The Mértola Heritage Defence Association and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon invite you to keep 19 March in your diary.
On this date, between 9.30am and 4pm, the Mértola Multipurpose Pavilion will host the Final Seminar of the Territorial Programme +SOLO +VIDA and LandUnderPressure.
This free-to-attend event marks the closure and synergy of two projects co-funded by the EEA Grants, with a common focus on soil erosion and combating desertification in the Baixo Alentejo.
This session will include the dissemination of unpublished data and the results of the various actions implemented, with the potential to be replicated at local and territorial levels. Both projects proposed strategies to respond to the decline of the cork oak forest and the loss of productivity on agricultural and livestock farms, in a context of adaptation and mitigation to climate change.
Please confirm your attendance by registering using this form.
We'll let you know the full programme shortly.
A brief note on the projects...
Territorial Programme +SOLO +VIDA
Implemented on 94 hectares of the Guadiana Valley Natural Park, the +SOLO +VIDA Territorial Programme invited 18 farmers with agrosilvopastoral holdings in this protected area to become actively involved in soil preservation, better management of water resources and regeneration of the cork oak forest by implementing a set of 10 good practices to combat desertification and adapt to and mitigate climate change. A participatory governance model was designed and tested as a link between the farmers and the various organisations in the area. In this pilot project coordinated by ADPM, with partners the Guadiana Agricultural Cooperative, the University of the Algarve, NBI - Natural Business Intelligence, International Development Norway and the collaboration of MED-University of Évora, an economic study was also carried out on the costs and benefits for farmers of the actions implemented with the potential for replication.
LandUnderPressure
The LandUnderPressure project focused on areas of cork oak and holm oak forests, with the aim of helping to prevent, mitigate and restore areas under pressure to combat desertification and increase resilience to climate change. The project was developed on two scales. On a regional scale, covering all areas of the more arid Alentejo, the reference productivity level of the cork oak forest was determined, as well as its upward or downward trend in recent years, in order to support Land Degradation Neutrality policies. On a local scale, it involved implementing a pilot restoration trial at Herdade da Coitadinha in Barrancos, through grazing management. The aim was to promote the regeneration of the cork oak forest and boost various ecosystem services, such as soil fertility and erosion control, climate regulation and biodiversity, including the enhancement of nature tourism. The project was developed in partnership with the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança and the Soil Conservation Institute of Iceland, in collaboration with Herdade da Coitadinha (EDIA). The results of the project make it possible to identify the areas most vulnerable to desertification on a regional scale, as well as to quantify the benefits of different restoration measures based on grazing management for the health and ecosystem services of the montado.