The Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council and the Institute of Environmental Sciences (IGI) have taken another step to analyze the possibility of declaring the Llanada Alavesa a Biosphere Reserve. To this end, they have approved a contracting process that foresees technical assistance for designing, contrasting, and developing the final proposal. The budget for this project will amount to 100,000 euros, including VAT.

The awarded company will have a period of 12 months to develop the document, starting from September 9, 2026. Within this work, a core team will be formed to define the reserve's model and contrast it with territorial stakeholders.

The final document must include the delimitation of the area and its physical and territorial characteristics. It will also specify the challenges, objectives, and activities related to conservation, development, and logistical support. Furthermore, it will outline the governance proposal and a roadmap for continuing the process.

The initiative has been conceived from the outset as an open and participatory process. Prior to this new phase, the IGI organized a socialization and listening session to gather initial opinions, expectations, and conditions from various stakeholders in the territory.

The proposal would encompass the upper basin of the Zadorra River, covering an area of approximately 950 square kilometers. The region would include 14 municipalities and around 275,000 inhabitants. If successful, it would become the most populous Biosphere Reserve in Spain.