Ensuring El Camino’s Future Through Conservation Efforts

As a scientist and mother, I dream of exploring this historic route’s enchanting landscapes with my kids — let’s protect these vital forests before it’s too late!

I grew up between the Pyrenees and the Ebro River in the North Eastern Iberian Peninsula (Catalonia). However, many years ago, I decided to move overseas. Since then, I have spent years studying ecological sciences, biology, and paleontology. I have lived in Finland, Australia, and the United States, and my work has taken me to every continent in the world (except for Antarctica).

Yet, I have a dream that falls very close to home: to walk “El Camino de Santiago” with my children one day, right on the opposite corner of the Peninsula from where I grew up. I envision us exploring the landscapes of this historic pilgrimage route, which winds through some of Europe’s most stunning natural environments.

Among them, the temperate forests of the Northwest Iberian Peninsula stand out for their ecological importance. Indeed, these forests are not just beautiful; they are crucial for biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and providing essential ecosystem services. And, of course, they also support local economies and play a significant cultural role.

Many people think the Iberian Peninsula is all deserts, which couldn’t be further from the truth. The convergence of temperate and Mediterranean climates in this region creates a variety of microhabitats and landscapes, each with its unique flora and fauna. The intricate orography (the branch of physical geography dealing with mountains) and lithological variety (rocks) also contribute to this diversity, offering different conditions that support a rich biodiversity.

Because of its unique geography and climate, the forests here are home to many endemic species, meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth. If they disappear from this area, they simply go extinct. This high level of biodiversity is vital for ecosystem resilience, allowing them to adapt to changes and disturbances. If biodiversity were to be lost, these ecosystems would quickly tip out of balance in the wrong direction, affecting every species they contain.

Santiago de Compostela, where El Camino ends, sits within these landscapes, and so does the last stretch of the trail, which most people walk.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and store it as biomass. Thus, these forests help mitigate climate change by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Among all the landscapes in the Iberian Peninsula, the northwest temperate forests are particularly effective because they have a high biomass density and a long growing season. Protecting these landscapes can (and must) be considered a climate change mitigation measure.

In addition, these forests store carbon in their soils, which can hold even more carbon than the trees themselves. Protecting and sustainably managing these forests is thus essential to maintain their role as carbon sinks and prevent them from becoming carbon sources instead.

But beyond biodiversity and carbon sequestration, these forests provide many ecosystem services. For example, they regulate water quality by filtering pollutants and sediments, and they prevent soil erosion. Additionally, forests help regulate the local climate, cooling the air through transpiration. Anyone who has ever been on a trail, not just El Camino, understands the value of a fresh breeze!

But the value of these unique ecosystems doesn’t end here. The forests of the Northwest Iberian Peninsula are also key to the local economy. This includes timber, used in construction, furniture-making, and paper production, and non-timber forest products, including cork, mushrooms, chestnuts, and medicinal plants.

But there’s a caveat. Sustainable forest management practices are essential to ensure these resources can be harvested without compromising the ecosystem’s health. Local populations have balanced ecosystem needs and human demands for millennia to maintain the long-term viability of forest-based economies.

Likewise, these forests play a significant role in local traditions, festivals, and folklore. They are sources of inspiration for art, music, and literature and provide valuable natural and cultural resources that support the local economy.

For example, walking El Camino de Santiago. The forests along the route offer pilgrims (or peregrinos) peace and connection to nature, reflection, and personal growth. I haven’t met anyone who didn’t confess to feeling spiritually changed after this adventure, and I have met many! At the same time, it offers sources of income to local populations, especially in the hospitality sector.

I want my children to experience the same adventures I enjoyed growing up. I want them to see ancient oaks, hear the rustling leaves, and feel the cool forest breeze. But more importantly, I want them to understand the importance of these forests and why we must protect them.

Research on the effects of climate change on these forests highlights their resilience and vulnerabilities. It emphasizes the need for continued research and sustainable management to ensure that future generations can enjoy these landscapes as much as we did and that we don’t irreversibly tip their balance.

When people ask why I care about the environment, I always mention this: I was privileged to grow up in a stunningly beautiful world, and I want to pass this privilege on to my children. By working together to mitigate and adapt to human-induced climate and landscape changes, we can preserve our legacy, including the captivating landscapes of the Northwest Iberian Peninsula, whether I live there or not.

I want to ensure forests remain a sanctuary for biodiversity, a powerhouse for carbon sequestration, and a provider of essential ecosystem services. I want to experience a balanced and healthy ecosystem and culture when we embark on the “El Camino” adventure with the kids in a few years.

In the words of the great naturalist John Muir, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than one seeks.”