Restoration Scale: 200 hectares of degraded land restored near a protected natural park in Salamanca, Spain.
Climate Benefit: Over 160,000 tons of CO₂ to be captured over 50 years, certified by Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition.
Social Value: Project creates rural jobs, supports biodiversity, and strengthens community ties.
MERLIN Properties and Carbon2Nature, a subsidiary of Iberdrola, have partnered to develop the MERLIN Forest—a landmark ecological restoration project designed to regenerate over 200 hectares of fire-damaged land and capture more than 160,000 tons of CO₂.
Located in Serradilla del Llano, adjacent to the Las Batuecas – Sierra de Francia Natural Park, the site was devastated by the region’s most severe wildfire this century. The project aims to restore biodiversity, improve soil and water quality, and build climate resilience through the planting of more than 300,000 native trees across five species.
“This project reinforces our leadership in sustainability,” said representatives from MERLIN Properties. “It’s a long-term commitment that demonstrates how the real estate sector can actively shape environmental outcomes.”
Carbon2Nature will oversee the forest’s technical management, maintenance, and monitoring, while MERLIN assumes stewardship for the next 50 years. The initiative is certified under Spain’s official absorption project standards, ensuring credible carbon impact.
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“The MERLIN Forest is more than reforestation—it’s a model for how nature-based solutions can deliver lasting environmental, economic, and social value,” said Carbon2Nature.
Beyond ecological gains, the project generates rural employment, strengthens community cohesion, and creates new local opportunities, positioning it as a blueprint for climate-aligned real estate investment.
“With this partnership, we’re proving that climate action is not only possible in the real estate sector—it’s essential,” both companies affirmed.
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