Following the successful implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) across its demonstration regions, DRYAD is now entering a new phase focused on transferring knowledge, experiences and lessons learned to its replication regions. As part of this transition, Castilla y León, one of the project's replication regions, hosted two key events on 19 and 20 October aimed at advancing NbS planning and strengthening stakeholder engagement in the region.
Organised by the Fundación Patrimonio Natural de Castilla y León (FPNCyL) in Trabadillo, the two-day programme brought together 16 participants including DRYAD partners, from the project coordination team (University of A Coruña), alongside experts from the University of Extremadura (UEx), FEDEHESA, the Portuguese National Laboratory of Energy and Geology (LNEG), ICATALIST and the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of the University of Twente. The consortium was joined by invited researchers and regional stakeholders from IRNASA-CSIC, ITACYL, ASFOSA, FAFCYLE, COAG, ASAJA, the livestock cooperative Dehesa Grande, and the owners of the Trabadillo pilot replication area, creating a valuable platform for knowledge exchange between science, policy and land management.
Together, participants explored how Nature-based Solutions already tested within DRYAD can be adapted to local conditions and contribute to strengthening the resilience of Mediterranean agroforestry systems.
Exploring Monitoring Systems and Local Management Practices
The first day featured a closed technical visit for project partners and invited experts. Participants visited the Sardón catchment area, the groundwater monitoring point and the environmental sensor network installed within the replication region.
The visit provided first-hand insight into the monitoring infrastructure deployed by the project and the management practices currently being implemented in the area. It also allowed participants to better understand local environmental conditions and discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with the replication of Nature-based Solutions in this territory.
A Public Forum to Discuss the Future of Nature-based Solutions
The second day opened the discussion to a wider audience through a public information day dedicated to the replication of Nature-based Solutions in Castilla y León.
The programme included an introduction to the replication region and its environmental monitoring network, followed by a roundtable discussion where representatives from organisations such as ASFOSA, FEDEHESA, ASAJA and local landowners shared their experiences and perspectives. The event also featured presentations on preliminary results and recommendations emerging from DRYAD's demonstration regions in Extremadura, Andalusia and Alentejo.
The discussions highlighted the potential of Nature-based Solutions to address some of the most pressing challenges affecting dehesa ecosystems, including la seca disease, biodiversity loss and the progressive degradation of agro-silvo-pastoral landscapes. Participants also explored how sustainable management approaches can contribute to maintaining and even improving the long-term profitability of rural businesses and farming systems.
Beyond presenting early project results, the two-day event strengthened collaboration between researchers, landowners, farmers and local organisations, reinforcing the importance of co-creating solutions that respond to regional realities.
By connecting scientific knowledge with practical experience from the field, DRYAD is helping to build the foundations for the wider uptake of Nature-based Solutions for Mediterranean ecosystems. The activities in Castilla y León marked an important step in preparing future replication actions and demonstrated the value of stakeholder engagement in creating more resilient, productive and sustainable dehesa landscapes.
