{"id":75877,"date":"2026-01-15T15:36:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T14:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/treesforall.nl\/22-000-bomen-geplant-in-portugal\/"},"modified":"2026-01-27T14:26:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T13:26:40","slug":"22000-trees-planted-in-portugal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/treesforall.nl\/en\/22000-trees-planted-in-portugal\/","title":{"rendered":"22,000 trees planted in Portugal:\u00a0reforestation in a challenging landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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How do you restore a forest landscape in times of persistent hot summers and wet winters? We\u2019re taking up that challenge in the Faia\u00a0Brava\u00a0reserve in Portugal, where we\u2019ve been working on restoring forest landscape<\/a> since 2022. Along with our partner of the same name, Faia\u00a0Brava, and with the support of our donors, we\u2019ve planted 22,000 trees since the start: an important step in a region where nature restoration is not a matter of course. Our efforts are slowly but surely showing the first signs that nature is recovering bit by bit.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Why nature restoration is not a matter of course here<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, the landscape in the Faia Brava reserve has been severely damaged<\/strong>. The soil has become increasingly poor and dry, due to intensive agriculture, livestock farming and recurring forest fires. It can barely retain water any more, making it difficult for nature to recover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, the climate in the Faia Brava is becoming more extreme. The summers are hot and dry \u2013 with temperatures above 40\u00b0C <\/strong>in the shade! \u2013 and the annual rainfall has decreased by around 30%. For trees and saplings, these are tough growing conditions. So along with the Faia Brava team, we\u2019re continually looking for ways to help the landscape restoration succeed. It\u2019s challenging \u2013 but not impossible!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Learning by doing:\u00a0what works in a challenging landscape?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, the local team has tested and combined a variety of planting methods<\/strong>. It\u2019s a question of trial and error, as one approach works better than another, depending on the location and the weather conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But by continually trying things out, learning from them and making adjustments, we\u2019re gaining valuable insights and making progress, step by step:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1. Tree islands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some of the trees are growing in fenced-off plots with a wide diversity of trees and shrubs<\/strong>. And that\u2019s working. The high planting density and the protection against grazing horses and wild boar ensures better survival chances for the saplings compared to those in plots that are not fenced off.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a0Planting in fenced-off plots<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2. Planting acorns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In places that are difficult to reach, such as between rocks, acorns are planted. This has the additional advantage of reducing the risk of the acorns being eaten by wild boar in the region. It\u2019s been an effective measure, as some of the acorns have already grown into young oak trees, which will eventually contribute to the natural rejuvenation of the forest..<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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3. Smart choices of species<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u00a0deliberately plant tree and shrub species that occur naturally in the\u00a0Faia\u00a0Brava:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n