GreenBarriers: Regenerative ecosystems to prevent soil erosion

The challenge was introduced by Lot Amorós (ecosystem restoration practitioner) and developed during the SoilTribes Bootcamp in Porto with the support of contributors from the Agroecology and Territorial Resilience cluster. Contributors: Kyriaki Chatzisavva
, José Miguel García, 
Panagiotis Kalaitzis
 and Julio Cesar Villar This proposal has been compiled by the Bootcamp facilitation and mentoring team based on the group’s work, discussions and documentation produced during the sessions. Facilitator: Cristian Palazzi Mentor: Stephania Xydia (ICLEI) Bootcamp coordination: Olivier Schulbaum

Group 4: Agroecology & Territorial Resilience

GreenBarriers explores how degraded land can be restored through a coordinated ecosystem restoration model that connects landowners, restoration experts, cooperatives and companies interested in climate neutrality. The Bootcamp process shifted the proposal from an ambitious restoration network toward a first pilot project in Spain, designed to test restoration methods and financing mechanisms. The challenge aims to create a replicable restoration model combining ecological regeneration, local employment and innovative restoration technologies.

The challenge addresses the growing problem of soil degradation, erosion and abandoned land by proposing a collaborative ecosystem restoration model. The idea is to create a structure capable of connecting multiple actors: landowners with degraded land, companies seeking climate neutrality strategies, technical experts in reforestation, cooperatives capable of implementing restoration work, and potential funding mechanisms. A key technical dimension of the proposal is the integration of seed-drop technologies and automated reforestation tools, which allow restoration activities to scale more efficiently while reducing operational costs.

The first pilot is expected to take place in Spain, in collaboration with the Extiercol Cooperative, which already manages restoration-related activities and land intervention projects. The pilot will test the feasibility of the model on a concrete site before expanding the approach to other territories.

The challenge mobilizes a diverse ecosystem of actors: Landowners with degraded land that could be restored. Local cooperatives and restoration workers responsible for implementing ecological interventions. Environmental experts and soil restoration specialists. Companies seeking credible pathways to climate neutrality through restoration investments. Local communities that could benefit from new employment and improved ecosystems.

During the Bootcamp process the proposal maintained its core vision but evolved significantly in scale and operational clarity. Initially the project imagined a large restoration network connecting multiple territories. Through the Bootcamp exercises the team recognised that such ambition required first demonstrating feasibility in practice. The challenge was therefore reframed around a local pilot project, which will allow the team to test the restoration model, validate technical approaches and build an empirical foundation for future expansion. A crucial development was the partnership with the Extiercol Cooperative, whose practical experience and territorial presence enabled the transition from conceptual planning to a concrete field experiment.

The group integrated several inputs from contributors and mentors during the Bootcamp. One of the most important contributions was the recognition of the technical potential of aerial or automated seeding technologies, which strengthened the proposal’s technological dimension and potential scalability. Another relevant contribution came from discussions around alternative financing models, including the possibility of linking ecosystem restoration efforts with sectors such as aviation interested in carbon offset initiatives. While the group demonstrated openness to external input, collaboration mostly occurred through direct interactions rather than structured digital participation tools.

The governance model revolves around a network connecting different actors with complementary roles. Landowners provide degraded land for restoration activities. Cooperatives and restoration teams carry out the ecological interventions. Companies contribute financial resources through climate neutrality commitments. Experts and technical partners support design and monitoring of restoration actions.

Several structural challenges emerged during the process, including limited knowledge about soil restoration techniques, complex regulatory frameworks, and the difficulty of financing large-scale reforestation projects. These insights reinforced the importance of testing the model through a small-scale pilot.

The group articulated a vision of an ecosystem restoration marketplace, where landowners, restoration experts, companies and public institutions collaborate to regenerate degraded land while generating social and ecological value.

The exercises highlighted the importance of connecting private actors, local cooperatives and restoration specialists within a collaborative governance framework capable of mobilising resources and expertise.

The team moved toward a first operational prototype, involving restoration activities carried out with the Extiercol Cooperative on a specific plot of land.

The pilot phase could benefit from using the platform to document restoration processes, share data and lessons learned, and attract additional collaborators interested in ecosystem restoration.

The main outcome emerging from the Bootcamp is the prototype of a land restoration model combining technological tools, local cooperative labour and new financing mechanisms. This prototype will generate practical evidence about restoration methods, ecological impacts and economic feasibility. In the longer term the initiative could evolve into a platform connecting restoration projects, funding opportunities and technical expertise, enabling new forms of ecosystem stewardship.

🧰 Prototypes & Technical Solutions: devices, open-source tools, data visualizations

The immediate next step is the implementation of the first restoration pilot with the Extiercol Cooperative. This phase will require defining an operational action plan, validating restoration techniques in the field, and establishing monitoring systems capable of demonstrating ecological impact. The team will also explore certification and monitoring mechanisms to ensure the credibility of carbon absorption claims.

Several elements will be essential for scaling the initiative: partnerships with landowners and restoration cooperatives, technical expertise in ecological monitoring and certification, and access to funding streams capable of supporting restoration activities. Given the nature of the project, the team could also explore launching a civic crowdfunding campaign to support the first pilot. The challenge already contains many of the elements that make crowdfunding viable: a clearly defined local intervention, measurable environmental impact, the involvement of a cooperative implementing restoration work, and the potential to generate visible outcomes such as restored land, biodiversity recovery and community engagement. A crowdfunding campaign could therefore help mobilize citizens, environmental supporters and local stakeholders while simultaneously validating public interest in the initiative. It could also complement institutional funding sources and strengthen the project's narrative as a collective ecosystem restoration effort rather than a purely technical intervention.