The Empresa de Desenvolvimento e Infraestruturas do Alqueva (EDIA) has carried out a major reforestation effort with the planting of 500 holm oaks in the Noudar Nature Park, a site of high ecological value located in Portugal’s Alentejo region. The initiative is part of the SocialForest project and reinforces the entity’s commitment to biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and the promotion of sustainable forestry practices in southwestern Europe.
Each holm oak was planted with special care, applying mycorrhizae and natural phosphorus fertilizer in every pit to ensure healthy and sustainable root system development. In addition, to protect and support proper plant growth, each tree was fitted with a protective tube and stake.
The action in Noudar Nature Park is one of seven pilot sites currently being implemented by the SocialForest project to mitigate the effects of climate change on forest stands across the SUDOE area. Reforestation is one of several environmental and forestry improvement measures carried out in the area, which also include techniques to enhance soil fertility and the installation of traps for pest control. Furthermore, a firebreak has been created in a hard-to-reach area, and a pond has been desilted to increase both the capacity and quality of available water.
Funded by the Interreg SUDOE 2021–2027 programme, SocialForest brings together nine partners from Spain, France, and Portugal working towards a common strategy to combat climate change in the forests of southern Europe.
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