Transhumance is the seasonal trek of cattle from winter meadows to summer pastures and back. Thus an optimal and sustainable use can be made of the available resources. In Spain for ages a long-distance transhumance took place of numerous, large flocks of sheep between the winter meadows in Extremadura and the summer meadows in the Cantabrian Mountains in the north. With the rising of modern means of transport and changed cattle management the transhumance has almost disappeared.

The Foundation Transhumance & Nature (Stichting Transhumance & Natuur, abbreviated STN), initially aimed at promoting and facilitating this largely abandoned way of extensive cattle farming because of its relevance for the preservation of nature and landscape in Spain. At present the foundation is involved in realizing various specific, small-scale nature conservation projects on the Iberian Peninsula, occasionally still related to the transhumance.

Since end 2008 STN is supervising the Project Swayne’s Hartebeest in Ethiopia. This responsibility was taken over from the Federation for International Nature Conservation (FIN).