Awakened Forest Project

Awakened Forest Project is based at Quinta da Floresta, near Benfeita, in the Serra do Açor. The land was mostly pine monoculture before the project began working to restore it, replacing single-species plantation with a more varied, resilient forest. The project's approach rests on a simple premise: humans are not separate from nature and can learn to work with natural processes rather than against them. This informs practical work on the ground, including forest restoration and water-related efforts such as rainwater catchment, alongside broader ecological restoration of the hillside. Past activities have included seasonal forestry work weekends, drawing volunteers to help with hands-on tasks on the land. The project has also had links to wider ecological networks, including participation in bee-focused conferences exploring the role of pollinators and natural systems. The project operates in Benfeita, a village in the Serra do Açor mountain range in central Portugal, an area historically affected by pine and eucalyptus monoculture and wildfire risk. Its work sits within a broader regional effort to shift land use away from vulnerable single-species plantations.