Vilar Maior becomes first certified Rewilding Village in Côa Valley

Vilar Maior, in Sabugal, became the first officially certified Rewilding Village in the Grande Vale do Côa on 3 August, after Rewilding Portugal, Sabugal municipality, the local parish union and the Muralhas de Vilar Maior association signed a collaboration protocol. The pilot project, funded through Turismo de Portugal's Linha Crescer Turismo, aims to turn key villages into gateways for nature tourism, combining conservation, heritage and local development. Planned interventions include interpretive panels, an artistic mural, a large sculpture, new signage and a Rewilding Visitor Centre. A broader investment will also fund a regional website, a mobile app and a visitor-monitoring system, with the model expected to expand to other villages later.