Catalonia’s Mediterranean landscapes are among Europe’s most beautiful — and most vulnerable. Years of rural abandonment, biodiversity loss, and climate-driven droughts have left its forests fragile and prone to devastating wildfires. The Pioneers of Our Time Foundation is catalyzing a movement to regenerate these living systems — starting from the watershed up. Rooted in the Muga Valley Campus for Resilient Landscapes, we unite science, regenerative finance, and community stewardship to restore ecosystems, strengthen local economies, and inspire a new culture of care for the land.
Catalonia’s Mediterranean region faces a convergence of ecological and social risks:
These challenges are interconnected — symptoms of a deeper systemic imbalance between people and nature. To reverse them, we create social fabric, trust and relationships based in a sense of belonging. We need integrated, nature-based, and financially regenerative solutions that rebuild both ecology and livelihoods.
Coming soon!
The Campus for Resilient Landscapes is a Mediterranean lighthouse for regeneration. It aims to create a hub for entrepreneurs, innovators, science, neighbors, creatives and experts to meet and work.
The Campus is both a physical and virtual hub for partners and stakeholders of the Pioneers of Our Time Foundation to regenerate watersheds, bioengineer resilient microclimates, and strengthen the 65+ local communities inside the Muga Watershed. It anchors a wider 100,000-hectare transformation in the watershed and provides a model for how landscapes under pressure can be restored and secured. Since 2023, the Campus has been active in virtual form, building partnerships with leading universities and research institutions, piloting projects in water, fire, and biodiversity. Its role is to convene science and practice, test solutions in real landscapes, and share them openly with the world.
The Muga Valley Campus is a space for collaborative action between academics, innovators, entrepreneurs and funders to explore the future of forest landscapes. The activities of The Campus are: knowledge sharing, research and innovation and ReGen venture building. We are creating a demonstration farm that serves as educational platform and laboratory for our Campus.
The mission of The Pioneers of our Time Foundation is to create replicable models for regenerative societies in resilient landscapes.
The Home is serving as the epicenter for co-creating the project together with people from the local villages and our global network. Together we are building partnerships, doing research and executing the Muga Valley Project.
The Muga Valley Partnership aims to unite key stakeholders and to co-create a 20y vision for the future of The Valley. This includes a vision for creating community and sense of belonging, land management, a shared governance system for the Muga Valley watershed and the implementation of biodiversity projects.
The Muga Valley Partnership aims to unite key stakeholders and to co-create a 20y vision for the future of The Valley. This includes a vision for creating community and sense of belonging, land management, a shared governance system for the Muga Valley watershed and the implementation of biodiversity projects.
In our river corridor stewardship program, we collaborate with local stakeholders to restore and protect 23 kilometers of the Muga River. This effort enhances water quality, ensures reliable water supply, supports wildlife, and promotes healthier ecosystems. Integrated with forest management, our activities stabilize riverbanks, reduce erosion, and filter pollutants.
We are proud to introduce our place-based climate credit. This innovative approach generates credits that enhance water quality, sequester carbon, and support wildlife. These credits ensure a steady water supply for Costa Brava North, crucial in this drought emergency. Businesses and individuals can use them to offset their environmental impact and protect the local landscape.
We are part of the grant program supporting the Natura 2000 network in Catalonia. Through this initiative, we manage 3 protected natural areas: Massís de les Salines, Penya-segats de la Muga and Garriga d’Empordà. Our work ensures the conservation of these vital landscapes, benefiting wildlife and local communities.
With our program, we see the return of the four Iberian vultures after almost a century in the Muga Valley. Vultures play a crucial role helping maintain healthy ecosystems by cleaning up carcasses and preventing disease spread. Additionally, we offer unique opportunities for nature enthusiasts to observe these impressive birds in their natural habitat.
In twenty years time from now, we envision healthy and resilient forest landscape, thriving of the most amazing wildlife, and you find drinkable water in the rivers. The landscape and watershed regeneration activities have generated jobs for people in the villages and brought back life in the streets. People are living in harmony with themselves and all other living beings in the mountains and forests. Entrepreneurs and farmers have created a variety of new regenerative businesses; science and research institutes are monitoring the progress of the forest, society and economy, public infrastructure has returned, and we celebrate yearly The Muga Valley Festival. We invite everyone that shares our passion to join us.
Guiding change together — meet the dedicated team and trusted partners driving our mission forward.
We are very grateful for your support! Sign up here if you want to be in the loop of our work, events and volunteering opportunities.
We are very grateful for your support! Sign up here if you want to be in the loop of our work, events and volunteering opportunities.
Donate and amount of your choice to the foundation. Every euro helps us to run our programs and collectively achieve our vision.