Who we are
About us
ARBA (Asociación para la Recuperación del Bosque Autóctono) was founded in 1986 with the aim of restoring native plant communities, whether forest or shrubland. ARBA operates throughout Spain and comprises some 40 groups, each with its own autonomy but sharing common objectives. It has about 2,000 members and a large number of individuals and organisations that collaborate in its activities.
ARBA Vega Baja was created in 2025 with the aim to extend ARBA's activities and benefits to the Vega Baja region. We collaborate closely with the ARBAs of southeast Spain, and especially with our neighbours ARBAs, ARBA Elx and ARBA Cartagena-La Unión, with whom we carry out joint activities. We are a group of people with very diverse profiles who share a passion for the environment and the natural heritage of our land. We are all volunteers and our participation is completely selfless.
What drives us
Massive urban development along the coast and inland, pollution of watercourses, forest dieback… The deterioration of our environment is nothing new, but it has accelerated in recent years. As a result, we live in region increasingly dependent on external resources and vulnerable to risks that impact directly our health and wellbeing, such as heatwaves, floods or biodiversity loss.
At ARBA Vega Baja we know that vegetation is the basis of the whole system that sustains us. In each territory, native plant formations, resulting from millions of years of adaptation, create and protect the soil, stabilise the climate, sustain animal populations, provide food for humans, etc. Without vegetation, the desert lies in wait.
Our vision for the future
«A region in harmony with its natural environment, where the native flora and fauna thrive thanks to the support of its people, businesses and institutions».
Our daily mission
We promote the recovery of a biodiverse and resilient environment in the Vega Baja, through the planting and sowing of native vegetation.
Our values
We observe nature and draw inspiration from it, always keen to learn. Aware of the global issue, we do our bit from our own local area.
Why ARBA Vega Baja?
Environmental restoration in southern Alicante is not for the faint-hearted: in semi-desertic Spain, the arid conditions and the soils situation pose a significant challenge. An in-depth knowledge of local ecosystems, as well as solid experience in this type of action are key to success.
ARBA has a track record of projects in areas close to the Vega Baja and with similar characteristics, such as the regions of Bajo y Medio Vinalopó, Campo de Cartagena and Huerta de Murcia.
ARBA’s workforce is diverse, skilled and motivated, ranging from volunteers to biologists and engineers trained in the latest nature-based solutions (NBS) such as direct seeding and native microorganisms inoculation.
ARBA Vega baja collaborates with RENATUREM Sur de Alicante, a platform from the University of Alicante which, through renowned academic researchers in the field of ecological restoration, provides scientific advice and support for projects.
We also collaborate with Semillistas, an association based in south-eastern Spain that is a pioneer in vegetation restoration through direct seeding, with extensive experience in Mediterranean environments.