The recovery of abandoned land is gaining momentum in the Òdena Basin. The land bank promoted by the Agrarian Park, with the support of Barcelona Provincial Council and the local councils of the area, now provides 226 hectares available for farming and grazing, 36% more than six weeks ago. Following eight information sessions across various municipalities in Anoia, the project has sparked growing interest among both landowners and new professional profiles, with 11 people formally registered to farm or graze these lands. This positive trend reaffirms the commitment to boosting the area’s agricultural activity and highlights its potential to provide essential ecosystem services.

The eight information sessions held in June across different municipalities of the county have been the driving force behind this expansion. From Vilanova del Camí to Òdena, including La Torre de Claramunt, Argençola, and Jorba, the technical team offered tailored advice to those interested in understanding how the project works. This direct contact not only increased the number of applicants but also identified new owners willing to make their land available. Moreover, the project has already shown its ability to generate real agreements: among the cases processed, highlights include facilitating generational renewal on an extensive livestock farm.

Farming as an environmental service

The expansion of available land reflects growing awareness of the environmental benefits of keeping abandoned farmland and grazing areas active. When cultivated land is left idle, far more is lost than its food production potential: the ecosystem services it provides—such as water regulation, erosion control or the conservation of native species—are also degraded. In contrast, active management of the agroforestry mosaic supports carbon capture, soil fertility, water retention, biodiversity conservation and wildfire prevention.

“Agricultural revitalisation is not only a rural development strategy, but also a key policy for tackling the climate emergency. Every hectare we recover is an investment in the health of the land, in biodiversity and in local resilience,” explains Xesco Gomar, Deputy President for Natural Spaces and Green Infrastructure at Barcelona Provincial Council. “The expansion of land banks is increasingly a forward-looking strategy to transform the landscape, create opportunities and adapt to new environmental and social challenges,” he adds.

The initiative remains open to new landowners and professionals, and will closely monitor current applications to facilitate stable, viable agreements. In this regard, the technical and legal support offered by the land bank has been key to building trust and ensuring land transfers are safe and secure for all parties.
 

Significant agricultural potential

According to the Barcelona Agrària program of the Barcelona Provincial Council, there is a potential of almost 3,000 hectares that can be recovered in the Odena Basin Agrarian Park (PACO). This territorial resource includes 500 hectares of farmland, 704 hectares of forest and 1,756 hectares of pasture, spread across the 16 municipalities of Anoia that make up the park. These lands represent a unique opportunity to revitalise the local farming sector, particularly in municipalities such as Rubió, with 436 hectares recoverable; Argençola, with 347; and Òdena, with 316 hectares of agricultural and livestock potential.

This project forms part of the Barcelona Agrària programme of the Barcelona Provincial Council, which works to ensure the economic viability of agricultural activity in the province and to promote sustainable food production models. Through initiatives such as this, the Provincial Council reaffirms its commitment to rural development that combines the revitalisation of the primary sector with the preservation of the ecosystem services provided by a living, well-managed landscape.

For further information about land banks, please contact Pere Navarro, territorial engineer at the Barcelona Provincial Council.