Located in the heart of Portugal's Gran Coa Valley, Paul de Toirões was once a scarred mine. Today, through a combination of natural regeneration and targeted interventions, the wildlife refuge’s lakes, ponds and surrounding areas are evolving into wildlife-rich oases.
Marcus Westerberg
From wasteland to wetland
It takes a bird's eye view to fully appreciate the rapid transformation Paul de Touroes. Ten years ago, this former quarry in Portugal Grand Coa Valley It was an industrial wasteland—a ravaged landscape dotted with shafts, pits, and scars left by man and machine. Today, viewed from the air, the 300-hectare wildlife sanctuary reveals a vibrant expanse of lakes, ponds, ditches and wetlands, with birds, dragonflies, turtles, otters and many other species returning to recolonize the newly formed habitat. Native forests surrounding the water body are regenerating, increasing resilience and further promoting biodiversity.
A combination of natural regeneration and targeted interventions Rebuilding Portugal The team started managing Paul de Toirões at the end of 2022, driving the transformation of the site.
“The rebirth of Paul de Toirões demonstrates nature’s powerful ability to heal itself – if we give it a chance,” said André Couto, field officer for Rewilding Portugal. “With a little help from the team, the site’s ongoing restoration has created a large, lush wetland with a unique value in the landscape – nothing else compares to it in the surrounding area, which is generally much drier.”
extracted heritage
Decades of intensive mining activity have shaped Paul de Toirões. The site, formerly known as Quinta de Santa Margarida, was used to mine tin, tungsten and sand until it was abandoned in the early 2010s. Located within a natural river bed, the area has been extensively modified over time, with excavations resulting in a dramatically altered landscape of deep pits, steep banks and artificial drainage systems designed to move water quickly away from the site.
Although his situation has seriously deteriorated, Paul de Tourois also has the seeds of recovery. When mining ceased, water began to collect in the excavated cavities, forming an extensive and diverse network of interconnected aquatic habitats that would later prove vital to biodiversity. However, significant barriers to natural restoration remain—steep slopes limit wildlife access, drainage channels impede natural water retention, and large areas are still dominated by plantations of non-native trees.
Marcus Westerberg
work with nature
The actual rewilding work of Rewilding Portugal starts in November 2022 in Paul de Toirões and is funded by: mossy earth. The goal is simple but ambitious: make the site a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem.
Using heavy machinery where necessary, the team reshaped the topography of previously mined parts of the site—softening the edges of water bodies, removing artificial drainage systems, and building small barriers to retain water longer. The expansion of wetlands makes them more attractive to wildlife and creates a wider range of aquatic habitats—from deep lakes to shallow, seasonally flooded areas. Rows of exotic cypress trees were removed to allow for the regeneration of native trees such as Pyrenean oak and holm oak, further enhancing habitat diversity and connectivity.
Today, otters are carving waterways, amphibians are filling ponds, and more and more birds are finding places to feed, nest and raise their young.
“Through relatively small-scale interventions – moving some earth, plugging a few ditches, making space for native vegetation – we have been able to create a range of habitats,” explains Andre Couto. “By partnering with nature, we help Paul de Toirões embark on a journey to regain his life.”
measure impact
In order to measure the restoration of Paul de Toirões' natural environment, several surveys were carried out throughout the site. These include bird monitoring, amphibian surveys, comprehensive aquatic plant assessments funded by Mossy Earth, and forest area surveys.
The results have been amazing. Surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024 recorded 94 aquatic plant species, representing a wide range of wetland habitats – from sandy beaches to flooded willow forests. Rare and endangered species have also been discovered, including southern bladderwort – a carnivorous plant that is highly sensitive to water quality and rarely recorded in the interior of Portugal.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis further revealed the presence of more than 200 species at the site, while amphibian and bird surveys highlighted the increasing importance of temporary ponds and wetlands as breeding and feeding sites. Species such as black storks, marsh harriers, and spoonbills have all been recorded.
“These are essentially baseline surveys,” explains Andre Cotto. “They show us where we are now. When we repeat them in a few years, we expect to see the positive effects of rewilding further demonstrated as wildlife diversity and abundance continue to increase.”
The revitalization of Paul de Toirões promotes ecological connectivity in the Grand Coa Valley, creating a new Ecological stepping stone For species moving across the landscape. Its expanding wetlands and regenerating forests complement other rewilding sites in the valley, boosting the efforts of Rewilding Portugal Build large wildlife corridors.
A new destination for nature lovers
Paul de Toirões The renaissance of nature has also transformed the site into a focal point for sustainable tourism in the Grand Coa Valley, helping to drive growth in the wider nature economy.
Visitors can now experience Paul de Toirões through guided tours, wildlife observation opportunities and immersive accommodations. Specialized wildlife viewing hides allow you to get up close and personal with birds and other species while camp wilder — a mobile camp operated by Rewilding Bulgaria — offers a unique accommodation experience that connects guests to the surrounding landscape.
These initiatives not only demonstrate ecological restoration in the area, but also create new economic opportunities for local communities – demonstrating how rewilding can help Humans and nature prosper together.
Marcus Westerberg
Photography by Claudio Noy
A wilder future
While Paul de Tourois's transformation has been quick, the journey is far from complete. The Portugal Rewilding Program will continue to monitor ecological changes, support the continued return of wildlife, and allow natural processes to reshape the landscape. Repeated surveys will track changes in biodiversity, water quality and habitat development over the next few years. As vegetation matures and the food web strengthens, the area is expected to evolve into a more vibrant and vibrant ecosystem.
“Nature has done most of the work,” Andre Cotto said. “Our role is to step back and let these processes unfold – while keeping a close eye on the situation as it unfolds.”
What was once a scarred industrial site is now a living showcase of rewilding in action and a testament to nature’s healing power. In the Grand Coa Valley, Paul de Toirões is a compelling example of how even severely degraded landscapes can be transformed into thriving wildlife havens – offering hope, inspiration and a window into a wider future – when natural processes are given the space and freedom to recover.
Marcus Westerberg
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