PROJECT REPORT
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Dear friend, Thanks to your support, a total of 125,000 trees were planted to restore 83 hectares of land in various communities across Portugal. Planting trees in areas that have been degraded or deforested helps the environment by accelerating and assuring the re-establishment of healthy forests. Through reforestation, the canopy is restored, ecosystems are made whole, and biodiversity can thrive. None of this would be possible without you. On behalf of everyone at One Tree Planted, thank you! What follows is a report outlining the project you supported in Portugal. I hope you enjoy reading it and truly feel the impact you have made.
OVERVIEW
The ‘Free Trees for Portugal’ initiative starts with the story of many projects and communities who have lived through the forest fires in Portugal. These communities have been severely affected by recurring fires facilitated by ecosystem exploitation and massive planting of highly invasive species. This initiative worked to reduce desertification, restore deforested areas, revitalize native ecosystems and empower local communities to restore their environment, as well as providing promotional support and visibility to continue the work of ecological restoration in Portugal. As a result, 125,000 native trees were planted in recovering communities across the country.
TREES PLANTED 125,000
TREE SPECIES PLANTED 20
FAMILIES BENEFITED 5
HECTARES REFORESTED 83
WOMEN INVOLVED 14
WILDLIFE SPECIES BENEFITED 5
JOBS SUPPORTED 12 VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED 52
PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM TRAINING 15
TREE SPECIES PLANTED Our partner collaborated with local nurseries and grass-roots organizations on the ground on ecosystem restoration in this degraded environment. As a result, over the last three seasons, free native trees were delivered to restoration projects who are striving to recover. But this is just a drop of water on a blazing inferno. This shows us one thing - our mission in Portugal is far from over.
SPECIES PLANTED
THROUGH THIS PROJECT Quercus Robur Pinus Pinea Fraxinus Angustifolia Arbutus Unedo Quercus Suber Phillyrea Latifolia Quercus Coccifera Castanea Sativa Prunus spinosa Olea sylvestra
Pistacia lentiscus Crataegus monogyna Myrtus communis Quercus Faginea Quercus Ilex / rotundifolia Alfarroba Alnus glutinosa Salix Pinus Pinaster Pyrus Bourgaeana
THIS PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO HAVE CASCADING BENEFITS, INCLUDING NATURAL, SOCIAL, FINANCIAL AND INSPIRATIONAL RETURNS. BY RESTORING PREVIOUSLY DEGRADED LAND (FROM FOREST FIRES AND DESERTIFICATION), AND REINTRODUCING NATIVE FLORA BACK TO THE LAND, THE AIM IS TO RESTORE WATER TABLES, PREVENT FURTHER SOIL EROSION/DEGRADATION, CREATE CARBON SINKS IN THE SOIL, AND CREATE A THRIVING ECOSYSTEM WHERE NATIVE FAUNA CAN TAKE REFUGE.
YOUR IMPACT ON THE MAP This initiative aims at reducing desertification, restoring deforested areas, revitalising native ecosystems and empowering local communities to restore their environment, as well as providing promotional support and visibility to continue the work of ecological restoration in Portugal.
DOCUMENTING YOUR IMPACT Through authentic and informative storytelling, we help donors relate to the people who plant their trees and to the impact they're making for the planet. We share photos, videos, and updates from our global projects across our social media, website, and other media to create a personal connection to the incredible work happening on the ground.
PHOTOS FROM YOUR PROJECT
BIODIVERSITY BENEFITS The re-wilding of the planet is essential in order to repair local and global lifesupport systems. Sustainable landscape design is a key solution to establish native, multilayered forests. The aim of this project is to implement regenerative forestry systems that provide ecosystem services and improve land productivity, creating a patchwork of wildlife habitat. With local ecology experts in each region, this project takes into account the full range of wildlife protection and rebuilding biodiversity in each unique biosphere. Cork Oak (Q. Suber) forests, for example, are a long-lasting form of natural regeneration that benefits the whole ecological web, including Iberian lynx, imperial eagle and Barbary Deer. This initiative is designed to have cascading benefits, including natural, social, financial and inspirational returns.
COMMUNITY
BENEFITS
This initiative worked to reduce desertification, restore deforested areas, revitalize native ecosystems and empower local communities to restore their environment. The desired end result is to have a green Portugal. Our partner wanted to demonstrate that reforestation can occur in a holistic manner that addresses all sectors of society including environmental, social, financial and inspirational. None of this could have occurred without collaboration with local nurseries and grass-roots organizations on the ground who are engaging in the work of ecosystem restoration in this highly degraded environment. As a result, many restoration projects are striving to recover, not just their environment, but their community. From our partner: Community is at the very heart of this initiative: it is what inspires us to keep going in the face of adversity. It comes at a time when wildfires are becoming more intense and our partner projects and communities in Portugal are being forced from their homes by these extreme weather conditions. And these are becoming all too common. This initiative recognizes community engagement as an absolutely integral component for its success. This is precisely why we have formed a diverse network of over fifty-seven projects throughout Portugal that are inspired to come together, regenerate their native land and revivify their connection not only to nature, but to each other as well.
U.N. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THIS PROJECT CONTRIBUTED TO THE FOLLOWING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:
WHAT ARE SDGS? Sustainable development entails seeking out solutions that not only boost the economic outcomes of developing and poorer nations, but also work to limit (or eliminate) our impact on the planet. Trees are one such solution. From creating jobs and reducing hunger to improving gender equality, cleaning air and water, absorbing carbon, protecting life on land and water, and more, planting trees can address all 17 sustainable development goals.
"The re-wilding of the planet is essential to repair local and global lifesupport systems. This project focuses on sustainable landscape design, a key solution to establishing native multilayered forests. The goal is to implement regenerative forestry systems that provide ecosystem services and improve land productivity, creating a patchwork of wildlife habitats all over the planet."
Marika Luiati
Project Manager Europe