Stef van Dongen: “Living here makes me healthier, happier, and brings me clarity of mind”

Despite its lush appearance, once in the area, Stef quickly realises that the ecosystem is under severe ecological stress. Decades of overexploitation and relentless droughts have left the landscape fragile: the valley’s native forests, decimated by logging, have made way for a rampant spread of invasive tree species. These overcrowded forests  – too dense to support healthy biodiversity  – have depleted the soils, leaving them unable to absorb enough water, causing both the landscape and the Muga River to dry out. 

This imbalance doesn’t only fuel large-scale forest fires – often so severe that local authorities struggle to contain them – but also accelerates the region’s growing water crisis. In 2024, the Darnius-Boadella Reservoir, fed by the Muga River and the water supply of the entire Northern Costa Brava, reached a historic low, holding just 7.13 of its 61 cubic hectometres capacity – barely 12 per cent of its potential.

Deep listening

To help reverse the fate of the region, Stef starts bringing people together for a new kind of land stewardship – one capable of restoring balance to both the land, its communities and the local economy. In 2018, he established a base in the valley, transforming an old farmhouse beside the Muga River in Albanyà into a meeting place for local and international changemakers, as well as impact investors committed to guiding the valley towards a more regenerative future.

“One thing I learned quickly about the Catalan government is that if you want to start a project, you need permits – and that means waiting. I worked out it would take around two and a half years to prepare the whole project, and thought: what am I going to do during the interlude? That’s when I discovered the concept of emergence. I decided to spend that time listening – to the land, to the people, to their needs, interests and fears – and focused on building relationships between the surrounding villages by organising pizza parties,” Stef explains. “I’d sort out the drinks, the dough and the music, and people from the neighbouring villages would bring the rest of the ingredients. We’d cook together. At the first pizza party, 50 people came. By the third, we were over 150.”

“I discovered that, as communities, we share four main concerns. First, the risk of forest fires; second, the lack of water; third, the shortage of work and housing, as the economy is under big stress; and fourth – which I found particularly striking – a lack of confidence in society. I noticed this especially when speaking with local politicians: trust between villages was worryingly low. And that’s a problem, because when a crisis like a wildfire hits, low social trust can quickly lead to chaos. But when trust is strong, communities begin to collaborate and find solutions together.”

“Having healthy soils and healthy forests addresses all of these concerns”, Stef continues. “Because a resilient forest with water-rich soil is more fire resistant. Healthy forests help generate rainfall and replenish rivers. And the process of restoring them creates meaningful work for local people, giving the economy a much-needed boost. Finally, by doing this work together as communities, we also begin to rebuild trust in one another.”

Thousands of people

“For me, it’s about creating a best practice for how we can transition a valley like this into a regenerative society – one where the economy serves the restoration of the landscape, revives the forests, and secures water supplies,” Stef explains. “Because there are many valleys across the Mediterranean with similar characteristics and challenges.” Since Stef founded Pioneers of Our Time in 2018 – an organisation dedicated to regenerating the Muga watershed from source to sea – thousands of people from 68 municipalities, as well as many international experts and funders, have joined him in his quest.

Part of their efforts involves thinning the forests while preserving as much tree species diversity as possible, to ensure more water reaches the aquifers and waterways  – ultimately benefiting the Boadella dam and the wider Costa Brava region. They’ve also reintroduced key species vital to local biodiversity, including vultures and otters, and organised festivals to help strengthen community ties. “Because of all this, a pair of wolves has recently made the valley their home – returning to the area after more than 100 years,” Stef says. “And in the parts of the forest we’ve restored, 30 per cent more water now flows into the aquifers. It’s very fulfilling to see such tangible progress, even though we still have a long way to go.”

Love at first sight

“When I met Stef on his farm, it was love at first sight,” says Victoria Engelhorn, managing director of Brugarol, a regenerative farm and hospitality business in Catalonia. “I was walking towards him, and with his white hair, he almost looked like an angel. It quickly became clear that beyond our love, we shared the same vision – we’re aligned in our values and in the future we want to help create.” 

A successful and passionate sustainable entrepreneur, Victoria has united her businesses with Stef’s ventures, in order to support the foundation and help build a local regenerative economy through their combined efforts. “This project isn’t just about our lifetimes, we think in terms of seven generations. It’s not about us: it’s about bringing people together so the work can carry on.”

“If you live in a place like this, you gain a sense of oneness, a deep feeling of belonging,” Stef reflects. “We are part of these forests and soils. Living here makes me healthier, happier, and brings me clarity of mind. And doing it all together with the love of your life – that’s simply amazing.”

Want to know more? Tonight at 8pm, our very first We Are The ReGeneration documentary premieres — and you can watch it on our film page.