The reforestation intervention in an area of 147 hectares in the parish of Ameixial, a project promoted in partnership by the Municipality of Loulé and the Association of Forestry Producers of Serra do Caldeirão, with the help of local landowners, is completed, announced the Chamber of Loulé .
This action, which led to an investment of 700 thousand euros, was carried out within the framework of REACT-EU FEDER of the Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Program (COMPETE 2020) and aimed to “promote reforestation as a priority measure in the fight against desertification, reinforcing the resilience of this territory in the middle of the Algarve mountains».
In total, four plots were intervened, «with the following actions: maintenance and conservation of the species present (plot 1), maintenance and density of strawberry trees, cork oaks and holm oaks (plot 2), reforestation with strawberry trees, cork oaks and holm oaks (plot 3) and reforestation of mixed dryland orchard (plot 4)”.
At the same time, 6 kilometers of road network were improved.
«Combating the desertification of the territory and, at the same time, promoting its resilience in the face of risk and reducing vulnerability to erosion, through reforestation and actions that promote increased carbon and nutrient fixation in the soil, was the main objective of this project», according to the Loulé Chamber.
The project also involved «increasing the area and density of the native forest in order to increase ecosystem services and strengthening Mediterranean agroforestry systems that have been suffering from low natural regeneration».
«We are taking another important step here in protecting our forestry heritage, safeguarding ecosystems and, at the same time, creating more conditions to bring greater dynamism to these territories which, over decades, have felt the effects of desertification, attracting and settling the population in these parts», concludes the municipality.
Comments