“When trust is strong, communities begin to collaborate and find solutions together…”
“The story of the Pioneers begins with a walk. In 2018, after 900 kilometers through the Pyrenees, I arrived in the Muga Valley with no home, no relationship, and no business to run. What I did have was a feeling – a homecoming, and the memory of a childhood dream: to live in the wilderness.”
The valley appeared lush, but I soon saw its fragility. Overexploitation, invasive trees, and years of drought had left the forests overcrowded and the soils unable to hold water. The Muga River was drying, biodiversity was vanishing, and the community’s trust in one another was fraying. To change this, we needed more than conservation. We needed regeneration – ecological, social, and economic. So I began in the simplest way: by listening.
While waiting for permits, I organized pizza nights. I brought the dough, the drinks, the music; neighbors brought the toppings. At first 50 people came, then 150. Around those fires I heard the community’s concerns: fire risk, lack of water, lack of work and housing, and – most strikingly – lack of trust.” Stef van Dongen explains. This was the beginning of The Pioneers of Our Time. Together with local communities, experts, and funders, we began thinning overcrowded forests, restoring soils, and bringing biodiversity back. Already, 30% more water is flowing into aquifers. Vultures and otters have returned. Even wolves have come back after a century away.
But this is not only about ecology. Regeneration also creates meaningful work, builds resilience against fire, and strengthens community bonds. It is about creating a model for how valleys across the Mediterranean can thrive again. When I met Victoria, we saw that our paths were aligned — her deep family roots in the Empordà, my vision for regeneration in the Muga Valley. Together we’ve woven our lives and work into one, uniting Brugarol with The Pioneers. Our goal is not just for today, but for seven generations ahead. Living here brings health, clarity, and belonging. But it is not just for us. The Home in Albanyà is open to guests, partners, and changemakers — a place where people come together to imagine and build a regenerative future.
Stef van Dongen with his dogs Tula and Linda | picture by Diane van der Marel
The Documentary
Experience the extraordinary journey of The Muga Valley on your screen. Through cinematic storytelling and the eyes of the river, the people, and the vulture, nature’s patient witness, the film reveals how regeneration unfolds: slowly, deeply, and through the hands and hearts of those who care. This 25-minute award-winning documentary tells the story of an innovative social and ecological regeneration initiative in Catalonia’s Pyrenees.
Collaboration Planet Wild
The Muga Valley might look like a wild paradise: endless oaks, rolling hills, and mountain air. But for years, this valley has actually been dying inside. Generations of charcoal production have turned it into a “green desert”. It has become a dense, uniform forest that suffocates the ecosystem. There’s no water, no light, no undergrowth, and almost no wildlife. Even vultures, which are vital for keeping the ecosystem healthy, have disappeared.That’s why, together with Planet Wild, we’re thinning the canopy by cutting trees to let sunlight and moisture return, revive the undergrowth, restore soil health, and bring back the Muga River. But that’s not all! We’re also partnering to bring vultures back to the valley. Together, we’re setting up vulture decoys and building safe feeding stations to attract vultures.