Born from human activities over generations, the Dehesa is a remarkable example of the balance between respect for the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources— a perfect symbiosis that has given rise to a unique model of a sustainable ecosystem.

Three and a half million hectares spread across the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula, where Ibérico pigs roam freely and give rise to acorn-fed productions while also sustaining other agricultural productions such as cork or honey. 


The Dehesa has become a model of green and circular economy. It sustains life in areas at risk of depopulation, helps retain rural populations, enhances biodiversity, and reduces the carbon footprint by acting as a natural CO₂ sink. The livestock management practiced in the Dehesa supports soil regeneration, nourishes future plant growth, and plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change by helping prevent wildfires (in Spain alone, over 25 million hectares are dedicated to grazing on land unsuitable for agriculture). And as if that weren’t enough, it also produces some of the finest quality products. Could there be anything more sustainable?

As one of the oldest sustainable ecosystems in the world, the Dehesa showed what sustainability was, way before anyone even talked about it.