienation from land stewardship. There is a lack of accessible education on regenerative practices, especially among youth. The intergenerational rupture—between elders who once practiced agroecology and young people seeking viable, dignified futures—has created a vacuum. To address this, we are designing a modular learning landscape, with demonstration plots, monitoring stations, and skill-transfer workshops centered around soil ecology, agroforestry, and traditional knowledge. We aim to make soil visible—not just as a substrate, but as a living, cultural, and economic asset. Relevance to Territorial & Soil Justice This project is an act of territorial justice in a literal sense: reclaiming degraded land for community-oriented, biodiversity-based regeneration. It challenges the extractive legacy of colonial agriculture and current industrial monoculture systems by re-establishing polycultural, low-input, and climate-adapted land uses that can be scaled across similar Atlantic island environments. It also promotes soil justice by reconnecting people—especially marginalized rural populations—to the foundational ecosystems that sustain life. In restoring soil function, we’re also reviving autonomy, cultural memory, and equitable access to food, water, and dignity. Which SoilTribes priority area(s) does your challenge address? Commons Stewardship Regenerative Transitions How does your challenge respond to the selected SoilTribes priority area(s)? Our project directly addresses both Commons Stewardship and Regenerative Transitions by developing a place-based, participatory model for land and soil regeneration on El Hierro—an island where ecological degradation and rural abandonment are tightly intertwined. Through the restoration of degraded agroforestry systems using endemic species (e.g., Morella faya), fog-harvesting trees, and biodiversity-enhancing methods, we are reclaiming land as a shared ecological and cultural asset. This goes beyond reforestation—it redefines land not as a commodity but as a commons to be collectively cared for and learned from. We use soil regeneration as a unifying axis for this transition: connecting climate adaptation, water resilience, biodiversity, and economic alternatives rooted in local stewardship and traditional ecological knowledge. By integrating monitoring plots, knowledge-sharing with neighbors, and educational infrastructure, we are also actively redistributing access to land-based knowledge, particularly for young or excluded land users. Ultimately, our challenge is both ecological and social. We seek to regenerate not only soil, but also the capacity of communities to care for and co-manage their landscapes. In doing so, we offer a replicable approach to regenerative territorial transitions in fragile island ecosystems. Which EU Soil Mission goal(s) does your challenge contribute to? Prevent erosion Reduce soil pollution / enhance restoration Conserve soil organic carbon Reduce desertification Enhance soil biodiversity Challenge typology Seeds (small, replicable initiatives) Expected outputs / actions Awareness-raising / communications Capacity-building (training, guides, mentorship) Prototyping or technical testing Who is involved or affected by the challenge? The challenge affects a wide range of stakeholders on El Hierro: Local farming communities, especially aging smallholders and landowners facing declining yields, water scarcity, and land abandonment. Young people and aspiring land stewards who lack access to land, training, and regenerative models of agriculture. Neighboring landowners and herders, some of whom are beginning to engage with the project through informal collaboration or observation. The island’s only organic-certified restaurant and local beekeepers, who are active collaborators in building regenerative micro-economies. The island’s public tree nursery and environmental agency (Medio Ambiente), which provided trees and labor for the reforestation effort. Educational institutions and researchers, who are beginning to show interest in using the site as a demonstration and learning landscape. In the long term, the project also seeks to involve broader regional actors across the Canary Islands who face similar challenges and could benefit from a replicable model of soil-based territorial regeneration. Where is your challenge located? El Hierro Island, Canary Island Which SoilTribes pillar(s) are you connected to? Public Sector Academia, Education & Research What public policies or institutional frameworks does your challenge engage with or seek to change? Our challenge interacts with and seeks to influence several public policies and institutional frameworks at the local, regional, national, and EU levels—particularly where they fail to support community-driven soil regeneration, youth involvement, and agroecological education. At the local and regional level, we work with and aim to influence the Cabildo de El Hierro and Medio Ambiente, whose current reforestation and land-use frameworks do not yet recognize the potential of community-led agroforestry or fog-water-based land regeneration. We aim to demonstrate that regenerative projects grounded in local ecosystems and traditional knowledge can inform better land-use planning, water management, and climate adaptation policies. Our work has exposed administrative delays and legal blind spots in obtaining permissions for reforestation and integrating ecological practices like nurse tree planting, natural mulching, and water harvesting into policy-supported programs. By collaborating with neighbors, landowners, and local youth, we advocate for more inclusive and flexible land governance that enables young people and underrepresented groups to access land, training, and support. At the national level, we engage with Spain’s Plan Nacional de Restauración de Ecosistemas (2021–2030), advocating for stronger inclusion of bottom-up, educational, and place-based restoration initiatives—especially those in rural and island territories. We highlight the need to address educational inequalities, as current national policies lack mechanisms to connect soil health with youth education, local culture, and regenerative livelihoods. At the EU level, our project aligns with and supports: The EU Soil Strategy for 2030, particularly its goals to ensure all soils are healthy by 2050 and to involve local communities in monitoring and care. The proposed EU Soil Monitoring Law, through which we contribute field-based knowledge, soil data, and educational programming for schools and young land stewards. Reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), by illustrating how regenerative land uses—like mixed orchards, fog forests, and biodiversity corridors—can serve as alternatives to water-intensive monocultures, if adequately supported. Education is a key pillar of our challenge. We are building modular learning environments (demonstration plots, workshops, field monitoring), designed to connect young people with regenerative soil practices and empower them as future land caretakers. We also collaborate with local schools and informal learning networks to revitalize ecological literacy and traditional knowledge, positioning soil not only as a technical resource but as a living, cultural commons. In doing so, we are creating a framework that bridges institutional policy, territorial justice, and intergenerational renewal—with soil regeneration at its core. Please see also the documentary from german TV ZDF Arte about project done just few months after beginning of that idea (from 41 min) https://vimeo.com/808667075/edd6c7f020?share=copy How do you imagine the Bootcamp will benefit your initiative — and others? We see the Bootcamp as a crucial opportunity to strengthen both the design and the outreach of our soil regeneration work on El Hierro. Specifically, we aim to: Develop tools for community engagement, especially with young people and neighboring landowners who are currently hesitant or under-involved. Refine our soil monitoring and education strategy — including how to communicate soil health, fog-water systems, and regenerative agroforestry in a way that’s accessible, inspiring, and replicable. Connect with other practitioners working on island, arid, or marginal rural lands to share challenges and adaptive techniques. We hope to learn from others how to scale up participatory governance, strengthen youth-led land stewardship, and create a viable long-term model that bridges soil care with rural economies and climate resilience. In return, our initiative brings: On-the-ground experimentation with syntropic agroforestry, fog harvesting, and soil microbiome revival in a uniquely challenging Atlantic island environment. Insights into navigating complex institutional and cultural contexts, including the barriers to land access, traditional knowledge loss, and ecological illiteracy. A real-world case study of regenerative transition in action, bridging ancient techniques with modern ecological science. We are ready to contribute local knowledge, monitoring data, practical experience, and a critical perspective on how soil regeneration can reconnect people, land, and future livelihoods.